1999 Boxster Hood Problems, Please Help

[amerkarim]

Hi Everyone,

Could really do with your help on my Boxster hood problem.

About a year ago, the plastic connection rods for my hood snapped and the hood was all out of sync. I managed to put some new rods in and realign the hood motors by disconnecting the cables and moving them bit by bit till they were well aligned. The hood and clam shell work OK now but there is a problem that was not present before.

When the hood is up and the clam shell down, if I try to open the hood, it just closes harder and gets stuck, I then have to release the brass clips by hand from inside. It goes up and down OK as long as you dont go down far enough and activate the clam shell microswitch.

I thought this was due to the micro switches so I checked them and found and replaced a faulty microswitch that was in the passenger side hood area. But no difference. The only way I can get the hood to work OK, is to artificially tape up the microswitch for the clam (so it thinks it is closed) now the hood goes up and down on request, but when it is down, the windows dont go up all the way (because the windshield microswitch is open the clam one closed, so it thinks I have just pulled the latch and am about to convert).

The brake light switch is fine because the car wont convert until the light is on. The windshield release switch seems to work because the windows go down half way if I release it.

Has anyone had a similar problem and what is the solution please.

Many thanks in advance

AK

[1schoir]

Hi Everyone,

Could really do with your help on my Boxster hood problem.

About a year ago, the plastic connection rods for my hood snapped and the hood was all out of sync. I managed to put some new rods in and realign the hood motors by disconnecting the cables and moving them bit by bit till they were well aligned. The hood and clam shell work OK now but there is a problem that was not present before.

When the hood is up and the clam shell down, if I try to open the hood, it just closes harder and gets stuck, I then have to release the brass clips by hand from inside. It goes up and down OK as long as you dont go down far enough and activate the clam shell microswitch.

I thought this was due to the micro switches so I checked them and found and replaced a faulty microswitch that was in the passenger side hood area. But no difference. The only way I can get the hood to work OK, is to artificially tape up the microswitch for the clam (so it thinks it is closed) now the hood goes up and down on request, but when it is down, the windows dont go up all the way (because the windshield microswitch is open the clam one closed, so it thinks I have just pulled the latch and am about to convert).

The brake light switch is fine because the car wont convert until the light is on. The windshield release switch seems to work because the windows go down half way if I release it.

Has anyone had a similar problem and what is the solution please.

Many thanks in advance

AK

AK:

You did not mention whether or not the "top open" warning light stays on in your dashboard. If the light does stay on even if the convertible top (what you are calling the "hood") is fully closed or fully open, then you will not be able to completely close your windows. The only way the windows will go all the way up and stay up is by artificially keeping the windshield microswitch depressed. Not very practical.

As far as your V-levers only spinning in one direction when the top is completely closed and the clamshell is all the way down and snug, there is a way to reverse the direction of the V-levers as a temporary measure. Since your car is a '99, and judging from your description of what you have replaced, I am going to assume that you have a B-pillar microswitch under the LEFT side B-Pillar microswitch. If you take a small allen key or use a small piece of wire to lasso same around the small metal lever part of the B-pillar microswitch and pull it and HOLD it forward (so as to trip the switch), that should reverse the direction of travel of the V-levers and permit you to not have to resort to releasing the brass clips by hand. It may be that the bend in that small metal lever part is not sharply angled enough anymore so as to trip the switch (as it is supposed to) when the top reaches its almost closed position.

Here is a photo of the B-Pillar microswitch (note that it has been removed from its installed position for this photo).

In my case, when I had a similar problem, replacing the clamshell microswitch took care of the issue. You might try removing that (clamshell) switch and cleaning the contacts as a first step.

Take a look at some of the photos and descriptions in recent (last 3 months) threads, and that should give you some guidance in getting your top working again.

As far as getting the "top open" warning light to go out at the appropriate times, I have not been able to get to the bottom of that yet. That is my last remaining hurdle and has been for a few weeks.

Regards, Maurice.

[amerkarim]

Hi Everyone,

Could really do with your help on my Boxster hood problem.

About a year ago, the plastic connection rods for my hood snapped and the hood was all out of sync. I managed to put some new rods in and realign the hood motors by disconnecting the cables and moving them bit by bit till they were well aligned. The hood and clam shell work OK now but there is a problem that was not present before.

When the hood is up and the clam shell down, if I try to open the hood, it just closes harder and gets stuck, I then have to release the brass clips by hand from inside. It goes up and down OK as long as you dont go down far enough and activate the clam shell microswitch.

I thought this was due to the micro switches so I checked them and found and replaced a faulty microswitch that was in the passenger side hood area. But no difference. The only way I can get the hood to work OK, is to artificially tape up the microswitch for the clam (so it thinks it is closed) now the hood goes up and down on request, but when it is down, the windows dont go up all the way (because the windshield microswitch is open the clam one closed, so it thinks I have just pulled the latch and am about to convert).

The brake light switch is fine because the car wont convert until the light is on. The windshield release switch seems to work because the windows go down half way if I release it.

Has anyone had a similar problem and what is the solution please.

Many thanks in advance

AK

AK:

You did not mention whether or not the "top open" warning light stays on in your dashboard. If the light does stay on even if the convertible top (what you are calling the "hood") is fully closed or fully open, then you will not be able to completely close your windows. The only way the windows will go all the way up and stay up is by artificially keeping the windshield microswitch depressed. Not very practical.

As far as your V-levers only spinning in one direction when the top is completely closed and the clamshell is all the way down and snug, there is a way to reverse the direction of the V-levers as a temporary measure. Since your car is a '99, and judging from your description of what you have replaced, I am going to assume that you have a B-pillar microswitch under the LEFT side B-Pillar microswitch. If you take a small allen key or use a small piece of wire to lasso same around the small metal lever part of the B-pillar microswitch and pull it and HOLD it forward (so as to trip the switch), that should reverse the direction of travel of the V-levers and permit you to not have to resort to releasing the brass clips by hand. It may be that the bend in that small metal lever part is not sharply angled enough anymore so as to trip the switch (as it is supposed to) when the top reaches its almost closed position.

Here is a photo of the B-Pillar microswitch (note that it has been removed from its installed position for this photo).

In my case, when I had a similar problem, replacing the clamshell microswitch took care of the issue. You might try removing that (clamshell) switch and cleaning the contacts as a first step.

Take a look at some of the photos and descriptions in recent (last 3 months) threads, and that should give you some guidance in getting your top working again.

As far as getting the "top open" warning light to go out at the appropriate times, I have not been able to get to the bottom of that yet. That is my last remaining hurdle and has been for a few weeks.

Regards, Maurice.

Thanks Maurice,

Will give it a try ths weekend.

Regards

Amer