15 captured repliesPartial discussion capture · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHTop controller kaput on 987.1 Boxster
Leading reported evidence
Replace gear
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
So, he had already replaced the gear on that side and will replace the link on that side so I will have a spare link and a spare gear because he has not torn into the other side.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
And if you do, definitely do NOT be tempted to replace the cheap plastic with a solid metal ball joint because next time there's an issue, it's going to be something much more expensive and less DIYable that breaks.
Leading evidence: 'Replace gear' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace cheap plastic' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
And if you do, definitely do NOT be tempted to replace the cheap plastic with a solid metal ball joint because next time there's an issue, it's going to be something much more expensive and less DIYable that breaks.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
He had replaced the linkage and the gear on the right side and it was still being jerky but it would go up and down.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
There are a hundred different things that can set off that error, so just replacing the module is no guarantee that will fix it.
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
Replace cheap plastic
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
And if you do, definitely do NOT be tempted to replace the cheap plastic with a solid metal ball joint because next time there's an issue, it's going to be something much more expensive and less DIYable that breaks.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
So, he had already replaced the gear on that side and will replace the link on that side so I will have a spare link and a spare gear because he has not torn into the other side.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
15 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Planet-9: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 1 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
2 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Just picked this thing up on Thursday, '05 Boxster S with 32k on it and it looks brand new.
However, this morning, I took it out for a while, got home and when I went to put the top up, it came up, but made all kinds of Godawful noises while doing it.
Now it says something about top controller failing and top not in position.
It's closed and will be alright until I can get it looked at but it will only bring the windows up about 75 percent due to this alarm.
The guy that takes care of all my vehicles will be here shortly and I need to find out if there is a way to get these windows up all the way so he can wash and wax it.
I have read the owners manual but can't find a reference to that. I even disconnected the
battery
to try and reset everything and the window originally went all the way up but as soon as that alarm came back, they dropped down.
HALP!
The same thing happened to me a few months ago. There is a controller box for each side of the top. What broke was a plastic gear inside the box. Unfortunately, the controller is about $1k and also has the limit switch built in. You can rebuild the box with a gear from
Pelican Parts
that is made by Odometer Gears, and hopefully, your limit switch is still good.
I could not find a way to get my windows up, so I parked the car in the garage and threw a car cover on it.
Sounds like what I got. It's popping and stuff and what you say makes sense.
It's in the carport with a cover over it.
So, what's with the windows not coming up? Limit switch keeping it from bringing them up?
I just picked this thing up on Thursday and it was fine until yesterday. The independent dealer I bought it from probably had no idea I guess since it seems to be something that, once it breaks, it's broke.
Would a controller box from a 986 work? I know where there is one that hasn't moved in about a year.
I do some of my own work but I would not know where to begin on this. I have no idea where the controller is located.
Is this it? This is set for both sides. (BTW, the gear part number is the same for 2003 and 2005)
Convertible Top Drive Transmission Gear PEL9867TOPS - Odometer Gears - PEL-9867-TOPS | Pelican Parts
UPDATE:
Got these instead. Both made by Odometer Gears and guy at Pelican says they are
exactly the same, just gotten from different distributor. I had called him to inquire about the difference.
Transmission for Convertible Top 987561180GEAR - Odometer Gears - 987-561-180-GEAR | Pelican Parts
Transmission for Convertible Top 987561179GEAR - Odometer Gears - 987-561-179-GEAR | Pelican Parts
Saved about $80.
Local shop now working on it after I got the two gears. He found a link, that according to who he talked to at Porsche, is supposed to break if the top binds. I guess that's a safety feature. So, he had already replaced the gear on that side and will replace the link on that side so I will have a spare link and a spare gear because he has not torn into the other side.
They aren't really a Porsche shop (nearest one is some 70 miles away, but he seems to be able to learn from drawings and procedures he gets off the net and apparently has a contact at Porsche since I ain't his first Porsche customer.
I am now wondering what bound up on the top and if the dealer in Ormond Beach knew about it.
First week or so, the top seemed to work just fine and then one day it got all herky jerky and made some godawful noises.
I guess if it did that, they probably didn't know about it. Car only has 32.5k on it and the operating hours figure seems to verify the mileage........about 1k hours at avg of 32 mph would be about right according to Durametric material on the subject.
It's an S and it does haul *** and it's really nice but I am seeing a few things here and there that make me wonder about the previous owner or owners.
Yeah, there's a pushrod linkage connecting the servo mechanism to the top. The final connection is a cheap plastic ball joint that's designed to be a mechanical fuse, so that if something is amiss, the ball joint will break and protect the rest of the mechanism from damage. If you keep trying to open/close the roof, the snapped pushrod end can tear up the rubber insulation and cause leaks.
I understand the most common failure is trying to lower the roof without fully disengaging the windshield hook- be careful and don't do that! And if you do, definitely do NOT be tempted to replace the cheap plastic with a solid metal ball joint because next time there's an issue, it's going to be something much more expensive and less DIYable that breaks.
He had replaced the linkage and the gear on the right side and it was still being jerky but it would go up and down. However, it still would not let the windows close. I was gonna ask him to go ahead replace the gear on the left side but he was ahead of me on that. That fixed it completely, windows and all. Probably that gear broke and twisted the link on the right and broke it.
The sensor for the top being closed is on the left side, so fixing that let me raise the windows because it now sees the top as being closed.
So now, both gears replaced with gears from
Pelican Parts
, one linkage replaced, and I have the spare link in the trunk. Might go ahead and order a set of gears from
Pelican
and stash them.
They said on their site to replace both sides. Looks like one had broken before on this car and they only replaced that one, the right side. The newly broken one, on the left, was the original factory one. They had not replaced both.
So, anyway, for about $1050 (parts and labor), got that fixed, a "roadforce balance" (whatever that means) of the
tires
(relatively new
Michelins
on it), oil change with
Mobil 1
and Porsche filter, a full service, inspection of belts, hoses, fluid levels, etc.
Not too bad.
They are not a Porsche shop but the guy looked up what he needed to on his computer, and got the job done. Kinda had to feel his way through this time, but if he can figure out how to work on the mechanism for the top, he can probably do most things on the car.
As noted, I am in Waycross, GA. The nearest indy who knows Porsches is in Brunswick, 60 miles. The nearest dealer is in Jax (what used to be Brumos) is 90 miles, and the place where I bought my
Cayman S
, Porsche of Hilton Head, is about 110 miles so as long as he can do what I need, he gets my business.
Oh, while he had it apart, my K&N air filter came in so I had him put that in too.
I will be getting an FVD Brambaucher Sound Edition muffler in a few weeks and let him put it on. I have that on my
Cayman S
and on my '03 Boxster base, and it sounds sweet with absolutely drone.
AS AN ASIDE, I have a question:
The airbag light is on, the indy dealer where I bought it gave me the airbag module still in the box and said it had to be put in by a Porsche dealer because it had to be integrated into the system.
Anyone familiar with that? Can the local shop just install it and clear the airbag light? If not, will my Durametric Enthusiast kit allow me, or him, to do what's needed after he installs it?
The airbag light is "latching," so once it goes on it stays on. It might have been tripped by something as inconsequential as unplugging the connector in the console, i.e. not necessarily a faulty part.
Use your Durametric to clear the airbag light, then see what happens afterward. If the light stays off, you're good to go. If it comes back on, then use the Durametric to read the fault codes and diagnose the problem.
I have the module. If it comes back, I should be able to replace it and just reset the light, correct?
Just out of curiosity, can any scanner reset that light or does it need to be something Porsche specific like the Durametric?
I ask that just to learn.
As far as I have been able to tell, only the Durametric (Enthusiast or Pro) can reset codes on our cars (other than the
Porsche PIWIS
of course).
I wouldn't replace the module until you know it's the problem. Let's get the light cleared first and then see what happens. There are a hundred different things that can set off that error, so just replacing the module is no guarantee that will fix it.
