996 convertible roof problem

Hello friends I am new Porsche owner, i both project 996 convertible. So the roof is not operating. > roof is stuck in close. I need to get the roof in service position so that i can see the hydraulic oils etc. This problem has been already litlebit inspected by previous owner. > Handbrake which should be ok. Roof black box has been inspected.> no soldering problems. He gave me can of hydraulic fluid and say that it probably wont work as hydraulic motor can is empty. > and yes if this is the reason most probably need to change those roof cylinder sealings. Question; 1. Does roof open if car is not idling/running? 2. I cant find any good instruction how i can manually open the roof in service position.? any advice.? or i mean where i can get those instruction 3. What do you think does dash handbrake light come on if handbrake which is not ok.? If i understood right from driver door i can try to operate roof and it has no affect if which are broken. 4. Any other good ideas.? what could be wrong. Sorry my Eng. i am not native. Br,Rami

1. Does roof open if car is not idling/running? Yes, the roof will operate if the car is not running, provided your battery is strong. Try putting the key in the driver's door, turning the key all the way to the left and hold it. 2. I cant find any good instruction how i can manually open the roof in service position.? any advice.? or i mean where i can get those instruction The instructions are in the owners manual. Be warned that operating the top manually may require a re-calibration of the the roof system using a special computer interface. (PIWIS or similar) Images of the roof operation pages of the owners manual can be found here : https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...brio-roof.html 3. What do you think does dash handbrake light come on if handbrake which is not ok.? If i understood right from driver door i can try to operate roof and it has no affect if which are broken. When you pull the handbrake, the handbrake light on the dashboard should come on. When you release the handbrake, the light should go off. If this does not happen, it could be part of you roof problem. 4. Any other good ideas.? what could be wrong. The roof system is complex, so there could be many different causes. Check the fuses. Check the handbrake. Give us more information about exactly what happens. (i.e. does it make noise when you press the "open" button)

Hi, Thank you for reply, symptons: 1. Windows goes down from roof button > i hear click. 2. Roof light flashes 3 times. > and then nothing happening. 3.From back i can hear very quiet clicking sound.> but can this be fuel pump. -No fuse has gone. -Handbrake light is on when brake is on. -Car battery is full, and of course roof dont work if car is running. Here is a picture from hydraulic pump tank. > So i do not see oil.? should it be seen here. This i take with endosscope. Any good proposals, what to do next. ?

Some reason pic dont come here. Or can anyone see.?

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When I purchased my 2002 Cabriolet the roof did not function properly. I did not even try to operate the roof without the car running so I honestly don't know what happens there. The procedure the previous owner showed me was this: 1. Start the car. Depress the top down button until the clamshell hatch opened fully. During that process the front latch hook for the roof released and the windows dropped. 2. Get out of the car. Lift the roof (provided that it has unlatched) and carefully, manually lower it into the storage compartment. It can be done by a single person from one side. 3. Get back in the car and press the top down button some more until the clamshell fully closes over the stowed soft top. At this point the top operation red light should go out. To put the top up I needed to: 1. Depress the top up button until the clamshell fully opened. 2. Get out of the car and lift the top up to the fully seated position. 3. Hold the top over the closure latch and operate the top close button some more until the hook came down and clamped the top in place. 4. To get the rear windows to go up I had to sneak the tip of my finger past the engaged hook and depress the microswitch in there while I actuated the rear windows with the button. I still don't know why that was the case, because the hook/latch were fully engaged by that point. The car was operated that way for 7 years by the previous owner. I just went through the process of restoring the hydraulic cylinders with Cabriolet Hydraulics in Sarasota, Florida. The cause of all my problems were faulty cylinder seals that had over time drained all the hydraulic fluid. Once the cylinder seals were restored and reinstalled fully charging the pump reservoir with fluid was all I needed to do to restore complete factory functioning to my top up and down actuation. It took several minutes of operating the button up and down, up and down, to purge all the air from the system. It took so many times I lost faith that I had actually done any good by restoring the cylinders - I thought I had a faulty control module, pump, relay, something. While I was frustrated and pondering what to do next, I just faithfully kept holding the button down for 20s then up for 20s and all of sudden it took off! It was a total relief for a car the previous owner really couldn't tell me about the failure mode. Volfram I would say with 99% likelihood the cause of your empty reservoir is faulty seals in the cylinders. I highly recommend Cabriolet Hydraulics for their online removal and reinstallation instructions, as well as the way they kit everything up for reinstallation, but many have had success with any reputable hydraulics rebuild shop. I never suffered any need to recalibrate anything. The potentiometer on one of the cylinders tells the top computer everything it needs to know about the position of the top after you restore the hydraulic systems. Good luck troubleshooting!

Does the clamshell cover move at all? If you hear a click, perhaps the clamshell cover is not unlatching. This is the first step of the sequence. There is a microswitch on the motor for the clamshell cover. If the first step does not complete, the sequence of operation cannot continue. Check this first

Hi, Some challenges: 1. So i try to open the back clam/lid but some reason this srew/system do not move in countervise. Its like jammed. Do i do something wrong.? Because turning this in countervice it should open.? right.? -> this would make this so much easier. Also the srew looks like it has been fixed some point... And if i turn it in clockwice it just comes of.. Like you see.... Any idea.? 2. I have managewd to ad some oil, like 2 cups.. but it just does not look that there is any when looking with light through this white tank... also some did not go in tank.. this is like hell to do it like this.... really need to get that back clamp/lid open..So can access better. > service position.

Hi, I quess oil tank is now full, and no change. Roof do not open. Is it normall that when open from roof button. > 1. Windows goes down. 2. Roof light flass 3 times. 3. I hear clik from back. 4. Nothing happends. Also after this if i pust one short push of button > roof light flash and one click. I have DELPHI car soft, > now i will try to read faults. > But what was the one for Porsche which can reset the roof and read all microwitch. Also need to chek that clamshell microwitch.

Hi, I think previous owner has used roof manually, what is needed to do if this has been done`?

volfram, It sounds like your roof needs to be recalibrated. I understand that needs to be done by a dealer/independent with the Porsche computer system. Maybe someone more knowledgeable will chime in!

Hi again, Actually ROOF OPENING cycle is according this. And for me only windows goes down and cliks LOL .. So i will now check all Microswich in this order and see are those ok. If those are ok then i need tool to calibrate. Really wish i had the tool to read those microsw. I also opened another thread to ask which tool is the best to purchase to calibrate the roof. Opening Cycle • Press the rocker switch for convertible top drive or radio control unit to the “open” position • The locking mechanism in the roof frame unlocks • The convertible top compartment lid unlocks • The windows are fully lowered • The convertible top compartment lid opens • The convertible top opens • The locking mechanism locks • The convertible top compartment lid closes • The rear side flaps are raised • The convertible top compartment lid locks • The windows are fully closed (Door windows have antipinch feature when interference is detected.) Closing Cycle • Press the rocker switch for convertible top drive or radio control unit to the “close” position • The convertible top compartment lid unlocks • The convertible top compartment lid opens • The windows are fully lowered • The rear side flaps are lowered • The convertible top closes • The locking mechanism unlocks • The convertible top compartment lid closes • The locking mechanism locks • The convertible top compartment lid locks • The windows are fully closed

Any updates on this? I have a new to me 1999 996 doing the same. It was puking fluid & that seemed like an obvious place to start. I have rebuilt the hydraulics & I am now ready to blead the system. I press the button & hear a faint click somewhere (like a relay not a latch) but nothing happens. I suspected a relay problem & going for simplest first went to check it but it seems to be missing. I thought, well there's yours problem lol. As best I can tell they don't make the original relay but some conflicting info I read said the newer better Boxster relay 986.618.111.02 would work so I ordered it. Turns out under closer inspection with better light that the double spot where it "should" be is just blank & there is nothing to plug anything into. Also has a double spot with no relay that something could be plugged into but the relay pins are not oriented for it to fit there. Also found more conflicting info that the relay may not go under the dash at all on "some cars" & may be under the clamshell & also may be under the rear seat. So it's all just a roll of the dice & a big mystery & I am so confused. I've found a procedure with jumper wires to force it to operate & do some troubleshooting but can't do that if I can't find it. All I seem to be able to find is hearsay & maybes & so I joined here (first post) because what I need is to be slapped around with some cold hard facts from someone who knows something first hand about these cars. ANY help for this confused & frustrated noob would be greatly apricated! Thanks.

All I can say is I'm glad I own a coupe! Good luck guys...maybe a trip to the Porsche dealer is really what is required. At least they can read errors and microswitchs to help pinpoint what might be wrong.

Hello friend So i did not proceed the investigation > i ordered the Durametric scan tool which can read limits swich and calibrate the roof ect. > I just got this tool 2 days ago, so today i am connecting. I let you know the result. For your car start from here: 1. Is handbrake limit switch working.? > light on dash etc. 2. Is engine hatch correctly closed. > there is also limit switch. Does it working.? 3. Inspect fuses. Limit switch can be tested easyly > google. Also let me know if you find fault, we could have same issue, or not. What is good thing is that system is really simple, i love this 1998 technology.

I found the problem... front latch has crakked plastic peace which pressing the MicroSwitch. I feel sad... Anyone know that can that plastic peace be replaced.? Or need to purchase entire new latch system?

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The plastic piece can be replaced without the entire mechanism. I think its Part#996-561-787-01-01C-M100

Hi, That is not the correctg part.? That is latch hook, the platic one which quide the microSwitch.

So i manage to fix that latch. And now i have try to calibrate the roof, but roof calibration does not work. Calibration starts: 1. Windows goes down. 2. Durametric just wont do anything else. Just sitting... i kept it running like hour and nothing. 3. Fault code: 5 Maximum time exsiiding ? What does this mean. Any good idea what to do.? Can it be the roof control unit.?

What version of Durametric are you using? The latest version? I have heard some people complain that Durametric doesn't do a calibration of the roof. Only a dealer with PIWIS.

Durametric calibration works for me on the 02 C2 and the 04 C2, before starting the calibration the convertible must be in the open position.

Hi, Do you mean roof need to be fully open position and compartment lid closed and locked. There is many talk how calibration is done, but not clear how. Please somebody help.? Also as i expect roof has been manually closed it need to be "repaired" what does these really mean.? What need to be done.1. The convertible-top latch must be repaired (after an emergency operation). > For this i dont see no repairing, i have inspect it and its now fully locked. etc. what does repairing mean.? 2. The convertible-top compartment lid drive must be repaired (after an emergency operation)

Quotes source post: 17509098

Yes the roof must be in the fully open position before calibration can be done.. I have not had to do a manual opening of the roof yet, from what I have read, if that procedure has been done, there a repair kit needed to bring back to normal set-up.

Hello Volfram, Crazy notion! And perhaps you've already tried this... but is it possible that the manual operation of the top has put the top in a different state (fully open or fully closed) to the electronics? Have you tried opening electronically (with rocker switch) from a fully closed start (manual placement), and if that doesn't work, try closing electronically (rocker switch) from a fully open start (manual placement)? I have no reason to pose this other than pure systems engineering logic. I came across this thread as I sought some answers to a malfunction today on my final clam shell close when I open my cabriolet top.

Hi all, I am troubleshooting my own system not working right now and eventually found the manual override for the outside cowl, allowing access to the convertible components. This was a crucial step that took me a LOT of research to find. So I made a very quick video for anyone who is googling this, hopefully it can help someone!! You Tube -Might do more videos of diagnosing/fixing if my situation is a bit unique. Check back with my channel future people! YT: Fast Wheeler

Hey all - just joined and posted this mega post about how i fixed my top…this thread was helpful on things to check and @Fast Wheeler ’s video was a major turning point. Thought I’d share my post https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...r-journey.html

Did you find that piece or did you need to replace entire latch. I have one broken in same manner