987, how to force close windows when soft top is broken?

( Boxster S 2005) I have been reading several solutions for the soft top problems, but couldn't find answer to my problem. I opened the soft top today to install new wind deflectors. While I was closing it I heard couple of popping sounds just as it hit the final closing position. Now the top won't go up or down, I can only hear the electrical motors whirring as well as a more disturbing clanking noise from the right hand side. So obviously something has broken...and naturally I will take it to the maintenance shop, but... The real problem is however that the windows won't fully close because the car keeps telling me "Convertible top not in limit pos.". I am able to close the central locking handle easily and I tried pushing the micro switch inside the handle, but no luck. Also for me the roof looks and feels to be in the final position. Is there any way to force close the windows before I drive to the maintenance shop? Are there for example additional micro switches somewhere that decide whether or not the top is closed?

I know this is an old thread, but let me tell you exactly what happened because it happened to me too. The pop noises were the top ball joints of your arms breaking off. If you open the top, the back part should still go up. Put it as high as it goes and if you look into that compartment on both sides, you'll see the arms with the white plastic ends snapped off. Move the arms back towards the rear of the car from their normal front position. Now go back in the car and close the top. The motor still stop in its normal position now and the windows should go back up like normal. In my case, the two rear screws on the engine cover weren't completly tightened which allowed the window to push against the subwoofer box and put enough pressure on the two arms to snap them both simultaneously while opening the top. This is why I never let anyone touch my car--something always happens like this...

I realize this is a HUGE long shot (because the thread is old), but I've just recently experienced the same thing as above with my 05 Boxster S . One of the plastic ball joints on the top arm is broke for sure. The top motor still whirrs/seems to be working but doesn't turn either of the transmissions. The most frustrating part is the Top Not in Limit Posi warning along with the windows not rolling up all the way. They will not go up beyond the 4in drop to allow for the top to go up and down. I think the root issue besides the ball joint being snapped is one of the transmissions went bad, possibly a cable broke. So until I can confirm my suspicion, can someone please help point me in the right direction for fixing the window issue? I should note that the center latch is latching fine. Thanks! AustinAM502

I can offer only limited help but try pushing the rods in the direction given in post 2 followed by the rest of the directions. Another place to look is the owners manual. They usually have directions for getting the top closed when the mechanism fails.

There's a limit switch on the driver side gearbox at the front. Unplug it and with a tiny gage wire jumper 2 of the plug holes. Can't tell you which 2 but one side says "top is up" the other says top is down. Either pair may do it it worked on 2006 boxster

I figured it out! The convertible sensor wire is attached to the left(driver side) convertible transmission. In order to get to it, I had to detach the left convertible transmission. I believe it is possible to detach this wire by flipping the black rubber cover and carefully pull the wire towards the front of the car. Space is tight but still doable. After disconnecting the wire, the dash will show "convertible top failure". At this point, you can manually close and lock the top, then fully close both windows and jump for joy.

If anyone else has their top in the manual operation mode (disconnected from rods/transmission) and can't get their windows to roll up fully, this worked for me. Close your top manually and then hold the open/close switch for the top in the OPEN position. Once the motor has moved to where it thinks the top is open, you'll be able to roll up the windows fully. This won't harm anything since the motor is no longer connected to the convertible top. You're just fooling it into thinking it's in a fully open/closed position.

Thank you for the info gentlemen! I have been searching for this info for a couple of weeks. Fighting with my top I now have to replace a bracket and a couple gears, but I can get my windows up finally!! Very much appreciated!! Thank you, Brandon

After struggling with it for hours here is how i did it. The only tool you need is a crowbar. 1. Make sure you disconnect all the four rods which come from both transmissions, with a crowbar. This is needed because after you do the next step you will get a roof error message which means will only be able to move the roof manually. 2. Lower the top fully to disconnect the position sensor cable. Unfortunately i tried it in service position and after trying for two hours i ended up cutting the wire. When the roof is down you can access it easily and disconnect it using the crowbar by pushing the connector down. Trying with hands didn't work for me. You can access it on the left side of the transmission, under the rubber. There is only one cable there you can not miss it. 3. Enjoy that you can close the windows until you fix the roof mechanism.