for all of you with front light problems.....a fix

[PKN]

So finally after weeks of the right direction indicator failing, the whole right front cluster went out. I cranked the the lamp unit out, took the front connector off its mount (ir seemed tight enough), then levered the rear cable connector out of its mount. This provided enough slack in the wires to push the headlight connector solidly home and it was a hard push to get it there. The last step was to push the wires to the outside of the car out of the way (a tie wrap works nicely and there is even a nice hole in the plastic to connect it to). I cranked the lamp back into iposition, locked it and hey presto - everything works again.

I always thought his system was desperately over engineered. After all, what is wrong with making the connector a few inches longer and leaving the bracket out......

Now if I can only find a fix for my still non-functioning rear hatch and window lock.....

PKN.

[hahnmgh63]

Yea, those front light connections are a real engineering mistake.

[Ignited]

here's the proof, Hahn

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/porsche-recalls-20000-cayennes-for-loose-headlight-assemblies/

Tim in Ft Worth

[Loren]

here's the proof, Hahn

http://wheels.blogs....ght-assemblies/

Tim in Ft Worth

The recall cover MY 2011 and 2012 Cayennes' only.

[odix]

And it was more human error then Porsche engineering: "...it determined some units were not being properly locked into place either at the assembly plant or by dealers."

The headlight housing hardware and locking mechanism work -- it's just that headlight housings need to be installed correctly in the vehicles. I suppose the design and instructions could have had less margin for error (forcing an person to confirm the light housings are properly seated; a safety tether, etc).

Generation 1 and 2 Cayennes (9PA and 9PA1) have a similar mounting and install process -- and we all can read here on this forum that those light housings have to be pressed in and the mount bolt turned until "clunk" is heard.

That said, it's probably somewhat disconcerting to have a headlight fall out while driving.