Factory Roof Transport System Installation Issue

[psychobenzrunner]

All,

First Post, glad to break the ice. I wanted to address a problem I am having with my attempting to install a factory roof transport system (cross rails - side to side) on a 2008 CTT. The rails are from an 03 Cayenne, should not make a difference based on the Part Number being available for all years 2003-2006 and 2008-2010. The issue at hand is once I unlock the lock panels, open them both out until they lock open, install the cross rails in the track, and position a rail in one of the track notches, I activate the inside lever to allow function of the end key lock panel. When I try to close the lock panel and I get approximately 60% of the lock panel travel from full open, it requires near brute force to close fully before turning the key. I had the opportunity to try these cross rails on a 2010 Cayenne, and had the same result. My concern is that it seems there is too much force required to close the lock panels (key function is normal once lock panel is brute force held against the rail end), and I do not want to cause damage to the roof transport system, nor to the body of the vehicle. Has anyone else experienced this? With this being my first post, I figured this would be good info for all of us who plan on using the top of a Cayenne for its intended purpose, not just for the birds. Thank you again for all of your input.

[Loren]

All,

First Post, glad to break the ice. I wanted to address a problem I am having with my attempting to install a factory roof transport system (cross rails - side to side) on a 2008 CTT. The rails are from an 03 Cayenne, should not make a difference based on the Part Number being available for all years 2003-2006 and 2008-2010. The issue at hand is once I unlock the lock panels, open them both out until they lock open, install the cross rails in the track, and position a rail in one of the track notches, I activate the inside lever to allow function of the end key lock panel. When I try to close the lock panel and I get approximately 60% of the lock panel travel from full open, it requires near brute force to close fully before turning the key. I had the opportunity to try these cross rails on a 2010 Cayenne, and had the same result. My concern is that it seems there is too much force required to close the lock panels (key function is normal once lock panel is brute force held against the rail end), and I do not want to cause damage to the roof transport system, nor to the body of the vehicle. Has anyone else experienced this? With this being my first post, I figured this would be good info for all of us who plan on using the top of a Cayenne for its intended purpose, not just for the birds. Thank you again for all of your input.

:welcome:

Do you have the 6 page installation TSB?

The bracket are very specific to locations as I recall.

[psychobenzrunner]

All,

First Post, glad to break the ice. I wanted to address a problem I am having with my attempting to install a factory roof transport system (cross rails - side to side) on a 2008 CTT. The rails are from an 03 Cayenne, should not make a difference based on the Part Number being available for all years 2003-2006 and 2008-2010. The issue at hand is once I unlock the lock panels, open them both out until they lock open, install the cross rails in the track, and position a rail in one of the track notches, I activate the inside lever to allow function of the end key lock panel. When I try to close the lock panel and I get approximately 60% of the lock panel travel from full open, it requires near brute force to close fully before turning the key. I had the opportunity to try these cross rails on a 2010 Cayenne, and had the same result. My concern is that it seems there is too much force required to close the lock panels (key function is normal once lock panel is brute force held against the rail end), and I do not want to cause damage to the roof transport system, nor to the body of the vehicle. Has anyone else experienced this? With this being my first post, I figured this would be good info for all of us who plan on using the top of a Cayenne for its intended purpose, not just for the birds. Thank you again for all of your input.

:welcome:

Do you have the 6 page installation TSB?

The bracket are very specific to locations as I recall.

Loren,

Thank you for responding to my request for information. I do not have the 6 page installation TSB, and I am not sure how to locate the TSB. What did you mean by bracket and location, I am not sure what your reference is. The locations that I was using were the notches in the base rails, allowing for even alignment on both sides for uniform locking. Please reply.

Mike.

[Loren]

All TSBs are available here for Contributing Members.

Here is a taste...

[dervin1968]

Please help,

I'm having the same issue. I have a 2005 Cayenne S and ordered part # 955-044-000-72 along with the ski carrier. When the rack is off the car I have no trouble pressing down the rear latch and closing the rail ends but when it's on the car, in any of the notched positions. I'm unable to press the latch all the way down and have the situation where I feel if I put anymore strength into closing the rail end I will break it. The rack slides smoothly in the rails and seems as though it should work. I'm afraid to put more strength into closing the side rail so the rails sit for now until someone tells me to use ape strength or I'm doing something wrong.

BTW: my rails do not have the vR, mL, hL on them, only a picture of the vehicle side view which leads me to believe the front of the image of the vehicle should go toward the front of the actual vehicle.

Thanks for any help,

Doug.

[odix]

Some confusion here may be what we are all discussing: 1. the rails that run along the sides of the vehicle roof (part of the TSB Loren sent above) or, 2. cross bars which run side-to-side across the vehicle roof?

I installed the rails (thanks to Loren and the TSB -- be sure to join Rentech.org) and they're excellent. The cross-bars I have seen and they look like a basic installation.

[dervin1968]

Yes, I'm talking about the root transport system. These are the cross bars which run side-to-side across the vehicle roof.

Thanks,

Doug.

[dervin1968]

Hi All,

I figured it out by taking it to my friendly Porsche dealer and having them show me. It just takes more strength than I felt comfortable with to close the side latches. Now that I've done it, using ape strength, a few times it's easy... I wish they made the side latches out of aluminum instead of plastic.

BTW, the first thing I noticed when I got these on is the whistling wind noise. I fixed this, well 98% of it, by using flexible small vacuum hoses, cutting them length wise, then glueing them to all the end surfaces. Works great, looks great, and I only needed to do it to the front rack.

Thanks,

Doug.

[psychobenzrunner]

Doug,

Along with your application of the small vacuum hoses to dampen the wind effect, were you sure to orient the cross bars properly, as they are correctly positioned with the little embossed vehicle diagram on the side panels of the cross bar ends facing the same direction of the vehicle they are installed on. Just FYI. The cross bar is aerodynamic, if you look at the profile from the side, it is shaped like an airplane wing. The Germans are so thorough, gotta love it. I have them on a Cayenne Turbo with a Pano Roof, and I have full unobstructed clearance for roof functionality with the cross bars fully locked in their available notched positions. I have very little wind noise with mine.

Let me know.

Thanks.

Mike.

[tkkl]

besides just ape strength, any tip to close the side latch? i just bought a second hand system and have problem closing up the latch. thanks.