19 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHConvertible top won't open
Leading reported evidence
Replace switch earlier this year
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
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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
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Leading evidence: 'Replace switch earlier this year' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'little switch in the handle' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Disconnect wires' (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 suspect a cause
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Suspected cause · Original poster
Looked at exploded diagram and probably the little switch in the handle.
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.
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Suggestion
You will have to break out the old one after disconnecting wires.
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
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0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
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Suggestion
If you do have to pull the console, it's a good time to think about a shifter upgrade, or some console repair/repaint.
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.
19 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.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T212127Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
2001 C2. Top won't open. Either running or off won't open with toggle switch. It makes a slight click noise when you push the switch. Top light on dash flashes when you hold the toggle switch down. What should I check? Also, have read that you can open top with key fob? How do you do that? I have a button to open the trunk release but not the top.
Just drove the car and noticed that the parking brake light on the dash is not lighting up. Is there a bad sensor/switch on the parking brake handle or somewhere else?
Looked at exploded diagram and probably the little switch in the handle. Just ordered a new one for $7.89. Hope that does the trick. How hard is it to replace?
I don’t think that is the problem. As 996’s are designed for the top to operate up to a certain speed I don’t think there is a microswitch on the parking brake like there was on 993’s and earlier. I know I have had my console off several times and have never seen a microswitch on the parking brake, or if there is one it is for the parking brake light not the top.
that being said there are some thing like 14 microswitch involved with the top operation. I have some training manuals that cover the sequence of the top and microswitches that I can share with yo if that would help. It could also be the switch itself.
I'm almost certain that this particular model won't operate unless the parking brake is engaged. I have seen people post about a mod that allows the top to open while driving. I looked at exploded diagrams and there is a switch.
http://www.autoatlanta.com/porsche-p...section=701-05
Look here at part #5. I don't know when they started with the top operable while driving but think it was later than the 996. My 2011 Boxster had this feature.
This article confirms that it does not open while moving. Was for 911 up to 2005. Rolling top not until 997.
https://www.pelicanparts.com/techart...g_Override.htm
Bad hand brake switch is definitely a possibility and actually kind of common for early 996s. A lot of times you can get the switch to come back to life for a short period of time if you play with the handle enough. Sometimes pulling up with some pressure side to side will do it. Also make sure the rear lid is closed.
Use your key in the driver's side door handle lock turn counterclockwise and hold it and the top should open. Turning and holding clockwise will close. this method does not require the handbrake microswitch's input to allow operation.
It works! Confirmed my suspicions about the hand brake switch. At least I have a way to raise and lower the top until the new switch arrives. Will probably delay me putting the new switch in though lol
That little handbrake switch is a bit of a PITA. Be extra careful with the console plastic when removing things, the plastic breaks easily. I speak from experience with my '01 C2 Cab. I seem to recall that you have to remove the center console to get to the switch, but I might be mistaken, and you might be able to get to it from just the handbrake trim piece. Here's a photo of the area without the console. If you do have to pull the console, it's a good time to think about a shifter upgrade, or some console repair/repaint.
This article would be wrong, then. My 2000 would open/close up to an eye-tearing 3MPH. There is one wire that you pull on one of the connectors into the controller behind the rear seat and you can open/close at any speed. I did this on mine, works nice. I kept the parking brake requirement, but it can also be defeated.
I replaced my switch earlier this year. 2002 C2 Love the photo with center console and seats removed. That would have made the job so much easier. I'll try to find the step by step that I originally found on line. Had to undo console but just move it to side to get at the switch. You will have to break out the old one after disconnecting wires. Installing the new one requires a trick. It seems to me I had to first install it sideways and then rotate it in place until it clicked......not exactly easy. It took a few tries. Think this is the link
You Tube
Good luck.
If you still have the training manuals I�d love to have a copy to help diagnose my current convertible top problem. Top only opens half way and red dash light is always on.
thanks.
