Boxster Soft Top Cracking Noise

Hi guys, Been with my 987 Boxster S for just over a year now. Took delivery in January 2008. A week after getting the car, there was a cracking sound coming from just above the aft portion of the left window. It was intermittent, didn't get louder over speedbumps or going over carpark ramps. It also wouldn't present itself all the time. The sound it makes is what I would describe as similar to cracking your knuckles. It sounds like a joint in the soft top mechanism isn't lubricated properly. Only recently that the noise has been getting worse, and appearing more often. I've tried lubricating the joints, only to have the noise return after around 1-2 miles of driving. Some of the guys over at the renntech.org forums have also reported of this noise and the cause there was a piece of fabric that stretches the soft top taut over the frame rubbing on one of the frame members. Solutions include spraying the whole area with silicone grease/oil, or sticking a piece of felt or tape on the frame member. My boxster came delivered with a piece of felt stuck on the part in question and Porsche has an "official" part number for that felt sticker. I've tried all the lubrication methods, but that silly cracking noise is driving me up the wall. Just wondering if there are any members here with the same problem and have solved it. Regards, JS

Well I had a similar "sound" that occurred whenever I opened or closed the top. After a while I discovered what it was but it was too late. There are two metal rods on both sides with movable plastic caps that move the fabric top while being opened or closed. I had one of them broken, and I didnt find out until after they both broke. It may not be the same thing, but I'd suggest you open your top such that the metal cover is open and then stop. Then check under the metal cover for anything unusual

Hi Nitro, Thanks for the reply. I just checked and there are 2 ball joint ended rods on each side of the car, one white and one black. The black one is steel, and the white one is, I suspect nylon. They both looked fine to me. Even gave them a nudge to see if they were loose but they weren't. I suppose for your case Porsche replaced them under the warranty? I've informed my dealer of the problem and they said they'll make a note of it and will check it out at my next servicing, in 2000 miles time. But I highly doubt they'll find anything. Knowing the nature of the problem, it probably won't present itself nicely when the techs are trying to troubleshoot it.

I have a cracking noise when I open the roof and it is a plastic flap right above the drivers head that is supposed to flip open. It gets jammed sometimes and the pieces bends and snaps out (sounds like something is breaking). I do have a lot of squeeks from my roof while driving. Any recommendation on lubrication points ? How do I access those joints? I assume half open the roof?

Use a silicone lubricant which won't damage rubber and plastic. I use a spray can with a straw nozzle to get to those hard to reach spots, which is just about all of them. Unless you can remove the fabric from the roof. The roof can be opened halfway, exposing the joints. Sounds like the flap you're talking about is just above the middle section of the window? There is a cam there that pushes the flap open when the roof is being opened. You might want to check if it's broken or needs some lubricant.

Thanks..I'll give it a try.

I've had the same crackling noise coming from my soft top. There is a discussion of this issue at Renntech.org that helped me at cracking noise fron the soft hood - RennTech.org Forums . Good luck.

Hey lucid, thanks for the point over to renntech.org. I went there and saw that exact same thread before posting here. Though it had some really good advice, it seemed dead. So... I decided again to troubleshoot that triangular piece of fabric. Last week I wrapped it in a piece of smooth clear plastic, the kind your laptop accessories come wrapped in. It's smooth and doesn't make a sound when rubbed over itself. Put the top up and went for a drive but the cracking sound came back after about 3 miles. That made me think that the piece of fabric wasn't the culprit. I had already smeared some Super Lube teflon grease on it, as well as sprayed silicone. Today, one more try. I taped the piece of fabric up with duct tape . Not to make the fabric fold over, but just a wrapping. It's been about 70 miles so far and not a peep. Finally! Going to put down the top tomorrow to check how my miracle tape is doing.

Dealer fixed the cracking in my top. Had a loose tension rope on the drivers side and they lubricated the joints. Hopefully that holds up. They also replaced the fabric window seal as it was worn.

I am having a "rattling" noise only when I hit bumpy roads on the drivers side window fabric seal with the window closed. If I put my hand on the fabric seal, I can feel something rattling.. I checked the passenger side-no noise, can't feel any rattles. Suggestions? Thanks, 05 987

My roof has been creaking and cracking for some time and it's now so loud and so frequent that I feel like taking out the chainsaw and massacring the thing! Is the roof a serviceable item? My creaks sound very like dry plastic rubing together. Perhaps the cure is Mk2 Cayman S !!

I have the creaks too! Started this week on the driver's side - top of the window frame, a bit towards the rear. May have been there before but it just turned cold enough to need the top up on my short drive to work. Not obvious it could be fixed by lubricating the "fabric triangle trim", or adding something to make it more slippery - but I will give that a try. It sounds more like to glass marbles being pressed / rubbed - it's not pleasant. Will advice as soon as I get to the source of the problem - hope I do soon. I am on CPO warranty, and I know the dealer won't cover top issues unless you are still under the new car warranty.

Hello ! Is it possible for some one to post a picture "Fabric Triangle trim" so it will be a litle easier to find and understand,thanks ! / Best Regards

Well, I opened the top to the maintenance position and sprayed some silicone lubricant on the hinges joint that are visible when opening the small plastic doors on top of the window frames - both driver & passennger side. Absolutelly no creaks since. I am feeling good about finding the root cause and quick fix. .

This may be off topic, but I was curious if people regularly lubricate the top. If so, with what and how often? I'm new to convertible care. Thanks.

Been there, done that, now have to listen to the creaking of all the trim pieces in the hatch of the Cayman S. (I've literally pulled my Cayman over to the side of the highway to move trim bits around to stop them from making that #$@! noise…)