Window Drop Not Staying Down While Open

[Jasper_db1]

I'm a new owner of a 1999 C2 which had issues with door locks when I bought it.  After a lot of research, I pulled both latches and resoldered the plug connections to the PCB which resolved most of the issues except this:  on the passenger door, if I slightly pull the interior or exterior door handle, the window will drop down a half inch or so.  Once I release the handle(s), the window will return to the full up position.  This means that the door closes on the weather seal.  If I pull on either the exterior or interior handle, the window will lower a bit and seal.  The driver's side door window will stay in the lower position while the door is ajar and does not have this problem.  Durametric no longer shows any faults and the door lock button now works correctly

 

Are there other adjustments inside the latch I should be aware of or is something else causing this problem?

[Jim C.]

I think there is a switch that tells it your latch is open and as long as that stays open the window will stay down. It's possible that switch is staying in the "latched" position.

[Jasper_db1]

 

17 hours ago, Jim C. said:

I think there is a switch that tells it your latch is open and as long as that stays open the window will stay down. It's possible that switch is staying in the "latched" position.

 

You're right.  I re-read a bunch of posts on various forums after pulling the latches and have a better understanding of what I'm dealing with. 

 

There are essentially three groups of switches: inner door handle, outer door handle, and door latch/lock.  Within the latch mechanism, there are two more switches in the passenger door and four on the drivers side.  One of the common switches senses if the door is locked or not.  The other common switch senses if the door is latched closed and is mounted on a wire to the mechanical side of the latch mechanism.  This is the one that failed on my car so I'm going to need to replace it.

 

The two switched on the drivers door latch that are not on the passenger side senses if the mechanical key lock is locked or not.  It rides on a cam that actuates the cam that closes the common switch that senses if the door is locked or not.

 

Some helpful threads:

 

This helped me understand the three switch groups.

http://www.rennsportkc.com/boxster996-window-issues/

 

This helped me identify the switch that senses when the door is closed or not (failure #3 in the rennsportkc post)

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/6457649-post6.html

 

Sourcing an inexpensive replacement latch by using parts from a VW:

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/tech-tips/porsche-986-996-door-latch-replacement-with-vw-part/151397/page1/

 

[DBJoe996]

Here is another forum thread with some good pictures and details

DIY: 996 Door Latch Replacement [Detailed] - Rennlist - Porsche Discussion Forums

RENNLIST.COM

---

996 Forum - DIY: 996 Door Latch Replacement [Detailed] - If your window does not stay lowered when your door is open, chances are that a switch within the door latch has gone out. This is a detailed procedure to change...

 

[Jasper_db1]

I ended up buying a replacement latch (PN 3D1837016A) for a 04-10 Volkswagen Beetle Golf Jetta on eBay for $30.  (description is 3D1837016A Front Right Door Lock Actuator For 04-10 Volkswagen Beetle Golf Jetta) and installed it today.  I trimmed away the red plastic bracket on the VW latch and transferred the interior door handle cable and exterior handle lever from the original Porsche part and everything fit perfectly.  The new latch fixed the problem and it now stays down when the door is open.

[Jasper_db1]

I'm going to leave my post from November alone in case anyone else stumbles upon it.  

 

The aftermarket passenger side lock assembly did fix the window drop feature on that door but it also introduced error code 12.  Ultimately, this resulted in the car not really knowing if the doors were locked or not, causing the door lock button not work and the alarm going off when I would open the passenger door after thinking I unlocked the car - pretty embarrassing.

 

I ended up replacing the aftermarket locks with factory replacements which were significantly more expensive ($300+ vs $30) but they work.