25 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHhere we go again.
Leading reported evidence
Replace top supports
Suggestion or failed attempt
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 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
Don't try that over ~25 MPH or you will be replacing the top supports after the wind pressure flattens them.
Leading evidence: 'Replace top supports' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace top supports' (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 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
And that was without the engine running so there is nothing wrong with the battery.
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
0 chance it will clear up on its own with regular use over the summer?
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.
25 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.
3 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
I tried again some 10 hours later and it was then that it worked.
If I had my time to go again I would avoid a convertible 996. I have had problems with this top for the past 4 years. I took the hard top off last week. It went up ok but jibbed a bit too long as the hook was engaging into the screen frame. It did actually click in but after a short pause. Thinking my battery may have been a bit low, I charged it over night. Went out the other day after lowering the top inside the garage. I tried the top as I left the car on a shopping car park. I lowered it again and drove home fine. Went out again today and the weather changed to light rain. I stopped thinking the top would go back up. WRONG. The handbrake was on as it should be but the top never moved from either the dash or the key in the drivers door method. After screaming home about a mile breaking all speed limits, I am pissed off with this top. So here I go again. Another summer of trying to fathom out whats wrong this time. I will go out tomorrow and it will probably work normal. It's been known to do just that.
its driving me crackers. If anyone mentions WD40 I will kick them in the stones. lol
BTW I don't need any advice on the subject. I am venting steam right now. ANY OTHER CAB OWNER HAVING THIS PROBLEM SHOUT UP.
Sorry you're having troubles, Hurdi! I also have a '99 and except for once when the fluid was low and another when one of the hydraulic cylinders began leaking, I've had zero issues with mine. But of course after saying this, mine will probably fail today!
Well, sorry to hear of your problems.
Doubt that I have any solutions since I had a coupe.
4 the record, I know many brands have persnickety convertible tops.
0 chance it will clear up on its own with regular use over the summer?
I've had my share of troubles with the top, but mine has been working fine for the past 3 or 4 years. It's a complex system, with lots of potential failure points.
I had similar problems with a Mercedes SLK. By comparison,my wife's Miata with a Power Retractable HardTop, works flawlessly every time. It is very simple, compact,lightweight and no wind noise. Pity it is a 'hairdressers' car.The ND will be better and will attract so Boxster buyers.
Note to Porsche - just buy the Japanese mechanism !
Luckily the previous owner of my cab poured lots of money into my Top. I haven't had any issues with it going up or coming down. Plenty of other things have gone wrong (hook mechanism, guide wires, wire mounting point broken, top unseated in main bow, broken nuts in frame, etc., etc.) but it does go up and down. I'm just waiting for the next mode of failure.
BTW have you tried WD-40?
What did I say in my previous post. I went into the garage before going to bed yesterday, tried the key in the door and the bloody top went up NO PROBLEM. And that was without the engine running so there is nothing wrong with the battery. It's only 2 years old anyway. .. God only knows why it didn't go up when I needed it too yesterday.
No... but I did try it in the door as soon as I arrived back in the garage. Nothing happened then.... I tried again some 10 hours later and it was then that it worked. I will leave it up until another nice sunny day.
Could be that one of the interlock switches is failing intermittently. Maybe the switch that detects if the parking brake is enabled or not - something like that. I understand your frustration. I have done a LOT of work on my Top to keep it going. It really seems to be much more complicated than it needs to be.
Didn't your Durametric show any top codes?
http://www.durametric.com/modelfeaturematrixv6.aspx#996
1998 - 2005 Porsche 911 (996)
Module ECU Identification Information Read Codes Clear Codes Actual Values Activations Commands Coding*
ME5.2.2 for 1998-1999 (Engine) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
ME7.2 for 2000-2001 (Engine) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
ME7.8 for 2002-2004 (Engine) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
ME7.8 for 2001-2005 Turbo, GT2 (Engine) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Tiptronic G40 for 1998-2001 Yes No Yes Yes No No No No
Tiptronic G100 for 2002-2005 Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes No
ABS/DSC/PSM 5.3 for 1998-2001 Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No
ABS/DSC/PSM 5.7 for 2002-2004 Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No
Instrument Cluster K03 for 1998-2001 Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes No
Instrument Cluster K21 for 2002-2005 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Targa Roof Yes No Yes Yes No No No No
Cabrio Roof
Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes No
Roll-over Protection Yes No Yes Yes No No No No
Airbag Yes No Yes Yes No No No No
Air Conditioning Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Alarm Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No No
Xenon Headlights Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
Park Assist Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
Seat Memory Yes No Yes Yes No No No No
Special features for this car:
•Ready status on ME7.2 and ME7.8 engine ECUs
•Enable on-board computer
•Enable cruise control (requires Pro kit)
•Adaptations reset on G100 transmission
•Brake bleeding activations
•Steering angle calibration
•Cabriolet top calibration
Maschinenschmier�l: WD40
I just figured out WHY I was able to operate the roof from the drivers door... The hand brake does not HAVE to be ON because you cannot drive the car when you are standing by the drivers door. Conclusion is that the dash method and the drivers door method are definitely two independent systems to operating the cab roof. I probably did not have my hand brake ON when I tried to put the roof up when it started to rain the other day. I probably inadvertently held the car still with my foot brake. Today moments ago I drove the car around the estate, stopping and operating the top both way at least 10 times and it worked every time. I tried it with hand brake on and off and from the dash it would not move until the hand brake was ON. It works with the hand brake ON or OFF from the drivers door. Problem Solved.
add this bad boy to the stickied "things you didnt know about your 996" thread
eta: haha beat me to it already
so could i technically be driving the car...use my second key in the door key slot....and take the top down while driving?
Don't try that over ~25 MPH or you will be replacing the top supports after the wind pressure flattens them. 2002 up can put the top up while driving up to 31mph (I think)
SmartTop allows you to operate older, 1999-2001?, while driving.
http://www.mods4cars.com/blog/
Or cut the gray/black(?) wire in the back and take it down at any speed. aka cabrio top hack
Would driving up and down my 25 foot driveway be considering driving around the estate?
