Tonight at 8pm (Amsterdam Time) I will post my results concerning the ambient interior lighting with my Cayenne Turbo.
It's my holiday, so I have some time to kill. Play with my Cayenne and have some beers.
First I have to please my wife with some household cores, otherwise she won't allow me to have my nightly pleasuring time with Cayenne

Please see above, the text I quoted:

I am not with the car right now, but I believe I have only 2 lights in the doors, both on the sides of the doors, only to be seen, when you open the door.

To make clear, those are the 2 lights you mean? Here's a picture, you mean this 2 lights?

 

Tjap, NO, those are not the lights I am talking about.

The lights I am talking about that no longer work on my car are located at the location marked in the picture below by the arrows, and would light up orange like where the line is.
This is on each of the 4 doors, in the gap between the arm rest and the door card.




Tecchie, you must not have the PO4 Light Comfort Package/Memory

 

Your photo cleared up a lot of questions :-)

I can see the gap in the door you mean.. I have never known, ambient light in that space is an option.
When I played with the ambient light settings, I never looked to those gaps, and probably I wouldn't have seen them, since I tried those settings during the day.

I will have a look a bit later tonight, when the sun disappeared, but I doubt I have that option on my car.

I included a picture of my rooftop ambient light buttons, they are the same as yours, but I believe with different function.
-the button you circled blue, takes care of dimming drivers side, the one you circled red, does the passenger side.

I like the idea of having ambient light in that gap, and if tonight I cannot find a way to activate them, I will use that gaps for blue led ambient lights, I still have(See picture)

Will report tonight about my findings..

Same buttons, but different function?

Those would fit in exactly in that gap, and a 12v source is close.


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I did some research, concerning the ambient lighting in my Cayenne Turbo 2005.
Via VCDS, I went through the options.
Below you will find some pictures how it is working with my Cayenne, I put some comments below the pictures:

I unticked byte 2, bit 2. The moment I did that, the ambient lighting at my feet went out, and the ambient buttons in the roofpanel did not function anymore.. Switch it back, amd ambient light at my feet went on again. But no lighting in de doors. I did notice little ambient lights in de inside door openings.

Some more lighting options in VCDS

Entry Assist (Driver) and Entry Assist (Passenger) : For one moment I thought maybe this options had something to do with it, but that cluster I couldn't access. But I think maybe something completely different..

My final conclusion: I cannot believe ambient lights in 4 doors would be broken at the same time.. Chances are very, very small, I think, especially because you seem to have the exact same options like I have, and with you the ambient lights of 4 doors would be also broken..

I think it's an option, both you and I do not have.. There might not even be bulbs under the cover.

I am very curious, your garage took off the door panel.. Did they see actual light bulbs/led lighting in there?
If so, I would like to see a picture of that.
Because I cannot believe it is in there.
If there are in there, connecting it, and find out with voltmeter what is going on, shout not be so difficult..

I will investigate futher, because I have the same like you.. If those light are in there, I want it to work also.
Please let us know, if you come closer to an answer of this mystery-door-comfort-ambient-lights..
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I do indeed have the lights, they worked for the 3 years i have owned the car, until 4 months ago when i took it in to dealer for 2 recalls and to replace the driver door switch cluster under warranty. Coincidence, but they stopped working after the dealer visit.
Upon return a few months later, dealer pulled the door card again to make sure they didn't forget to connect anything but no issues, tested all 4 doors and the lights are not getting power, so its a central control related problem, but more disgnosisc was needed and i wasnt willing to pay.
coincidental again. After this most recent visit, I get my car back with yet more issues after they have my car. Kessy not working to lock,, sunroof dead, side puddle lights out, trunk not autoclosing, they now believe all of these issues are related to the rear comfort control unit.
they recoded it and everything was fine (not sure if that included the ambient arm rest lights)
next day problems came back, so they believe the module needs replaced.
They are in the process of replacing it,,fingers crossed.

 

To be honest i don't know what is in there, if its a string of led bulbs or what. Ill ask what they actually are.
I just know what ever is behind there is ok, they are simply just not getting power anymore based thus wont turn on, based on the dealers diagnosis.

so other than the foot well lights, do you have the little orange led ambient lights near the hinge of each door pull latch? Helps you see the handles when getting out at night time. Those still work for me, and assume those are part of the ambient light package.

 

Yes, I noticed the little orange lights in each door pull latch..
By the way, english is not my daily speaking language, so excuse my "sometimes strange use of english words".

The ambient lights in each door latch are, I think, not part of the ambient package, but stock on the Cayenne Turbo.

This I think, because when I turned off the "Ambient lighting option" in VCDS, the ambient foot lights went off, but the lights in the door latches kept working...
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The problems you got after getting the car back, with Kessy, your sunroof, side puddles and the trunk door not auto opening, those all are settings in durametric/VCDS, so your dealer had been playing with those, like I did with mine yesterday, in an effort to solve the culprit.

I am starting to believe, they did not put in the exact same driver door switch module, when they replaced it, with your car.
But how strange, first it works, you bring it in for something completely different, then it stops working. And then they want to hugely charge you for something THEY break?

I don't think I would agree with that, especially not for 80euro's/hour work labour.
​​​​​​I went to university for many years and barely get half that amount each hour, poor me​​​​​​
​​​​Your dealer seems to be not very competent in problem solving, and, make you charge for their learning process.
What will you do when they replaced that comfort module, and it is still not working?
Because chances are realistic I think, this can happen.
I know I would have difficulties paying hugely for something, they broke in the first place.

I think they might have replaced your door switch module for a slightly different one. It might be the same module like I have, without the ambient door lights...
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Yeah, I guess Im not sure what really is all part of the ambient light option, but sounds like from your experience its the footwell and door arm rest gap. I think I do remember now, using the dimmer switch, only the foot well and door arm rest lights would dim or brighten, so I agree.

I hate going to the dealer for reasons just like this, I always end up with more problems or incompetent work.. I went in Jan 2020 for a recall and to replace the driver door switches, as the one button to control the driver side rear window wasnt working. I have done all the work on the CTT to date, the coils, plugs, engine strut, brakes, EPS center drive shaft support, all fluids, etc. but when I bought the car I also purchased an extended warranty, so anything major or that I cant do, I go to the dealer, so went for the recall and door switches.

Im not paying for the work, I am arguing with the dealer how could it be 2 times now that I leave with more problems than I came with. They are claiming they honestly dont believe they had anything to do with these issues, and I told them I dont buy it.

Right, im gonna throw it in their face when they replace the control module and it doesnt solve the problem. I have been telling them I feel they messed up the programming/coding, and need to correct it.
I dont think the are very proficient at all, its like I have had to help them and suggest what to do. Thing is, this is the biggest Porsche dealer around, and a highly regarded owner, so Im shocked.

I told them, if they dont know how to work on these 1st gen cayennes anymore, go and get help from corporate, etc. or dont accept my appointment. I cant go anywhere else now cause im in too deep and feel they are responsible for these issues. Their customer service experience person assured me they will fix it correctly this time, im not going to hold my breath.

Its been there 12 days now, suppossedely they got the control module tuesday, they should be done by now, but no call yet.

 

I feel with you, my friend.

Situations we can't control, concerning our Cayenne, can really feel like being stuck in life in a big way ;-)

But good news for you, your dear friend's waiting for you to come&pick her up..
She's still driving beautifully and for 99.99% still in beautiful shape, after all those years...
And whispers at you: "Come pick me up, boss, I am ok, it only 2 stupid little lights in me, please come pick me up. I don't want to be here, these mechanics f.ck up my computer"

I would advise you to go and pick her up, fixed or not fixed, and accept her without this 2 comfort lights..
The same like I still accept my wife, now the years are passing by, and gravity is starting to show off, lol
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Right, I am going to do just that. I dont care about the lights anymore, its too small of a detail, I just want my locks/kessy buttons, sunroof, side lights, and rear hatch working like they were prior to taking it to the dealer, then I am never going back.

I wanted to establish a relationship with a dealer, because I do have an extended warranty for another year, and there are some things like programming, etc. I cant do or have the time to do with a wife and 3 kids, so I was hopeful with this being a Porsche dealer, and supposedly a good one at that, my experience would be top notch.
How dissapointing, never left a dealer of lower make cars with more problems.

So far the car has met my expectations, as you said, if they fix their mistakes, its 99.9% there so I enjoy it in all its glory, but the dealer experience at least with this one, so far is horrible. That can make or break car manufactures or return sales/service.

Thanks again for the support and comments! Hopefully this will all be over soon.

 

And when she's back home, the solution for the missing doorlights, might come unexpectedly, by itselve.. It might be something so small as a fuse.
Give her some quality time, when she's back home, go for a nice spin, the 2 of you, and some extra wax washing, and she might miraculously cure herselve

When I have problems with my Cayenne, I bring her to my local garage.
They have the same tools for reading her, and the same, or even more knowlegde than many Porsche dealers, I am sure about that.
And without renewing a part, when only the cable of that part is broken.

I will study deeper into this also, because everything points in the direction that I also have the ambient lighting & not working in the doors for me also,

Enjoy your weekend,

Greetings,

Tjilitjap

 

I originally wanted to go to a local independent that works on Porsches, but he declined programming work, Im trying to remember why, believe it was cause he doesnt have the latest and greatest programmers, tools, etc. or has learned there are many issues with programming like I am running into.
But from now on I am going to the independent, and will look to get a programmer like you to do that stuff myself.
I did check fuses, no issues there. I really do believe the dealer did this.
They have the new comfort control module in and are programming it, we shall see if it fixes everything, including the ambient door lights. My warranty is covering the CU part and some of the labor, so its not all on me, but I am going to discuss with the service manager. The warranty isnt covering all the labor cause they are arguing the dealer is taking longer than the book time. The dealer gave me a long explanation that the computer systems on our cayennes were a 1st for Porsche, therefore troublesome, slow to program, and you risk killing control modules if done wronig. I dont believe it, what car doesnt have this level of technology and even more today.

Thanks again for the support!

 

I wonder if any Porsche service centers can retrofit one of these comfort packages. Having the auto dimming rear view mirror would be nice. Or even having the rear diff lock, or even the front disconnecting sway bar ( have a 2005 Turbo, it's like 95% of what I was after)

Or even the factory Fire Extinguisher...

 

Well, I got the Cayenne back, after 3 weeks! All the faults I had after leaving the dealer for un related repairs, indicated to me the comfort module was messed up, and indeed it was.
the dealer is claiming the programming was not "holding". Not sure I believe it all, but to fix it it required a new rear comfort control module, and then programming of it to work.
Long story short, all the issues I left the dealer with after they got their hands on it, are now back to normal, and the bonus is the ambient lights in the door arm rest are now working.
Again,all the problems occurred after leaving the dealer for a driver door switch replacement. Coincidence?
Took the shop foreman, after 2 previous unsuccessful visits, to get this resolved, Im very disappointed in Porsche service and this dealer.
Here is what the lights in the arm rests should look like.
And by the way, they light up all around the "floating" arm rest, the sides and underneath as well, I always thought it was just the top gap area (my picture doesnt show the underside, but look just like the top).
Also, the dim and brighten with the overhead switch, just like the footwell lights.
There is a brighter and bigger spot to the light pattern at the forward most part of the arm rest, on all 4 arm rests, so not sure if this is maybe where the light source is or starts? Still not sure how these work, if LED strip, or one light bulb with a reflective tube running the lengths?

 

Hi CorvetteBoy,

Thanks a lot of reporting back about the final results...
Several things go through my mind right now, things like: "He hung in there, didn't give up, and he reached his final goal.."
I really really love this ambient lights as in your picture..
"I did not persevere, I feel sad, because I do not have this, because I gave up.." "I do not want to give up, I must continue, and I WILL get this fixed".

I take my hat off for you for hanging in there, the result is really really nice!

Greetings,
Tjap

EDIT:
Ps: Do you know by any chance, the exact location of this "Rear Comfort Control Module", is it difficult to get there? Maybe a picture of this Rear Comfort Controle Module, on how it looks ;-P
Did you ask the broken rear comfort module back, or is that a really Dutch thing to do?
I often ask for that, so I can examine it in my house & judge weither it is really broken or I can use certain parts of it..