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996 Targa rear window (with struts) won't open... alternatives?

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5 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
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YOUR RESEARCH996 Targa rear window (with struts) won't open... alternatives?

Leading reported evidence

Use screwdriver, flip a lever

Suggestion or failed attempt

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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

You can remove the back carpet piece to access the lock mechanism, and using a screwdriver, flip a lever to manually pop open the hatch.

996 Targa rear window (with struts) won't open... alternatives?
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Leading evidence: 'Use screwdriver, flip a lever' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Use screwdriver, flip a lever' (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.

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1 matching discussions · 5 captured posts examined · 0 partial discussions

Frequently discussed actions (1)

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Use screwdriver, flip a lever

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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

You can remove the back carpet piece to access the lock mechanism, and using a screwdriver, flip a lever to manually pop open the hatch.

996 Targa rear window (with struts) won't open... alternatives?
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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.

5 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.

  • Rennlist: 1 discussions

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Generation: 20261026T191851Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources

POST 1 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Hi all, Did a quick search but didn't see a post about this. I've got a 996 Targa (2003) with a rear window / hatch that used to pop open just fine. Over the past year, the 'pop' didn't work as well - I'd hit the key fob button or the driver's side floor switch and the window would pop open, but then the latch would re-engage. It was easy enough to give the window a little shove while pressing the fob. The other day I tried and ... nothing... no pop and no sound from the latch motor. The window is currently locked closed and I'm not able to open it. Neither the fob nor the floor switch works. Frunk and engine latches open just fine and all fuses are fine. I'd love to check to see what's wrong, but I can't get the window open to have a look. Has anyone had a similar issue? Thanks! J.

POST 2Original post

I had that issue once when the roof wasn't fully closed...the hatch won't even try to open if it senses the roof isn't closed. Had to slide the roof open/closed a couple times and the hatch finally popped.

POST 3Original post

I had this happen to me, and in my case, it was a failed microswitch in the lock mechanism. You can remove the back carpet piece to access the lock mechanism, and using a screwdriver, flip a lever to manually pop open the hatch. BE WARNED: You most likely will NOT be able to shut the rear glass if this is the case and the hatch is popped. I did this and ended up driving with the hatch open a bit because I couldn't shut it. The lock mechanism as a whole is stupidly expensive, but thankfully the individual microswitches can be replaced. I ended up taking my car to the dealer who scanned it, found the exact failed microswitch, and replaced it.

POST 4 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Ah @S_Lee , I feel silly, but you got it! Thanks also @Idaho911 ! I hadn't opened the top in some time and it was firmly shut, but it's been quite cold here lately (the top actually squeaks in the colder weather, wondering if that's enough to fool the sensor). I'm not sure if the sensor that detects closure of the top is going to go soon. i hadn't had this issue before, but opening and closing a bit 2-3 times in a warm garage seems to have done the trick. I didn't think of it because all had been fine up until now and top was closed.

POST 5Original post

Quotes source post: 18661459

Lube your targa top. Here's my method, there are other posts on the topic as well if you do a search. https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...-solution.html

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