Understand your frustration. If you got a good deal on the price of the car vs. "true" new, I would be thankful if this is he only issue you are having. At the end of the day, while a nuisance (that they appear to be trying to sort) it's a relatively minor fault. I would put the car through it's paces to ensure that there aren't any other more serious issues lurking.

 

Interesting. It might be an intermittent problem with the switch console. Have they tried replacing it?

Tell the dealer to look at WM 962755 in the workshop manual ("Eliminating symptoms in body interior: Replacing switch console (Warning in instrument cluster "Closing convertible top" when convertible top is already closed/SY0913)"). Apparently, in the shop manual's words, some of the switch consoles had a problem described by "debounce time is too short." Especially if the switches on the PCB are a bit flaky, a small amount of electrical interference -- say, from a cell phone next to the console, or from the motor that operates the top -- could potentially cause the problem to show up with symptoms other than the one mentioned in the manual.

They recommend replacing the switch box if a false warning message ("Closing convertible top") appears in the instrument cluster even when the top was already closed. Certainly if you've ever seen that happen the switch console should be swapped out.

 

Good advise. If that would be the case, would adding a smartTop fix the issue as well?

 

It's hard to say without knowing what's really going on, but my guess is yes, that would make the problem go away by masking the symptom. You wouldn't be holding the button, so all of the related bus traffic during an open/close cycle would be coming from the SmartTop module and not the switch console.

At the same time, that's a good point in that if the OP already has a SmartTop installed, it would be the first thing to look at. Maybe the dealer installed one on the car themselves. Are you (SierraBoxsterS) holding down the button at the time the top stops moving? If not, your car has been modified and the modification should be checked or temporarily removed. (Edit: re-reading your original post I see that you're holding it down, so you presumably don't have a one-touch top control modification.)

Also:

I'm tremendously frustrated and becoming disappointed with the car. Has anyone else had something like this happen with their top? I'm looking for any info to help get this resolved. Thanks.

Don't confuse frustration with typical dealer cluelessness with disappointment in your car as a whole. Easy to make that mistake, but it would lead you to condemn one of the all-time great sports cars.

 

Thanks for the info. The dealer spent quite a bit of time operating and watching the top on Thursday. They observed that there was a hesitation at the engagement point of sensor #2. This apparently relates to the advance/retract of the top latch hook as it did not appear to be extending or retracting completely. They removed a sensor from a new car on the lot, installed it in my car and the hesitation disappeared. They also jumpered the sensor and the hesitation did not appear. So they ordered a new sensor and had it flown in. I got the car back on Saturday and so far no more issues. Porsche Technical Services (PTECH) could not offer any additional assistance other than to recommend that they operate the top while on the diagnostic machine and wait of for it to fault. I am very happy that the dealer took the initiative to dig into this issue. I think I owe the dealer service tech an adult beverage. I hope this is the permanent solution. I'm very happy to have my car back and to Noah's comment I agree that it is potentially one of the all time great sports cars.

 

Arrrrgggghhhh ! Apparently not a permanent solution. The fault came back this morning.......

 

I hope to hear what the final solution is, Sierra. As I said on another thread, I actually took my 981 Boxster in to have this exact same issue looked at, and I wound up leaving with a 991 Targa after a trade. The dealership seemed convinced they could get the top fixed, so it wasn't an issue on my trade, but I didn't check back to see if they took care of it. By the way, I had installed a SmartTop, and the issue with the top getting stuck was the same whether I had the SmartTop turned on or disabled. And for me it was typically at one of two points in the process where it would always stick.

 

Still at the dealer. I know they are trying but it's tremendously frustrating. Love the car, but despise this issue. I'm hoping they find the culprit. I'm really disappointed about this. It really takes away from the joy I had when I bought the car as well as the joy I experience when I drive it. Just waiting every time I operate the top for it to fail is nerve racking. I've taken to not even trying to operate it when moving as it is so distracting that I feel it is dangerous to do so.

 

Okey Doke.....So I got the car back today. They had a specialist fly out and spend the week with the car. The # 2 microswitch is the main suspect. They were able to pull a pin on that switch and replicate the issue. So they ordered the new switch and a control module since they were in there anyways. It involved removing the entire top mechanism as well as the rear trunk liner, etc...This also required an AC purge and refill as the top removal apparently can expose the AC system to outside air. Additionally they found that the main top wiring harness had been routed improperly in an area that could cause a pitch fail. They fixed that too. I'm really impressed with the efforts on Porsche's part. Porsche takes their surveys very seriously. I was honest about my disappointment and gave that as feedback on the survey. That triggered what the dealer called a "red card" with Porsche USA. The red card escalates the issue and gets significant attention and subsequent resources for the dealer. I am very optimistic that we have this issue resolved. Even though this has been an undesirable situation Porsche USA and my dealer have been exceptional. This is how car companies and their dealer network should transact. Again I am hopeful that this resolves my issue. If so... I'm a customer for life.

 

When you get the problem resolved consider installing the SmartTop module. I now put the top down every time I drive. Just three clicks on the remote before I arrive at the car and the top is down when I get in. Stop and as I get out push the close top button and as I walk away from the car it is all closed up. If I want walk away then three clicks on the remote closes it all up. As an old man getting into and out of the car is much easier with the top down. The best $300 I have spent on a car. If Porsche installed on the car it would probably cost $1,000.

 

Hello Sierra. I know there a long time, but which is final solution for your problem on soft top Boxster?

 

Looks like I'm having a similar issue, though it consistently happens everytime I use top. Hopeful SmartTop would help it

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I've got it too, now. 50% of the time.

 

Took mine in to a great local Porsche dealer. Diagnostic showed a Fail on both microswitches at the B pillar. Having them overnighted and put in tomorrow, will keep updated if interested.

Used dealer I bought from had installed a new latch thinking that was the issue, so I don't know how that could have changed how the problem shows. Luckily they're paying for this fix too since out of warranty.

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I'd prefer to do the job myself, but if it requires the removal of the top frame (as stated above), better to have the dealer do it. Plus, I'll bet that it will require some type of reset by the dealer.

 

Ok, thanks!

 

So I was wrong. They did have to remove the top and roll bar to get to the switches. Charged for 6 hours of labor for it.

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Yeah I was expecting that. Thanks for checking.

 

Hi all,

Revisiting this topic since I've been dealing with this same issue and wanted to know how is everyone's top been doing. Just took my car in for the third time in the last 2 years for this issue. Warranty running out in 2 months. Everytime it goes in, the soft top would behave. When it's time for me to take the car back it acts up. They said they detect no issues what so ever and nothing comes up. It's very frustrating, I'm thinking to just taking it up on the survey as well just like the OP.

This one time when I picked up the car and drove 10 minutes away, the fault came on so I took it back to show them. Sure enough, the top behaved with no issues. I'm starting to think this top has intelligence... any feedback would be great

 

After having the sensors replaced, my top hasn't even though about having an issue. I'd consider just begging them to replace them both under warranty, if you haven't already.

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Just picked it up again today and I was able to show them the problem in front of them as soon as I got into the car. They took it in to reset the system and no problem so far. I know here we go again. I wished Porsche can just bring up these problems on the computers to just nip it at the roots right from the start. They did tell me that if the issue arises again, take a video of it and they'll bring it straight to Porsche to open a case. I'll try the begging method when it gets to crunch time though

 

I brought mine in last November. They experienced the problem, reset the parameters in the ECU, charged me an hour labor, and declared the issue fixed. This weekend it's doing it again. No way they are going to fix this for free, so as long/until it gets worse, I'm going to live with it. Who knows, maybe I will be needing a new top by the time it actually becomes necessary to repair it.

 

starting to have this issue from time to time. So is everyone that had the microswitches replaced at the B pillar's still working ok? And from what I read I am looking at 1k for the fix from the dealer?
I am ok with having to pull the switch up an extra time to get it to the final position, I just worry that it will get stuck halfway one day.

 

Hey all, so long story short. I found out I have the warranty till January of 2019 so right back in business. But before I found out about it, the dealer had thought it expired just like me. It wasn't until I contacted Porsche Of America notifying them about the disappointment I was in how this whole fiasco was handled that they got back to me. Now I have a personnel from Porsche who's overseeing this entire thing making sure I'm taken care of and not ignored.

My top got worse and worse. It would stop 2 times and wouldn't move at all until 2-3 times of pressing the button. One time I was on the highway and the top was stuck for 5-10 seconds. Seems short but felt like a nightmare was about to happen not to mention embarrassment.

They're currently working diligently for a fix after replacing a switch failed. Will update as it goes. By the way, this is a legit issue that should not be dismissed. The possibility of having the top stuck on the highway is no way to drive such a beauty.

 

Thanks for the update.

 

New to threads so here goes: I also have a 2013 Boxster. The top goes down 2/3 of the way and stops, a message of: fault of soft-top control system appears in the dash. The car has been at dealership in Virginia Beach for 8 days. I was told there is a problem with micro switch/relay for the latch and the cost is approximately $1,880 total, but the part is $1,400. Does this seem right, seems really expensive??? I told them to go ahead and order the part, it should be in Wednesday. Any thoughts or info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

The latch is expensive, but shouldn't be that expensive. Perhaps they are replacing the latch and the relays at both pillars? That would be about the right price, plus that's exactly what they will need to do anyway. The latch isn't super labor intensive but the relays are more difficult.

Certainly shouldn't be taking them 8 days even to get the parts. I hope they gave you a loaner at least?

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Got the car back a month ago, was traveling so now I got back to test the car. The top is now operating perfectly with no stopping in between. They replaced the microswitches which was at fault just as the original poster had mentioned. Now I have to deal with a park assist failure.

The parts from my research were right around $1400, so yeah that sounds about right.

 

Mine is at the dealer. Replacing micro switches for around 1400 as well. Not under warranty .

 

My 2013 BB is experiencing the same issue, as I've previously reported. A reset of the top parameters performed late last year temporarily seemed to fix it, but it did not last.

I did notice something interesting recently. When I lowered the top and experienced the problem, I then cycled the top a few times and the problem went away, and the top stopped malfunctioning. Problem returned in the future.

Now, I don't put my top down very often, even though I have over 50k miles on the car. It can be weeks or months between lowerings. It seems clear that the problem is the micro-switches. What I am now wondering is if it is a clear failure of the switch, or a contact corrosion issue from under-use.

Is anyone who is experiencing this issue a frequent user of the top, or are just those who rarely lower it the ones experiencing the issue?

It would be great to learn that we just need to cycle it regularly to avoid the problem. As we all know, cars that are not used regularly experience the most system issues.

 

I use mine all the time. 99.9% the top is down. I don't think it is a corrosion thing. I never had an issue where the top would not go up or down. It would stop halfway, then I would have to either raise and lower it a bit until it finished the process to lower the top or close it. The below is from the quote:

Convertible Top Switch: driver's side micro switch has failed - left double micro switch kit only 1377.54

 

I guess my question actually is, how often do you raise and lower the top, rather than the percentage of time it is lowered/down.