Door Latch Issue even after replacing it....

[RJG1]

Ok.. I know this has been discussed before but here is the a issue common to others. My drivers door window goes down 13mm once the outside handle is pulled but returns to the full position before the door is closed.

I removed the door panel and inspected the inner door micro switch, cleaned with CRC , it works fine if you pull on the inside handle the windows goes down. So what to do? Many who has had this issue before stated they found it to be the door latch which has a internal micro switch. BTW all connections (Latch/Inner switch and Door Handle) were double checked for tightness.. I ordered a DS door latch from Sunset (BTW they are awesome to deal with Bob and Jeff) great prices to boot. They sent it out I replaced the latch today but no joy.

Now the inside pull doesn't work at all and the outside pull does nothing. The only indication I have the latch is working at all is that once you connect power to it the window will drop down to the proper height but no amount of inner or outer door pulling will change the window position. Also, one other thing when you apply power to the new latch the red/white door panels light come on and do no gracefully power down. With the old latch the lights only lite up once you pull on the handles. That was my first clue something was amiss. So where do I go.. I put the old one back now the inner works and the outer does the same as it did before drop down and return before closing. I called Sunset suggesting the latch was defective. They suggested that I purchase a 2nd unit install it and return the 1st unit under warranty to see if Porsche will credit the part in 45 days. Does any one have any suggestion as to what they believe could be the issue.

Also, if you ever take you door panel off order additional door panel fasteners #999-507-582-40 its a 8-pack to replace the worn , bent and broken ones you may or may not break .. TIA

Bob

01 Boxster S

[1schoir]

Ok.. I know this has been discussed before but here is the a issue common to others. My drivers door window goes down 13mm once the outside handle is pulled but returns to the full position before the door is closed.

I removed the door panel and inspected the inner door micro switch, cleaned with CRC , it works fine if you pull on the inside handle the windows goes down. So what to do? Many who has had this issue before stated they found it to be the door latch which has a internal micro switch. BTW all connections (Latch/Inner switch and Door Handle) were double checked for tightness.. I ordered a DS door latch from Sunset (BTW they are awesome to deal with Bob and Jeff) great prices to boot. They sent it out I replaced the latch today but no joy.

Now the inside pull doesn't work at all and the outside pull does nothing. The only indication I have the latch is working at all is that once you connect power to it the window will drop down to the proper height but no amount of inner or outer door pulling will change the window position. Also, one other thing when you apply power to the new latch the red/white door panels light come on and do no gracefully power down. With the old latch the lights only lite up once you pull on the handles. That was my first clue something was amiss. So where do I go.. I put the old one back now the inner works and the outer does the same as it did before drop down and return before closing. I called Sunset suggesting the latch was defective. They suggested that I purchase a 2nd unit install it and return the 1st unit under warranty to see if Porsche will credit the part in 45 days. Does any one have any suggestion as to what they believe could be the issue.

Also, if you ever take you door panel off order additional door panel fasteners #999-507-582-40 its a 8-pack to replace the worn , bent and broken ones you may or may not break .. TIA

Bob

01 Boxster S

Bob:

A defective new part is always a possibility, but not too often. Sunset's suggestion is a sound one.

This is a long shot, but have you checked your central alarm control unit for moisture? The unit controls some of the functions of the windows. If your unit got wet (clogged drain holes) it might have some corrosion on the circuits and it may act unpredictably.

Does the window on the other side work perfectly? If so, if you have gotten really good at removing the door panels ;) you might try to swap the known good one on that side for the recalcitrant unit.

Also, have you checked for corrosion/moisture inside the connector which houses the wires from the body to the door? That was written up here a little more than a year ago.

Regards, Maurice.

[RJG1]

Thanks for the reply Maurice- Passenger side works perfectly however I don't believe you can interchange the left with the right as the right side houses the alarm functions if I understand it correctly. I will check the wires

which lead from the door jamb into the door panels. Sunset is sending the 2nd unit out today with arrival here in Ct on Sat. And yes I can take the door apart in 10 mins tops....Bob at Sunset was thinking it may be the door handle micro switch but why wouldn't work with the old latch and not the new one... Its got to be the latch. One other observation with the old latch if I hold the outer handle up so the window stays down enough to close the door without banging the window frame , it very hard to shut the door where it seals hence it open slightly. If I push on the door to completed the closure the window will drop down and seal ok. So I'm thinking the door striker triggers an operation to keep the window lowered until close and the unit is not interpreting the door handle sequence correctly (lower only, until instructed by the door latch/striker sequence). Anyway I'll know for sure on Sat. hopefully...

Thanks Bob

[1schoir]

Thanks for the reply Maurice- Passenger side works perfectly however I don't believe you can interchange the left with the right as the right side houses the alarm functions if I understand it correctly. I will check the wires

which lead from the door jamb into the door panels. Sunset is sending the 2nd unit out today with arrival here in Ct on Sat. And yes I can take the door apart in 10 mins tops....Bob at Sunset was thinking it may be the door handle micro switch but why wouldn't work with the old latch and not the new one... Its got to be the latch. One other observation with the old latch if I hold the outer handle up so the window stays down enough to close the door without banging the window frame , it very hard to shut the door where it seals hence it open slightly. If I push on the door to completed the closure the window will drop down and seal ok. So I'm thinking the door striker triggers an operation to keep the window lowered until close and the unit is not interpreting the door handle sequence correctly (lower only, until instructed by the door latch/striker sequence). Anyway I'll know for sure on Sat. hopefully...

Thanks Bob

Bob:

Your reasoning makes complete sense.

Let us know how you make out on Saturday.

Funny how good we get at taking the door panel off after we've done it a couple of times, right? :rolleyes:

Regards, Maurice.

[Glyn]

The door lock mechanism does indeed have a micro switch inside and opperates when the door lock engages when you have closed the door.

pull the handle to open the door and the window should drop, the window should stay dropped if the door remains open and you have released the handle - then use a screwdriver to engage the lock manually, just slide the shaft part of the screwdriver into the lock so it replicates what the catch does - as the lock engages the window should rise.

If your window drops but raises immediately you release the handle then the fault is likely to be the micro switch in the lock - this micro switch informs the window system the door is closed.

The door lock can be taken apart and the electrics can be seperated from the mechanicals, you just have to be alittle brave and methodical in how you work, personally i would send back the new lock and take apart the old one - replace the micro switch and reassemble.

The mechanical parts will be fine and you can do this job for next to nothing - just a bit of time

[1schoir]

The door lock mechanism does indeed have a micro switch inside and opperates when the door lock engages when you have closed the door.

pull the handle to open the door and the window should drop, the window should stay dropped if the door remains open and you have released the handle - then use a screwdriver to engage the lock manually, just slide the shaft part of the screwdriver into the lock so it replicates what the catch does - as the lock engages the window should rise.

If your window drops but raises immediately you release the handle then the fault is likely to be the micro switch in the lock - this micro switch informs the window system the door is closed.

The door lock can be taken apart and the electrics can be seperated from the mechanicals, you just have to be alittle brave and methodical in how you work, personally i would send back the new lock and take apart the old one - replace the micro switch and reassemble.

The mechanical parts will be fine and you can do this job for next to nothing - just a bit of time

Glyn:

Do you have a part number for just the microswitch that is inside the door lock mechanism? Or maybe another source for that microswitch?

I was under the impression that Porsche only sells the complete door lock mechanism (for a lot more $$$, of course).

Regards, Maurice.

[RJG1]

Well new Door Latch arrived Friday Morning (as an aside the US Postal system is amazing , 2 days from West Cost to the east cost for $9.00, try that with the other carriers) lets call it #2 I installed it today and exactly the same results as #1 see post 1. Outside handle has no effect inside handle does nothing as well. Same as it ever was. Reinstall old latch and inside handle works outside pull drops window 13mm until you let go and the windows goes back up before closing.

Also, Glyn I actually tested the striker as you mention in your reply with a screwdriver and the window does return up once you engage the lock into believing the door in closed. So now what? Its not the door latch. The door pull must be working or the window would not drop down and inside pull and Micro switch are well behaved. Dumb question does the new latch #1,#2 need to be introduced to the system via PSTN tool?

Maurice I checked the wiring harness best I could and it

appear to be bone dry. double checked the connector on the latch and door pull seem good. Inside MS is cool.

Only thing I can think of which I didn't mention is this may or may not of started one morning when the battery was dead and I had to jump start the hood open via the positive pole in the fuse box. Once I applied the red jumper cable to the red jump pole the windows dropped down and the instrument cluster reset tach and speedo went for 0 to their max. position and returned. I had witness this before as my battery had gone dead several time during the past 7 years of ownership. Looking to connect the dots not sure this is pertinent. Didn't notice the windows hitting the top for a while as I had my top down for several weeks during early Fall. I do not drive her when it rains my Audi serves that role. So my point is I don't know if I expletive the system when I jump started the hood/bonnet.

[Glyn]

RJG1 - you have reset the window travel after what was a battery disconnection havent you?

Simply press the window down button untill the window is fully lowered, hold the switch down for a couple of seconds - then raise the window all the way up and hold for a couple of seconds.

This is the window learning cycle.

Otherwise i am a little confused as to what is happening, You say if you fool the car to thinking the door is closed by activating the lock with a screwdriver the window raises - therefore the window has remained dropped whilst the door is open, then when you close the door the window should clear the roof and go back up.

I assume you havent adjusted the window angle rails - those that are accessable from below the door and changes the angle that the window rises so when it closes the window hits the roof rather than go into the slot?

The microswithch above the lock that the door handle engages with when you pull the handle is not disturbed when you remove the lock so i cant understand how one lock works one way and the old one works correctly - check the two plastic pins that hold the microswith are firmly engaged - they can and do become detached.

Also dont understand why the inside door handle does nothing with the new lock fitted - again a microswitch to lower the window is attached to the inner door handle - not the lock, when you say it does nothing i take it the catch does not release the door?

Maurice - you can get a standard microswitch from Tandy that fits the door lock mechanism - cant remember now if its push to break or push to make - long time since i took a lock to bits

[RJG1]

Glyn- Please let me explain, if I hold the door pull in the up position and close the door whilst holding the pull up the entire time, the door will shut, but not completely but it will close enough that if you give it a HIP check it will seal. My point was that in the almost shut postion as explained above the window stays lowered (as I am forcing it by holding the pull up) until the striker (door latch) is moved to the completed shut postion, DL mircoswitch is engaged and the and the window seals into the top. But this is just an aside as the real issue is the outside pull will drop the window and once I let go of it to shut the door the window raised and hits the top. The inside pull works correctly, open from the inside and the window drops and closed again once the door striker (door latch) is fully deployed.

I have not disturbed the railing (I hope) and I did retrain the windows as you describe.

"The microswitch above the lock that the door handle engages with when you pull the handle is not disturbed when you remove the lock so i cant understand how one lock works one way and the old one works correctly - check the two plastic pins that hold the microswith are firmly engaged - they can and do become detached."

I'm as confused about this as you they are totally unrelated as you said.

"Also dont understand why the inside door handle does nothing with the new lock fitted - again a microswitch to lower the window is attached to the inner door handle - not the lock, when you say it does nothing i take it the catch does not release the door?"

The door catch works correctly as it too is a hard wired to the inside pull and runs to the door latch. What happen is with either of the New latches 1/2 once install and everyone is wired correctly the inner and outer handle do no provoke any changes in the window height. If I reinstall the OLD latch they are least work (inside correctly outside just the drop while you continue to hold the door pull up)

Any ideas?

I thinking about removing the right side door pull and trying it on the left side to eliminated it (mircoswitch) from the equation. If you have any other thought please let me know. Thanks for the reply.

Best R

Bob

[doublesnaggle]

Resolution?