help please headlight wont turn off

[concept muffler]

hey guys i have a 01 996 turbo and when i start the car the headlights /brake lights all turn on and i can not trun them off when the car is running when i shut off the car the lights turn off , also when i start the car the headlights turn but the guage light wont turn on unless i turn the headlight switch to the on position . what can be this problem ?

thanks

[wross996TT]

Probably need a new switch.

[SA321]

sounds like you have driving lights enabled (in some countries there is a requirement to have lights on all the time). previous owner may have asked the dealer to enable this setting. i cannot remember if in 996 there is an option to turn it off yourself

[RFM]

Are there no modifications done on the car concerning day time driving lights ?

[poleposition]

Maybe it is a long shot, but is your Xenon installation OEM ? A friend of mine had the same problem, and the issue came from the aftermarket xenon installation...

Also, do you have the DRL option activated ? Daytime Running Lights.

Edited October 3, 2010 by poleposition

[jpflip]

The ignition switch is known to fail also the light switch....Did you wiggle the key in the ignition switch to see if there is a bad connection ? If you don't have daytime running light like us canadian I probably would check these two. There is some DIY for both units....

996 ignition switch Headlight switch replacement

[concept muffler]

thanks for all of your guys imputs but i still havent got to solving out what the problem is , i disconnected the switch and started the car and the headlights are still on , my lights are oem hid and my ignition seems ok , it turns freely without getting jammed. The day time running light feature kinda makes sense , but why would it just turn that funtion on , and how do you turn that off . I thought and i can be wrong if you disconnect the switch you turn off the power going to lights rendering them not to turn on , can i possibly have a short somewhere ?

[jpflip]

I remember there is a hack for the headlights. Look at your fuse box and see if there is a jumper between the fuse A6 and A9. If there is just remove it....DRL hack and if there is not jumper and you do have the daytime running lights it is because you have the DRL relays installed. It was require when I did the importation of my TT to Canada and Porsche was asking over $400.00 to install these relays..... If you look at the relay support number one ( just over the fuse box) and found two relays in position 6 and 7 part number 996 615 111 00 you have DRL installed on your car .... Sorry just realized you have an my01 but look for those relays in any location on the support relay....

Edited October 3, 2010 by jpflip

[concept muffler]

thanks jp and others i found the problem , the relay was not sitting tight in the relay box i just pushed it back in and the lights turned off , thanks for all your guys help .