Planet 9

Is there an after market item that will make the headlights turn themselves
off? This is one little "idiot prevention" item that I'm having a hard time living
without.

+1 to that. Don't understand why it's not standard.

Hmmmmmm, checked your owner's manual lately... or ever?

From page 123 in the 2006 version:

Welcome Home Lighting

Switching on:
Move light switch to the HOME position.
For improved visibility and security when you get
in and out of the car, the fog lights and the tail
lights remain on for a certain period of time:

– When you get out of the car, the lights are
turned on for approx. 30 seconds after the
door is opened. The off-delay time resumes
when the vehicle is locked.
On vehicles with the Sport Chrono Plus
package, the PCM can be used to set the offdelay
time. This setting also changes the
lighting period for unlocking the vehicle.
Please observe the chapter “Individual
Memory” in the separate PCM operating
instructions.
The lights are turned on for approx. 30 seconds
when the vehicle is unlocked.
The lights go out if the ignition is switched on or
when leaving the Welcome Home lighting
If the ignition key is withdrawn and the door is opened
while the lights (not the parking light left/right)
are on, a gong warns of possible battery discharge.
In some countries, differences are possible
due to provisions of law.

I'll let you refer to the manual to see which notch on the light switch is the one that does this...

brad

__________________
22-year PCA Member
PCA DE Instructor

Yeah... I actually knew about that. The problem is that in the Home
position the instrument lights aren't on, so you still have to remember to
put the switch back to the home postition after driving at night. Is there
some other way to get those to come on?

Even worse is that your headlights are off also! I actually started off that way one night, because the LED dash illumination (up between the map/reading lights) was bright enough at first. Suddenly realized I couldn't really see the road surface. Sad thing is that my 2001 Volvo automatically shuts off headlights or daytime running lights when I turn off the ignition. And it was half the price of the Cayman...

I don't use the "welcome home" thing myself... I realize it's an expensive car, but while other expensive (and even not so expensive) cars have these accoutrements, Porsche has decided to spend the money where it really counts - R&D on a good suspension, fantastic brakes, etc. I don't see a lot (if any) cars even in this price range that turn off their own headlights, yet have Bremo monoblock brakes with huge rotors, and the other high-performance gear our cars are equipped with.

Can it really be that hard to turn off a switch?

brad

__________________
22-year PCA Member
PCA DE Instructor

Brad,

The OP has a reasonable question. Taking a defensive stance, or implying that the OP has never checked his/her manual comes off a little abrassive. Not to mention you haven't even attempted to answer his question.

Everyone knows that Porsche spends a lot on R&D and we all get to enjoy the results.

I just think it's well within reason, considering available technology, to expect a little bit of built in insurance that I won't return to a dead battery. My 2001 bare bones Mazda Tribute does it for goodness sakes - and with no additional weight or technology cost impact.

In my opinion - it's dumb not to have it.

Right.... my girlfriend's car, a 16k Toyota (new), you don't even need to touch the light switch. It has a simple light sensor. When it's dark enough, lights turn on, when it's bright out, lights turn off. When the car is off - the lights also turn off. The option on her car is an over-ride mode that lets you turn them on and off... but the standard mode is automagic.

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Wouldn't the chime when you open the door be "built in insurance"? I'm not going to speak for beez, but I fail to see what the big deal is to simply turn a knob on your way out of the car. If you do forget to turn off your lights you hear a chime to remind you to shut off your lights. I guess I just don't see what the big deal is.

__________________
Meet my Mistress...

My Pictures My Cayman S

My Porsche Cars

2008 Carrera 4 Cab
2007 Cayman S
2006 Cayenne S Titanium Edition (gone )
1982 944 (Amoung first shipment to come to US; number 6 off the boat)

I don't think anyone thinks it's a big deal. The OP just asked if anyone knew of a workaround. We all managed to make it into a big deal. Chimes are nice but, being the idiot that I am, sometimes they're just white noise. We can beat this dead horse till he's dog food but you're not going to change my opinion. It's just dumb that that my high-end sports car doesn't offer the same convenience feature that my daughter's economy sedan does.

I'm done

P.S.
I love my car. Dumb oversights and all.

Well if you really want to split hairs, beat the dead horse, etc, my CS and 997 C4 don't have the auto head light feature and the Cayenne S that I used to have did... Go figure.

You may continue with the horse beating:

__________________
Meet my Mistress...

My Pictures My Cayman S

My Porsche Cars

2008 Carrera 4 Cab
2007 Cayman S
2006 Cayenne S Titanium Edition (gone )
1982 944 (Amoung first shipment to come to US; number 6 off the boat)

I apologize if what I wrote seemed abrasive, but I don't think I was being defensive - I just find it interesting that with all the things that this sports car has on it in the way of advanced engineering, and convenience that this would become something people find wanting, to the point of wanting a work around. And, I tried to answer his question by pointing out an existing feature the car does have that is the closest thing to what the OP was looking for.

You (and others) might think it's dumb not to have it, but I'll bet there's just as many people who would label it as "something else to go wrong..." Yes, the Mazda Tribute might have this feature, but it also doesn't have brakes that will stop it in 10 consecutive panic stops from 90% of it terminal speed with no fade. Or be capable of sending a completely different fuel/air mixture to each cylinder. Or have a suspension system capable of setting the damping rates to all four corners independently, on the fly, in real time. It fascinates me that because the price of the car is high, that it must contain every "convenience" doo-dad that's hung on every luxury, and non-luxury cars, and ignore the things that really cost the money. If one to put every one of these items on these cars that come on a Lexus, in the same price range, no one would buy one of these because they'd $150k or more.

brad

__________________
22-year PCA Member
PCA DE Instructor

No need to apologize Brad, just an observation. And I don't think that any of us are laboring on every possible luxury item. But this one just seems so common that it's a little puzzeling.

I'm done. And I mean it this time. Truth be told I'm a little chatty this evening cuz I'm trying yo get to 500 posts!

I have been around here so long that I'm repeating myself while repeating myself, again. But having been a Porsche driver and owner for a whopping 44 years my take is still that Porsche believes thats it builds sports cars for people that are attuned to driving and who are not seeking all the little refrigerator like amenities. They will eventually add them but the priority is low as opposed to building the best sports car for what they (perhaps unfortunately) believe are the people who buy cars for driving. Personally I applaud that. The Porsche for me is a drivers car and when I'm behind the wheel it has my full attention, but I suppose those who use the car for a commuter or just as a car see it different. My new Avant has all those little things and it adds zip to me to the pleasure of driving but it competes with the Honda/Toyotas.

Funny, all this...

Chime and all, I managed to walk away from the car with the lights on last
night. No biggie really, but I've had other cars too and they spoiled me
with these little common sense items.

I was asking if there was an aftermarket item because there are these
fancy key gadgets that roll down windows, etc., so it seemed not such
a stretch to hope for an auto headlight gadget.

Steve

Loving my brand new Cayman...but also scratching my head about the headlight thing. i actually think the "auto-on" is more needed than the auto-off. I drive to and from NYC and with all the ambient light and streetlamps it's easy to forget to turn your headlights on. The "driver's car" rationale falls apart when another car plows into you 'cause your headlights are off and they can't see you!

Projecting ahead to the idrivepod where the "car" does all the thinking and driving while you sit back and get a youtube fix at a leisurely 35 mph commute; enjoy today when you can take and enjoy full responsibly for all the operations of your vehicle. This golden age will probably not be available 50 years from now (which is close to the time I've owned these wonderful Porsche tools).

As many have said, it is not a big deal - but curious that Porsche does not have an auto-off feature - particularly since the trunks (including the front trunk where the battery is) won't open when the battery is dead. The one time it happened to me, it was a huge pain. I finally had to call for road service because the Porsche was in the garage and my jumper cables were not long enough to reach from outside the garage. I would gladly trade those headlight cleaning nozzles for this feature.
mike

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Mike Ray
Atlanta & Cashiers, NC
2008 Boxster S
Long gone: 1970 914/6

You might talk to the folks at site sponsor Mods4cars, They make the module that many of us have that makes the horn beep when you lock/unlock the car, dip the passenger-side mirror when in reverse, and a few other things. This might be something they can add to the product for those that want it. Take a look under the sponsor's tab or their user name is mods4cars - send them a PM. They're nice, smart, savvy, and always looking to improve their products.

brad

__________________
22-year PCA Member
PCA DE Instructor

I wonder if mods4cars is capable of adding this feature to their product.
It seems like there is some demand... maybe I'm not the only person who
need his headlights idiot-proofed :-)