[tizzom]

Physically checked the 2 switches on the latch today and they were fine as well. At least I can tick those off the list now.

 

[tizzom]

it’s alive!! 😃

I ordered the repair kit with the micro switches and also a used convertible top control unit (the one located in the rear luggage compartment). Naturally started with the control unit as it is a 5 min job vs 6+ hours for the micro switches.

Disconnected the battery, switched the units and reconnected the battery. Hooked up the Piwis and the fault codes were gone and after I reconnected the motors from the emergency manual mode the roof where functioning just as it should!

Feels great that I was finally able to solve it and I can now return the micro switches.

 

[snakebitten]

Tenacity wins again.

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

 

[jjrichar]

Great job. I must admit I'm surprised it was the CVM.

In a fit of madness after we'd been exploring this topic (it's been a rainy weekend and I just wanted to do it) I removed the top out of the car yesterday to have a bit of an explore. God I love the Porsche engineers who designed this thing. Getting the roof out is beyond simple. I initially wanted to see how easy it was to remove the roll over bar. One more bolt and disconnect the electrics and the whole thing just lifts up and out. I shook my head in disbelief at how easy it was.

I watched the video linked earlier in the thread and he really is making it much harder than it needs to be. With the roof out all the electrics are dead easy to replace. The motors come out easily, gears can be re-greased, etc, etc. I wish I'd known this a few months ago when I was doing the pleat cord fix. Removing the liner and other components is far simpler with the roof out.

Also, engine top access with the roof out is much easier. If I had to ever do significant work to the top of the engine, the first thing I'd do is remove the top.

I took a bunch of videos that I plan to put together and post soon.

 

[snakebitten]

I took a bunch of videos that I plan to put together and post soon.

Please make sure we get a link to those videos.

And thanks for recording!


Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

 

[tizzom]

I took a bunch of videos that I plan to put together and post soon.

Again, thanks a lot for all your assistance with my problem!
Really appreciate your videos also, keep up the good job.
/Tom

 

[Nocoyote]

it’s alive!! 😃

I ordered the repair kit with the micro switches and also a used convertible top control unit (the one located in the rear luggage compartment). Naturally started with the control unit as it is a 5 min job vs 6+ hours for the micro switches.

Disconnected the battery, switched the units and reconnected the battery. Hooked up the Piwis and the fault codes were gone and after I reconnected the motors from the emergency manual mode the roof where functioning just as it should!

Feels great that I was finally able to solve it and I can now return the micro switches.

Tizzom, I have the same problem - hoping it's not the micro switches - where did you order this kit and can you just order the control unit alone?

 

[Nocoyote]

So interesting - In this video my top behaves exactly as his - could it be it's simply the sensor in the latch (though I don't know if I have corrosion in the microswitch, hopefully not). Is there a procedure for removing the latch?

 

[Nocoyote]

well, answered my own question from another vid from the ******** guys - here if anyone want's a look:

Not sure if mine was bad - it appeared a little bent, but nothing like in the vids - I tried to push it down as far as possible and superglued it for future... Put it back in and tested top - top moved all way open and closed, no issue... weird... Gonna hook up Piwis, check codes, clear and see how it goes! Fingers crossed as I'm not looking forward to the rear microswitch replacement..

 

[trevmoir]

it’s alive!! 😃

I ordered the repair kit with the micro switches and also a used convertible top control unit (the one located in the rear luggage compartment). Naturally started with the control unit as it is a 5 min job vs 6+ hours for the micro switches.

Disconnected the battery, switched the units and reconnected the battery. Hooked up the Piwis and the fault codes were gone and after I reconnected the motors from the emergency manual mode the roof where functioning just as it should!

Feels great that I was finally able to solve it and I can now return the micro switches.

Hi mate,

my 2013 Boxster 981 is showing the same error codes as yours did 001001 and 001006 I have been chatting with Jeff and I have tested all the micro switches which all seem fine, I have also disconnected the battery but no improvement. So I am now looking at the convertible top control unit. I have already purchased the Micro switches for the motors from Sun Coast Porsche (USA). However I am not sure of the cost of the convertible top control unit and was wondering where you got the used one from and what the cost was. My email is trevmoir17@hotmail.com. I would appreciate any info you can provide as I think I am in the same boat as you were.

Cheers

Trevor

 

[trevmoir]

Hi mate,

my 2013 Boxster 981 is showing the same error codes as yours did 001001 and 001006 I have been chatting with Jeff and I have tested all the micro switches which all seem fine, I have also disconnected the battery but no improvement. So I am now looking at the convertible top control unit. I have already purchased the Micro switches for the motors from Sun Coast Porsche (USA). However I am not sure of the cost of the convertible top control unit and was wondering where you got the used one from and what the cost was. My email is trevmoir17@hotmail.com. I would appreciate any info you can provide as I think I am in the same boat as you were.

Cheers

Trevor

Problem solved the error codes displayed also were due to a faulty ECU. Once replaced the roof is again working as it should. Happy days again.

 

[Autologic86]

I must admit I also couldn't get the change in hall sensor values when moving in manual mode. At the time I didn't know if it was due to the other error I talked about that finally cleared. To be honest I stopped testing after I got it working again as I was just happy I'd solved the issue.

Do you have a workshop manual? There is a procedure for removal/install of these microswitches.

Hi i try to got you contact number please

 

[Platinum5150]

I doubt you're going to get a contact number.

Why not just post your question on the forum so it can benefit the current and future members?

 

[jjrichar]

Hi i try to got you contact number please

I'm definitely not going to put my number here on a public forum.

As Platinum has suggested, the best option is to ask a question here and have me and others contribute to the answer. Whilst I have some experience on these subjects, I definitely don't know everything, and others will be able to contribute.

Others reading will also gain knowledge from the discussion of a new problem.

If English isn't your first language, don't worry. We are an understanding bunch and just like to help.

 

[jeanpierrepoulin]

Hi guys, I know this is a 2-year old thread but I'm facing some odd issues with my 981 roof being hopelessly confused and would like to know if some what was experienced here might be similar...

Any linkage between the two problems?

----------

The powered latch on my (otherwise amazing) Porsche Boxster S 2013 (981) is not functioning properly and the roof does not fully lock in place once to soft top reaches the fully closed position. Here's the evidence so far:

• Currently the mechanized latch stays in the contracted position at all times.
• The behavior was different a week ago before my battery died. The latch operated in/out but was 'inverted' in its behavior (was extended when it should be contracted and vice-versa)
• The soft top itself acts weirdly. When lowering the top, it only opens about 75% of the way then stops. Pressing the 'bring top down' button at this point does nothing. If I press and hold the 'bring top up' button then the top go back up. However if I press and release the same 'bring top up' button then the top will go down a couple inches! If I repeat pressing 'bring top up' about 4 times then the top will eventually be fully down and I can enjoy the top-down experience.
• The vehicle's info display displays 'Top opening / closing' and will sometime give 'Error with soft top'. I tried to obtain error messages with my basic OBDII scanning tool but no message appears.
• (I purchased this vehicle last year and the soft top never fully worked right)

Q1: Is there a 'reset procedure' so the entire assembly recalibrates itself?
Q2: Would purchasing a PIWIS help with this problem?
Q3: Would it be worth my time to take apart the mechanized lock mechanism? (perhaps a sensor or a microswitch is acting up?)

Thank for any hint you can offer!

 

[jjrichar]

Below I've linked a few videos that might help diagnosing. They explain how the roof works and what tests you can do to identify where the issue is. There are some faults that can only be determined by use of a PIWIS or similar, but most issues relating to micro switch problems can be identified without it.

 

[deilenberger]

See my reply in your other post..

 

[jeanpierrepoulin]

Below I've linked a few videos that might help diagnosing. They explain how the roof works and what tests you can do to identify where the issue is. There are some faults that can only be determined by use of a PIWIS or similar, but most issues relating to micro switch problems can be identified without it.

Oh wow thanks so much for doing this! I'm pretty handy with electronics so hopefully I can replicate your steps and debug this.

And... fine lookin' white Porsche you have! (My Boxster S is also a beautiful white)

 

[jeanpierrepoulin]

FYI to anyone following this issue, my post here has more info on this issue.

 

[jeanpierrepoulin]

Ack! Well the convertible top behavior took a turn for the worst!

I spent most of the day debugging this and what appears to be happening is that the behavior changes occasionally... For example (like I mentioned in the original post), the behavior of the latch changed when my battery discharged and yesterday the behavior changed again to the 'bring top down' button being completely dead and the 'bring top up' bringing the top up if I keep depressed (and then down about 10cm) and brings the top DOWN about 10cm if I press and release the button. The good news is that if I press & release the button about 15 times I can bring the top fully down but the BAD news is that I can no longer fully close the roof!

I have carefully studied the four amazing vides jjrichar found here and I have some good leads on how to test the various hall sensors & microswitches BUT I think this would be a waste of time right now because the behavior keeps changing! (One would think if some of the sensor inputs would be defective that the problems would remain the same!

So I'm forced to conclude that the roof's controller module has 'lost its marbles'...
Q1: Is the roof functionality performed by the main controller or (hopefully) a separate controller that is less expensive?
Q2 Would a NT530 give me the data points I need to determine for sure it's defective?
Q3: Is the NT530 capable enough or do I need PIWIS?
Q4: Is there a way to upgrade the firmware of this controller or reset it somehow?

For now I've been forced to place the roof in manual mode and bring it up manually.

Help!

P.S. This is a copy of my message in my original post here.