996 turbo engine cover and luggage compartment wont open

996 turbo engine cover and luggage compartment wont open

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eg6-b18c6

Original Poster:

291 posts

179 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
Battery isn't flat, and i realise there are manual releases. Neither the engine deck lid, or the front luggage compartment, will open using the buttons near the drivers sill. (or is it cill? I know how to say it but see it writte both ways.) The front luggage compartment does however open using the button on the key. I'd have thought if it was a fuse, the electronic release from the key button wouldn't open it either. Although, I havent had chance to check the fuses yet.

Any ideas anyone?

Pat Cash

312 posts

229 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
eg6-b18c6 said:
Battery isn't flat, and i realise there are manual releases. Neither the engine deck lid, or the front luggage compartment, will open using the buttons near the drivers sill. (or is it cill? I know how to say it but see it writte both ways.) The front luggage compartment does however open using the button on the key. I'd have thought if it was a fuse, the electronic release from the key button wouldn't open it either. Although, I havent had chance to check the fuses yet.

Any ideas anyone?
IIRC the whole function is controlled by the Alarm CU. The two cover switches share the same input to the control unit and are linked to ground with resistors in each forming a resistor ladder. When you press one of the switches, the pin at the CU is shorted to ground through the resistance and the CU then knows which switch has been pressed and drives the output to actuate the appropriate release motor.

As you say, if the actuators can be driven by the keyfob, then at least it points you in the direction of the switches circuit.
I think there are at least two fuses for the Alarm CU, so it could be one of these failing, powering down part of the CU.
Subsequently, check the switch circuits... Failing that, Control unit...??

the other me

613 posts

152 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
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Never heard of the lids being operated by the key fob ? was that a mod on later (2003 on ? ) models ? as my humble 2002 model can only be operated by the switches on the sill (if the battery has life, as I have discovered to my cost in the past when I went for Chocolate Tea Pot Porsche rather than Bosch. )


Equally, I have no manual relaeases, so maybe you are talking very early (2000) car with the manual cables, which I guess are backed up by an (aftermarket ? ) alarm ? as it stands your question confuses me , as you appear to have a totally different system (means of opening) to my 2002.

Edited by the other me on Thursday 31st July 10:35

eg6-b18c6

Original Poster:

291 posts

179 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
quotequote all
Mine is a late 2001 registered 2002 model. It has an electronic release button in the car for the engine lid and front luggage compartment, and two buttons on each of the keys. one to lock/unlock the doors, and the other opens the front luggage compartment. Not sure if this is the norm or not? There is no aftermarket alarm though.

Thanks to the first respondent for the detailed reply on how the system works, I can see it would have caused some head scratching if I'd tried to work it out just looking at the wiring.

davek_964

8,796 posts

174 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
quotequote all
the other me said:
Never heard of the lids being operated by the key fob ? was that a mod on later (2003 on ? ) models ?
My 2002 (facelift, with glove compartment) can also be operated by the key fob.

Pat Cash

312 posts

229 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
eg6-b18c6 said:
Mine is a late 2001 registered 2002 model. It has an electronic release button in the car for the engine lid and front luggage compartment, and two buttons on each of the keys. one to lock/unlock the doors, and the other opens the front luggage compartment. Not sure if this is the norm or not? There is no aftermarket alarm though.

Thanks to the first respondent for the detailed reply on how the system works, I can see it would have caused some head scratching if I'd tried to work it out just looking at the wiring.
You're more than welcome.... biggrin
Let us know how it ends up!

thegoose

8,075 posts

209 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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If this has happened suddenly without anything else having been done to the car then I can't help.

However, if it has had any work done and been connected to a PIWIS tester or similar then it could have been configured to keep them locked.

I only this as I left my early 996 (with pull handles rather than switches) with the race team overnight so they could find out what was wrong with the alarm system (horn sounded upon locking, indciating a problem, turned out to be passenger door switch). So, after a few "refreshments" later that night they plugged their tester in and had a little fun, which included posting a picture on Facebook of the speedo showing 155mph saying I was daft for leaving them the keys laugh . They also changed the settings on everything they could, speedo to km/h etc, which included the alarm system. This resulted in me not being able to open the bonnet or engine cover, the levers were locked down electronically. I don't think this was something they'd intended, or expected, with whatever settings they'd chosen for the alarm/security system. Needless to say I got them to plug the tester back in sharpish to sort it out!

the other me

613 posts

152 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Whoops. . . . seems that 7 years ownership hasn't been enough time for me to work out how to operate the key fob bangheadgetmecoat just found the 2nd button. . . . . . Duh ! ! !