8 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHTarga roof frame removal
Leading reported evidence
Use cable
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
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 · Original poster
Minor update: I bought someone's used cable set and guide (
Leading evidence: 'Use cable' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Repair kit" (' (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.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Then I again with barely any clearance used a Dremel cutting wheel to cut off the pins and that allowed me with some finagling to move the frame past the front attachments.
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.
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 · Original poster
If the cables are frozen, you can't lower the roof to follow the repair manual's instructions.
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
The previous owner of my 996 Targa had some sort of difficulty with the targa roof not operating properly, so he took it to his indy, who gave up and referred it to another indy who replaced a motor and still could not get it to work.
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
The previous owner of my 996 Targa had some sort of difficulty with the targa roof not operating properly, so he took it to his indy, who gave up and referred it to another indy who replaced a motor and still could not get it to work.
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.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Then I again with barely any clearance used a Dremel cutting wheel to cut off the pins and that allowed me with some finagling to move the frame past the front attachments.
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.
8 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
1 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
It then was taken to a local Porsche dealer, who fixed it.
Hi there, I recently purchased a 2002 911 Targa at auction without knowing much about the cars (lesson learned). The roof mechanism was inoperable. No action from the open/close button except a relay clicking in the roof control module in the rear. I wasn't able to move it at all with the manual push-in and twist at the motors. I was however able to slightly move the microswitch at the end of the cables to get it to make some very small movements when opening and closing. I now see that the driver side of the glass mechanism does lower very slightly (like half a mm maybe, movement only takes a 1/4 to 1/2 of a second) while the passenger side of the mechanism doesn't move at all. This makes me believe either a broken cable or a very bound up cable. Either way, I'm pretty certain the entire thing has to come out to repair it.
I've gotten all the glass off the car and some of the trim, but here's where it stops being obvious on what needs to be removed and how to remove it. I'm worried about breaking some impossible to get plastic bits without knowing exactly how they're removed. Any one have tips, advice, walkthrough or anything on how to get the whole Targa frame out? I've seen some videos on YouTube with it completely removed, but haven't seen anything on how to do it. Thank you for any advice.
You've gone a lot further than I've seen anyone go before on this forum! I believe you may be leading the way. There is a workshop manual floating around here somewhere. If you don't find it post up again and I'll see if I can help.
Holy cow. Pretty scary territory! The previous owner of my 996 Targa had some sort of difficulty with the targa roof not operating properly, so he took it to his indy, who gave up and referred it to another indy who replaced a motor and still could not get it to work. It then was taken to a local Porsche dealer, who fixed it. It works just fine for me.
Sorry to be so negative, but it seems like a mystery to anyone except a trained factory tech. The best of luck to you and please keep us posted on your progress. We are cheering for you!
I was afraid I'd get only responses like that. 😓
I should be documenting this for posterity I suppose, but I'm pretty garbage about doing that. I'll try to keep posting info as I make progress.
Thanks for the tip on the workshop manual. I found it pretty easily by searching here and it does look like it has enough info to get the job done!
Piece of cake right?!
Happy wrenching! So far so good on my 2002 Targa top after sitting outside under a tree for seven years. I've cleaned and lubed the moving bits on the roof. It is still slow to close.
This is a very poor image, but I'm pretty sure this is the reason the passenger side cable is jammed. This is at the lower end of the cable tube near the end of the hatch. I removed the linen liner and saw a very large amount of corrosion/calcium (the white stuff) that I imagine has seized the cable in the tube. I tried dripping some CLR on it and while it has reduced it, no progress on actually getting the thing to move. I started digging into the shop manual on how to remove the targa frame, but to remove that, it states you must lower the top with either the targa open switch or the emergency manual procedure with the allen keys in the motors. Neither of these are working options, so trying to figure out how to remove the frame with it still in its closed position will be the next challenge.
Minor update: I bought someone's used cable set and guide (
996.562.913.00)
off of eBay. But I'm also waiting on the "repair kit" (
996.562.906.00)
before I do anything destructive to the carriages that I can't get free with the current cables stuck to ensure I have the right parts in hand. It's still in a state where I can put everything back together if I need be. The kit I guess only comes from Germany at this point and I was told it would be about a month.
I've started to try to make a little progress on this lately. I finally got the top glass frame freed by cutting the carrier attachments. That's literally the only way I could thing to get this thing to move. If the cables are frozen, you can't lower the roof to follow the repair manual's instructions. It's a very tight space too. I could barely get an angle grinder in there to cut the rear carrier attachments. I slightly pried the front carrier's sliders out to free the pins from the upper attachments. Then I again with barely any clearance used a Dremel cutting wheel to cut off the pins and that allowed me with some finagling to move the frame past the front attachments.
All that done, the top frame is free within the sliding area. I'm not sure yet how the frame can be freed from the larger area since it seems contained. But that's what I got done today.
Pins cut on the front attachment
Support cut on the rear attachment
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
