What is going on with my Boxster

[ricof]

My 987 2.7 has developed a very frustrating fault whereby the windows have dropped circa 50mm (as they would if you were to lower/raise the roof) and there doesn't seem to be a solution. The roof is physically up and latched but there is a message telling me that the roof is not in the top position.

I had it in with my local indy and he had it on PIWIS, reset the entire thing, swapped the rear control unit with a fresh one, checked all the micro switches/gearboxes and no change. The next day he took managed to get it working so I went to pick it up and as I unlocked it, the windows dropped.

He had it on PIWIS again but couldn't make head or tail of it. I left it with him. Picked it up this Monday and all was working perfectly. Drove the circa 50 miles home. Got in it today and the bl***y windows have dropped again. I don't have a garage so had to go to halfrauds to buy an emergency cover.

He mentioned something about a gateway recall that Porsche are keeping very quiet about. Has anybody experienced anything like this before? If it helps to diagnose the problem, my heated seats aren't working either.

[Caddyshack]

I think the hood latch can be a little finicky.

The Audi TT has a comfort control module that fails and does exactly the same.

My 987 2005 can be funny as I put the roof up and says it’s not latched, I then go to put it down and it motors forward a tiny bit and then can latch and the windows go up. I assume a sensor is out somewhere.

Where are you based?

[ricof]

Thank you for the replies chaps. The latch micro switch has been checked and resoldered and tested OK. Likewise the gearbox microswitches.

He did mention some communication fault codes between the gateway and the control unit but I can't remember exactly what.

Very frustrating.

[Caddyshack]

Where are you based, I may be able to recommend some specialist techies.

[Caddyshack]

Looking at google it looks like there should be two micro switches in different locations

[ricof]

Thanks mate, I am in SW London.

Two micro switches in the roof catch?

[ajondyh]

Make sure the control unit hasn't had water ingress

[ricof]

The control unit was switched with a brand new unit and the fault did not disappear.

[Caddyshack]

ricof said:

Thanks mate, I am in SW London.

Two micro switches in the roof catch?

Russell Lewis RSR is down the a3, but there are a few nearer...I will have a think.

2 micro switches in the roof, 1 in catch but there is another.

[Semmelweiss]

GT-One in Chertsey
ePorsch in West End

Either will sort it!

[Adam B]

ricof said:

Thanks mate, I am in SW London.

Two micro switches in the roof catch?

Me too, found RGA in Vauxhall good value

[boxsey]

Windows that have dropped by themselves (I think that's what you're saying) are often the first sign of the battery being on its way out.

[ajondyh]

ricof said:

The control unit was switched with a brand new unit and the fault did not disappear.

Are you talking about the rear control unit under the seat?

[Caddyshack]

boxsey said:

Windows that have dropped by themselves (I think that's what you're saying) are often the first sign of the battery being on its way out.

No, he is saying that when the windows drop to allow the roof to close they do not return to the up position when the roof is locked shut...I think.

[ricof]

ajondyh said:

Are you talking about the rear control unit under the seat?

Yes

[ricof]

Caddyshack said:

boxsey said:

Windows that have dropped by themselves (I think that's what you're saying) are often the first sign of the battery being on its way out.

No, he is saying that when the windows drop to allow the roof to close they do not return to the up position when the roof is locked shut...I think.

This oddness happened after I replaced a dead battery with a new one.

To clarify, the windows have dropped as if the roof is about to raise or lower. They will not return to their usual position.

[tomtom]

Adam B said:

Me too, found RGA in Vauxhall good value

I use RGA for everything. Easy location and they've been very good for me so far. They fixed my heated seats with a re-coding so presumably they have the necessary software. edit: My heated seats 'broke' after the previous owner let the battery go totally flat. The cars will forget they have certain options, and produce all sorts of other weirdness, if they're without power for a while.

Try poking the latch sensor by waggling a biro around in the little hole. A friend of mine fixed his inoperable roof by doing that.

[boxsey]

ricof said:

Caddyshack said:

boxsey said:

Windows that have dropped by themselves (I think that's what you're saying) are often the first sign of the battery being on its way out.

No, he is saying that when the windows drop to allow the roof to close they do not return to the up position when the roof is locked shut...I think.

This oddness happened after I replaced a dead battery with a new one.

To clarify, the windows have dropped as if the roof is about to raise or lower. They will not return to their usual position.

After disconnecting a battery it's necessary to reset the travel of each window by lowering it a little, then raising it to the top, let go of the switch and then hold the switch in the up position for a second or two to do the reset. Might be worth trying this?

[ricof]

@Boxsey - that was the first thing I tried mate.

Here’s a twist, got the cover off the car this morning and started the car, no ‘roof not closed’ error so I tried the windows and they went up!

The guys are revolution have been incredibly helpful over the phone and I’ve just dropped it off at RGA and they are going to replace the roof micro switch and go from there.

Fingers crossed the replacement of the roof microswitch will be the cure.

[Caddyshack]

Caddyshack said:

boxsey said:

Windows that have dropped by themselves (I think that's what you're saying) are often the first sign of the battery being on its way out.

No, he is saying that when the windows drop to allow the roof to close they do not return to the up position when the roof is locked shut...I think.

Apologies, I was wrong