997 basically not a workable car in the frost!
997 basically not a workable car in the frost!
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Gixer968CS

Original Poster:

811 posts

109 months

Friday 22nd January 2021
quotequote all
Is it just me? On a heavy frost day my 997 door locks will freeze. Worse; the windows freeze in the up position meaning when you open the door they cannot drop to enable me to re-shut them. I've tried squirting de-icer into the trim/window gap but that doesn't help. 10mins I had the car thawing today and still the windows wouldn't drop meaning I can't shut the door, so can't drive it and can't leave it!!!

Also, the 997 has always been prone to misting up - it must be well ventilated?? I guarantee it doesn't leak as after it had leaking internal door skins 4-5 years ago I'm pathological about checking. However, every cold/damp day it steams up like a bd and even the a/c demister won't clear the screen in under 5 mins. Today it had ice on the inside of the windscreen!

Basically it took me 15 mins to get the car drivable this morning. I love my 911 but it's basically useless in a frost. Is this common to all 997s? Now I usually just drive the girlfriend's Z4 if there's a frost frown

tr7v8

7,515 posts

249 months

Friday 22nd January 2021
quotequote all
For the windows sticking it is easy, Gummi Pflege from Amazon on all the rubbers.
Misting up is normally moisture but I've given up on my wife's MX5 so we run a baby dehumidifier (desiccant one) on an extension lead. This A. keeps it dry & also because it puts out warm air mean it stays frost/ice free.

Gixer968CS

Original Poster:

811 posts

109 months

Friday 22nd January 2021
quotequote all
tr7v8 said:
For the windows sticking it is easy, Gummi Pflege from Amazon on all the rubbers.
Misting up is normally moisture but I've given up on my wife's MX5 so we run a baby dehumidifier (desiccant one) on an extension lead. This A. keeps it dry & also because it puts out warm air mean it stays frost/ice free.
Nice tip, thanks

Dannythemusicman

84 posts

115 months

Friday 22nd January 2021
quotequote all
Nope, not only you. Porsche on their way to my 991 to fix the heater fan again.

+1 to the gummi pflege I did find this helps with the windows on frosty mornings.


Kettmark

923 posts

174 months

Friday 22nd January 2021
quotequote all
Some others have said misting up could be failed plastic door liners. I too have experienced frosted side windows. My suggestion is a car cover if you can't garage it.

MrJuice

3,770 posts

177 months

Friday 22nd January 2021
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this very problem broke my door lock and regulator on driver's side. Ouch.

Approx £375 for parts alone plus fitting labour.


bloody tourist

23 posts

111 months

Friday 22nd January 2021
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In the winter one thing these cars are very good at though, is warming up the cabin quickly.

Roundtheblock

5 posts

60 months

Friday 22nd January 2021
quotequote all
Sounds like you may have a bit of a leak, check the bottom of the door cards for damp at the bottom , the inner door water shields fail also check the drain holes are free in the bulk head as water can come in behind the pollen filter if they are blocked.
Had a few 997’s and run them all year round even in some bad winters, window drop does freeze up in avoidable

👍

Roundtheblock

5 posts

60 months

Friday 22nd January 2021
quotequote all
Sounds like you may have a bit of a leak, check the bottom of the door cards for damp at the bottom , the inner door water shields fail also check the drain holes are free in the bulk head as water can come in behind the pollen filter if they are blocked.
Had a few 997’s and run them all year round even in some bad winters, window drop does freeze up only way round it is de icer

PushedDover

6,909 posts

74 months

Friday 22nd January 2021
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Yup
Same as you OP
I’d get some dreadful condensation but did wonder if ‘because Targa’


gizlaroc

17,251 posts

245 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
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Just buy a couple of these or similar ....

moisture absorbing silica gel bags

Leave them under your seats, should be enough to stop any steaming up.

You sure your air con is working properly?

My 986 needed a regas and when it was low it misted up badly, but now working properly it sucks all the moisture out of the car nicely.

anonymous-user

75 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
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I have a similar challenge with a 986 Boxster.

I now have a 'cap' type cover on it, with a dehumidifier and oil radiator in the footwell. Bloody thing leaks, breaks regulators and is generally a pain in the arse. Much as I love Porsches, I sometimes curse it and wish I'd bought a 124 Spider instead!

nebpor

3,753 posts

256 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
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I broke a window regulator on my old 996 on an icy morning ... now I just pour tepid water over the window if they are frosted up and it works a treat. No it’s not going to make the window shatter - just use tepid/warm water and not boiling!

For the lock, I’ve found the old ways can still help - heat the top of the key with the gas ring / lighter and it will melt the inside if you can’t get the key in

craigjm

20,244 posts

221 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
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Yep gummi and silica pouches. Does sound like you have an issue somewhere internally though

Crazy4557

709 posts

215 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
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Get yourself an outdoor car cover hood thingy, I appreciate a full cover is not usable unless you have washed and dried the car every time which is not really feasible but the covers for the top half might be workable especially if you just use it when frost is forecast.

PushedDover

6,909 posts

74 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
quotequote all
nebpor said:
I broke a window regulator on my old 996 on an icy morning ... now I just pour tepid water over the window if they are frosted up and it works a treat. No it’s not going to make the window shatter - just use tepid/warm water and not boiling!

For the lock, I’ve found the old ways can still help - heat the top of the key with the gas ring / lighter and it will melt the inside if you can’t get the key in
Which is all slightly ridiculous isnt it on a car with a RRP of 70k + back in the day....

supersport

4,530 posts

248 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
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Our 987 Boxster is the same. Come the winter really appalling condensation. No leaks and all the drain holes a clear.

I put it down to being a rag top, but I have heard these generations can be bad.

The doors on our Volvo always freeze shut when it’s frosty, it’s ridiculous.

MrJuice

3,770 posts

177 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
quotequote all
nebpor said:
I broke a window regulator on my old 996 on an icy morning ... now I just pour tepid water over the window if they are frosted up and it works a treat. No it’s not going to make the window shatter - just use tepid/warm water and not boiling!

For the lock, I’ve found the old ways can still help - heat the top of the key with the gas ring / lighter and it will melt the inside if you can’t get the key in
are you saying that tepid water on the window before opening the door prevents the window from jamming as it would had the window been full of ice?

I really don't want to spend £500 on fixing this problem again so keen to do everything to avoid breaking it again.

nebpor

3,753 posts

256 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
quotequote all
PushedDover said:
Which is all slightly ridiculous isnt it on a car with a RRP of 70k + back in the day....
I’m not sure any car with frameless doors is any better though - my old Merc 300CE also did it, albeit it was from 1988 ;-)

But yes - I know what you mean. Must be much worse in the Nordics where they get much colder weather than us!

nebpor

3,753 posts

256 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
quotequote all
MrJuice said:
are you saying that tepid water on the window before opening the door prevents the window from jamming as it would had the window been full of ice?

I really don't want to spend £500 on fixing this problem again so keen to do everything to avoid breaking it again.
Yes, for me it’s about trying to loosen things up with warm water before attempting to open the door - it’s always worked for me but your mileage may vary, as they say ...! I’ve been doing it most mornings on my 996turbo just now as well - it’s not suffering from bad internal condensation like my old 996 though ... I think the seals must be better on the 996.2 possibly