'02 Targa rear hatch problem

Hi! Glad I found this forum, maybe one of you can help me with this problem: I can't close the hatch on my 2002 996 Targa! The electrical device that's supposed to lock it in place doesn't activate so it remains open all the time. If there's an easy fix to this problem, I'd rather do it myself than taking the car to the dealer... Any ideas? Thanks for your help!

there is a fix..... I would post pics of your car. Before the natives gets restless.... there will be plenty of people to help you here. The first step is to make sure that the solenoid is activating when you press the open button.. Second step.... pics, lets see that Targa!

LOL Ferd... you sound like one of the Natives.... So, HELLO.... welcome to the forum. This is a great place to find info on your car and surely someone will pop in with some info that will help you out.. in the meantime.... how about posting a pic and some specs on this Targa

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Attaboy Ferd!

http://dcauto.gotdns.com/illustration/index/144258903 Number 4 is probably what you Need Now that Part is a Assembly of 3 Diffrent Parts... You can buy the Whole Assembly 996 562 335 00 Or the Three diffrent parts, Catch - 997 562 335 01, Driving Mechnism - 996 624 231 00 or Microswitch - 996 613 231 00 Hope this helps, Good Luck You can look up the US Retail prices at http://www.renntech.org/forums/index...t&do=prices_us

i bet this will help http://www.cannell.co.uk/996_Worksho...20Exterior.pdf pm me your EMAIL ill send you this other PDF for Aftersales Traning regarding Roof and Body Systems...

Thanks guys! I'll adjust to the m/o of the forum.. @Zookie, I read your pdf and learned that there is a removable panel below the rear window, where the mechanism can be found (pics below). I then noticed that the whole thing was hanging there with only one screw, the lid could not be properly closed because when pushing it in place, it pushed the lock down instead of being pulled into it... Problem fixed!

awesome work man!!

I have the same problem initially, but when I drop the hatch from 3-4 inches and let gravity do the work, it closes 10 out of 10 times. Don't be too gentle. - Michael (Hong Kong) 84 Ferrari Mondial QV 02 996 Targa 06 Audi Q7 09 Golf GTI

Be careful with tigerwood's approach. The manual specifically recommends not to do this. He knows his car and what works but others could misinterpret the advice and wreck their mechanism.

Hi, I'm having a similar problem with my 02 996 targa, when I close the glass hatch, sometimes it just does not suck it down fully, when I press the unlock button, it first sucks it down, then releases it, very annoying. If I play with it long enough, it will latch properly again, but quite a few times I've had to drive with it not latched properly. Not very safe or waterproof I would assume. I've read this thread and it seems to be a similar problem, but I cannot open the workshop manual link that Zookie had posted, can anyone help. Or does anyone know exactly what I have todo to repaire the fault? Note: I've just bought my Porsche about a year ago and have just found this site, it been fantastic to see so many people who are knowledgable and willing to help. Oh and 1 other thing, I can't seem to PM, dies anyone know why? ( I have just joined as a free member today)

I'm having a similar problem. At first, the close motor wouldn't work. Now, it closes when I push the open button (instead of engaging automatically) and the Targa top won't open. And it is a beautiful day I'll dig around back there and report back.

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It resolved on its own (wish everyone could be so lucky). I think cleaning the assembly got the sensor to work again, but have no evidence.

Late reply but FWIW, the latch motor (closing aid) has a tendency to loose it's initial position needed for latching. The way it works is that there is a mechanical latch and a motor that spins an arm. When latching, that arm turns, the latch "sucks" the hatch down and stops. When unlatching, it starts again in the same direction and the latch releases. When that happens a separate arm with a spring pops the hatch open about 16mm. When properly adjusted only need to lower the hatch and gently push it down to close the micro switch. More violence can loosen things up and create rattles or worse. However, over time the motor looses the exact point of where to stop and thus cannot latch. Some unsuccesful attempts later, it can get lucky and latch or the controller registrers the event as a microswitch problem and you are stuck. If your courtesy lights are on, the alarm complains etc, it is not latched properly. As the first attempt at solution I would recommend disconnecting the battery, giving it a few minutes and reconnecting. Then try opening the hatch from the remote. If that doesn't work, try disassembling the closing aid and testing the micro switches. The manual describes a procedure to undo the targa 30-pin connector to reset the power, but for me the battery disconnect did the job. As an added bonus, try and adjust the latch to a 16mm popped opening and when closed, adjust the rubber bumpers to just tight against the hatch. That may cure some rattles of that area.

My rear latch mechanism closes a second after the hatch pops open. I have to push the open switch a gently push on the hatch toclose it. Any ideas what is out of whack?

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Matt, did you ever find the solution to this issue? Something tells me it might be the shocks that raise the hatch beginning to lose their strength. I am starting to have a similar issue with my Targa, so let me know what you found that worked! Also, sorry for reviving this old thread!

My Porsche guy diagnosed it down to a bent arm on the micro switch and reset the brain now it works perfectly

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Any more specifics on this - Was the bent arm replaced, or the computer only reset and then it began working properly? Thanks.

He just straightened the arm and reset the computer

I had a problem with my 2003 996 Targa hatch glass yesterday and was able to resolve it and wanted to post some further details related to this thread. What happened was the catch hook had worked loose and had slipped under the spring mechanism that pops the hatch open once it is released by the lock motor. I could hear the motor activating the release but the hatch would not open. So here is the repair procedure I used: 1. Remove the lower panel to access the hatch motor - just reach under the edge and firmly pull it off as it is held in by four spring clips. 2. You can also remove the top panel by removing the four screws with the funky lock washers. You may need to twist out the rubber bumpers in the corners to remove this panel and I would suggest a little silicone spray to help lubricate the bumpers so they come out freely. 3. This will fully expose the motor mechanism which is held in place by two screws. It appears in my case that the motor had been replaced before by a previous owner because it is a 997 part number. 4. The offending problem was the spring lever that the catch mounted to the liftgate pushes down onto when closing the lid. The catch should not go under the spring lever and should just push down on the nylon piece mounted to the spring lever. When the hatch is released, this spring lever just pops the lid up slightly so it can then be raised by hand. 5. In order to free the mechanism I had to work out the screws that mount the catch to the glass lid by hand. The catch, which was a little loose, was trapped under the spring lever. This was an extremely tight fit and a tedious process and if the screws had not already been loose I am not sure what I would have done next. Here is a shot of the lid finally freed with the two screws removed. 6. Once everything was removed it was just a matter of reassembly and testing the fit of the hatch catch relative to the spring lever and locking mechanism. There is some adjustment in the catch and the motor when reassembling. I moved the catch some to the right (as viewed from the rear) to help ensure the catch would not slip under the lever again. I also put some lock washers on the screws so they would not work loose again. Were these lock washers originally there, I don't know, but it seemed to make sense to add some. 7. While I was in there, I also made sure the drain holes at the corners were clear by blowing some compressed air into the holes. My guess is that over time the catch just worked loose enough to slip under the spring lever. So I would suggest checking those screws periodically to ensure they are tight. I hope this helps someone else in the future!