996 Targa rear hatch woes

[Andrew911]

Hey all,

 

I just got a new to me 996 Targa that is a bit of a project.  When I bought it, the rear hatch was stuck in the closed position and would not open, either by by key or switch on the door sill.  After reading many a forum post I crawled into the back, removed the rear trim panel, and was able to manually pop it open by using a screw driver to pop the lever.  Now it won't close.  I can lower the glass and feel it catch on the latch, but it will not pull down into the fully closed position. The car senses that the hatch is open and thus all the interior lights stay on along with the red warning light on the dash.  Any idea what the culprit is?

 

To recap:

 

What I CAN'T do:

 

-Open rear hatch glass either by key or button on door.  When key is pressed, the red light on the dash blinks but no sound is hear from the hatch mechanism.  Pressing the button by the door sill does nothing, like pushing a dead switch.

 

-Have the glass "pull down" into the closed position after the mechanical latch clicks and locks it.  You can then wiggle the up and down an inch or so, which means it isn't fully closed.

 

What I CAN do:

 

-Lower and lock the glass into a semi closed position.  It can be released by flipping the catch with a screwdriver.

 

I dismounted the latch mechanism and had a look.  Everything LOOKS right, but it's as though no power is getting to it.  Yet, when I connect the power the interior lights come on.  It looks like someone in the past worked on it already as it has a 997 part number.

 

Help!

 

 

[DBJoe996]

Check the obvious to begin with...fuses and relays.  With a multimeter, see if the latch actuator is getting power when the button  is pushed.  Could be the button, but more likely the latch actuator.

 

You can find the drive motors and microswitch (which usually is the culprit) here: http://www.autoatlanta.com/porsche-parts/hardparts.php?dir=996-99-05&section=811-01

Edited September 5, 2018 by DBJoe996

[Andrew911]

Thanks Joe.

 

Do you know which fuse/relay it might be?  Looking at the diagram below I see a few for convertible top but nothing for Targa specifically.  D3 or D4 perhaps?

 

http://howtoporsche.com/911-series/996-1997-2006/1997-to-2006-911-996-fuse-box-diagram-location-and-list-with-amperages/#996-fuse-2003

 

Do you know if the entire latch actuator has to be replaced?  

[wizard]

Check D3 ... 30 amp.

 

+1 DBJoe996's microswitch theory.

 

 

 

 

 

[Andrew911]

12 minutes ago, wizard said:

Check D3 ... 30 amp.

 

+1 DBJoe996's microswitch theory.

 

 

 

Will do.

 

Can just the microswitch be replaced?  I'll have to look at the catch again later tonight, but it appeared the microswitch was riveted on (?).  Wasn't sure if just that can be replaced or if the entire unit must be.

Edited September 5, 2018 by Andrew911

[Andrew911]

D3 appeared fine.  No broken filament.  Haven't tried multimeter on the plug to the latch yet.

 

Are there any relays I should check out?

[wizard]

On the assumption that you've already done a search here, there's something on rennlist.com which may help you out.

Do a search for  <'02 Targa rear hatch problem>  on their 996 forum and look at post #20, in particular.

[Andrew911]

Thanks wizard, I checked that out.  The issue I am having is the motor doesn't make sounds at all, it's like it's dead.  However, I did some troubleshooting and can add:

 

On the interior switch, I discovered the two brown wires had been cut in half at some point and the two halves of each wire were wrapped together with electrical tape.  I used wire nuts to put them together temporarily and it appeared power is now going to the switch (I can't remember if it was lighting up before).  Is there anywhere online I can find a wiring diagram?

 

That didn't solve the problem immediately, but I have now determined that the microswitch that detects when the hatch is closed will work when pressed down.  So, I think this would mean the latch mechanism is indeed receiving power?

 

Pressing on the other microswitch does nothing.  I'm guessing this is the one that tells the motor to activate to lower the glass further.  Can just that part be replaced?