Broken sun visor mounting bracket

[Tnathan]

Hello all,

Before posting I did search here and on the google, but couldn't find that any one has had my problem yet. So here it is:

My mechanic said when he tested drove my car he noticed a rattle in the door. Upon investigating, I found that it wasn't the door at all but one of the bolts (999.073.166.09) holding the sun visor mounting bracket (996.561.607.01) to the window frame had come loose. I tried tightening but it wouldn't thread. I looked inside and the nut inside the window frame looked like it is a split nut, kind of like a castle nut, which had split apart???. I had hoped there would be an obvious way to get inside and simply remove the broken nut and insert a replacement but I can't find any way to get inside the window frame.

So am I missing an access opening somewhere?

Or alternatively, does anyone know if this nut happens to be more like a wall anchor: pressed through the front hole and as you tighten the screw it splays outward to keep from falling through. If so I guess I need to try and remove the broken pieces and get a replacement. Does anyone know where to get a replacement. I am not sure what to ask for. Thanks.

[Tnathan]

Just for completeness, I thought I would update this thread. A little surprised no one has any thoughts and even more surprised that this seems to be a tough fix. I would have thought that you would just buy a new nut and this would be a 2 minute fix.

I discussed with Loren and he didn't have any ideas and dished me to Sunset. The parts department couldn't find a part and discussed with the repair folks. They said they have heard that this problem (the visor nut breaking) is pretty common. However, they don't know any way of getting inside of the window frame (A pillar, cross-pillar). They thought they had heard rummors of folks welding in new nut plates ( presumably on the outside), but they haven't had to deal with it and posche has provided them with no guidance on how to fix. And, there doesn't seem to be a replacement part for sale; its part of window frame. The best they could come up with is to buy a completely new window frame.

So my options seem to be:

1. take Sunset's recommendation and buy, paint, and install a new window frame. However, I can't see spending ???? for and installing a new window frame to get a $0.10 nut plate.

2. I had hoped these were blind fittings that you could insert from the front. Given the construction thats how I would have designed the fitting. Maybe I could rig something like that none the less, some sort of wall anchor but the chances of finding something that will work at the hardware store seems low. Who has a large selection of metric wall anchors?

3. forget about it and hope that the other screw/nut doesn't fail. Something to be said for this, but I question how the first bolt went and worry that this part in my carrera may take some abuse from the convertible top. And then what?

If anyone has dealt with this I am certainly open for suggestions.

[whall]

Try out this link:

https://f66b4128-a-62cb3a1a-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/mikefocke2/NutsertInstall.pdf?attachauth=ANoY7cpyEPgJZRrZGRQah28iQzf-kpTVYxfG38tfDXXPN6HmixQVTy4F9TYRKtdfBkGUpjvo7lt4_RcW3bWr7RDfszoyx8qnsUnzDEyfhRmLb42bpfnQF97HAkMjYFYTwBSDcXyp2Ky7_0Jw0OlgZZ484D2vsVn8yQ_B5JeJDHQWTbWZuzy6ZN0-X2gIG_1tEPto3dcY9sAYYDU0Cn_TTFFa76-JJxffSA%3D%3D&attredirects=0

Bill

Edited August 31, 2012 by whall

[Tnathan]

Wow, I can't thank you enough. That is certainly different than what sunset told me. I am down here floating on the Severn. So it seems fitting you came up with the solution. Seeing your post was a great way to start the weekend. I can't thank you enough.