Passenger window down-noise when starting car?

This thread is a takeoff from one where @deilenberger asked if anyone else's 987.2 made a passenger window movement during startup (posted here: Minor 987 electrical bugaboos... ) At the time, we didn't figure out what caused it, and it wasn't consistent. But I think I may have found a set of conditions for it. Yesterday, I was getting into my car (2010 Boxster Base) and the driver door was open as I was getting in. This was the first cold start of the day. I inserted the key and went to start the car, and that's when I heard the passenger window make its noise. Nothing bad - just the noise you'd expect if the window was down and then wanted to go back up the 1/4". Of course, the passenger door was not opened, so it didn't go down, and so it shouldn't need to go up... but it made that noise. When I got to my destination, I was getting back in the car and consciously did the same operation - left the door open a little and went to start the car. This would be a warm-start after only a few minutes of being off (just had to grab something from a pickup order). Again, the window made the noise. I don't recall exactly when this happens, but I think it's between insert and first rotation (ie, before I START the car). Unfortunately, in order to test this timing out, I just went to the car right now to check again. I opened the passenger door this time to see if the window dropped or not... as expected, it drops only when opened. In other words, the window is up when we hear this noise (ie, it sounds like it's trying to go up even though it already is up). However, this may have messed up the sequence because I did NOT hear the noise when I went to start the car. I don't know how long I have to wait for this sequence to reset, but it might be a clue for others to test it. So, as Don asked, does anyone else see this happen? The sequence, I believe, is: Open driver door (only) and don't close it Insert key Rotate key to "run" position without starting engine (or maybe you need to start it?) During that rotation, you may hear the passenger window make a noise, as if it's trying to go "back up" (even though it never dropped) My hope with this post is to see if others see this happen, and if we can explain how/why it happens. And maybe why it happened to me yesterday twice, but not today (tried twice).

I've never given it much thought but my car (2011 Cayman ) does this frequently. I just went out to the garage and did a little test: Rotated the key to the "run" position with the driver's door open: nothing. Shut the driver's door and rotated the key to the "run position: again, nothing I don't have time this morning for a proper warm up and at least a short drive, so I did not start my car. As I said, I have this passenger window movement (or sound) happen frequently, so I assume it must be when I turn the key all the way to "start." Will keep an eye (and ear) on this and report back.

Mine does that occasionally (07 Cayman ) If you search window ghosts you will see many strange behaviors mentioned My Driver door sometimes goes down the .25 inch when opening but sometimes not go back up. It happens very rarely but it does occur. My passenger side really has strange behavior. If I let it go all the way down and try to close it sometimes it stops half way needing a second push of the button. If I try to lower it half way it it will go all the way down and come back up half way. I am guessing it is the regulator or switch in my case. If I hold the button lowering or raising the window it works normal (all the way up or down.) Go figure!!!

Your window is showing the sign that it's binding a bit on the way up, and the anti-pinch mechanism is triggering (it measures motor current, if it sees an increase while the window is moving it figures it's pinching something, so it stops. But I'm convinced the programming for the windows was left at "that's good enough.."

I've been watching it a bit, and door open - yup. I was doing some Foxwell stuff so I had the door open so I could reach to hookup the OBD-II port. And it does seem to be when you turn the ignition to the start position. It's easy to test - on a PDK just don't step on the brake and it won't start. On a manual - don't step on the clutch and it won't start.. but bet it makes that noise. Yah Hans.. that's gootenuph..

Interesting. My car has a PDK transmission. I just went out and turned the key all the way to "start" (with door both open and closed) without pressing the brake pedal. No movement or sound either time.

Yeah, I had similar issues with trying to recreate the noise - door open I tried a few times and it didn't make the noise. Not sure what the trick is here, but it does happen sometimes, mostly when the door is open...

If we don't care about this anymore, let me know and I'll stop looking. I don't know that I care for a "problem" anymore, as it seems that this is just a weird "bug" that is in there, and it's not a huge deal... but I'll keep looking for now. Last night, I took the car out and it didn't do this when I left the garage (manual trans, brake held with clutch, door open). On the way back from a pickup, I purposely didn't touch the clutch or brake (door open)... this time, it DID make the noise as soon as I turned the key to the "run" position... So, so far, I'm seeing: Door needs to be open No brake/clutch Turn key to "run" and it happens But still, it only happens sometimes, as there are other times it doesn't happen even when I do these steps (I've done them before without the sound)...

Just did a short drive and tested this a few times, both at cold start and then when warm. After 8 attempts I had 1 time where the passenger window made the noise. Each other time nothing happened. So, in my case, this seems to be totally random. Best, George

Oh, I should add that the one time it happened, my door was closed.