horst

Been gone a while: 2 sons in Iraq, one wounded, one death in the family, invalid mother moved from NJ, caring for her etc. Needless to say, the P-car has been parked for a couple of months. Took it out today, only because the van I bought to haul my mom around is in the shop. Quest is:
Spoiler comes up at the right time, but will not retract when coming to a stop, as previous. It will retract via switch, or when shutting the engine off.

Anyone have any ideas where to start in troubleshooting?

garrett376

I can't help you with your spoiler, but I am sorry to hear about your loss. Your sons' efforts are appreciated.

Ruairidh

Well said Garrett. Horst, I am so sorry to hear of your loss and hope your son returns both to good health and you asap.

Ruairidh

Well said Garrett. Horst, I am so sorry to hear of your loss and hope your son returns both to good health and you asap.

bhensarl

Horst,
I've been having spoiler problems too. How to fix it? I don't know. Misery likes company though, right?
Please tell your sons that their dedication to family and country is appreciated back home. I hope that both your sons return to you in good shape.
Brian

garrett376

Just a thought for trouble shooting... if you have a buddy who has a 964, borrow their spoiler control unit, plug it into your car, go 50mph, see if the spoiler comes up, then stop, and see if it comes down. If everything works as it should, you know you've got a bad control unit. On my 92 it's under the dash on the passenger side, just above the passenger's feet.

Hope that helps, and hopefully someone's in your neighborhood that can lend you one of those! Just a thought before bed!

gilessav

Hi,

I had and still have a similar issue with my spoiler. If i leave it to raise and lower manually its fine but if i raise it manually in traffic and then exceed 60mph and stop it wont retract. It should (and many think it is a normal operation as many seem like this). I've tried checking the spoiler control unit plug wiring (beware there are 12 of the suckers in there and they easily all come loose in no particular order ) Many of the solder pins on the unit itself were also very loose. I ended up getting a new spoiler control unit at about £200 from Porsche and the problem is exactly as before so could be related to the open/close microswitches. I've learnt to live with it but if it happens on auto mode it would be more annoying i suspect. My spoiler would also retract after the ignition had been turned off with lid still up and then driven over 60 and stopped again. A similar gremlin in the system to yours it would seem.

horst

thanks for telling me where it is located. What does it look like?

springer3

Depends on your year model. On my 92, it is about 1" x 2" x 3" with the connector on the end. Remove the passenger side carpet, and you will not miss it. I don't recall anything similar nearby. The wiring diagram shows the pin-out for the controller plug. From the plug you can check the limit switches and the motor with a VOM. You "hot wire" the drive motor from the connector if you want to operate the spoiler. Just be careful not to over-travel - the limit switches will not stop the motor and you could break something.

I posted a thread on fixing the controller, and I have most of the circuit figured out. If you find it is the controller, a board-level repair is quite doable, and a fraction of the cost for a new one. I could not locate a used one, and the dealer wanted $245 for a new one.

Adrian

Dear Horst,
The problem is the microswitches. The closed micrsowitch is not opening when the spoiler leaves the closed position. The open switch is working because the spoiler is stopping when opened without any noises.
It is not the control unit itself!
It could be a damaged connector but seeing as yours is under the seat (89 model) this is unlikely. This normally happens on the 91s and up because the control unit was moved to where the central locking control unit is on our machines.
The microswitches are accessed from the underside of the engine lid.
Ciao,
Adrian
964C4

horst

just had to run an errand. now is working properly, but not consistently. I like adrian's thought about the microswitches. I know where the throttle min & max switch is, but I suspect that that is not what he is talking about here. Can someone tell me where the wing microswitch lives, what it looks like? Mabey I can just clean the contacts?

Adrian

Dear Horst,
They are mounted on the underside of the engine lid on the left side. There are two in the loom. I suspect they may be loose on their mounts making them intermittant. These switches have two functions, Limit and Position.
Ciao,
Adrian
964C4

Jeff Curtis

Horst, how many times do I have to tell you...the EIBACH springs that we installed will cause all kinds of issues!

Take it easy on me Adrian, I know you're part of the Eibach Mafia as well.

horst

appreciate all (anyway MOST) of your comments. Anyhow, after driving the P-car now for 2 days, it seems to have "healed" itself, and is working properly. Since I have not opened the cover over the left sided electronics, for futuer reference, can anyone tell me if the switch is serviceable- i.e. perhaps contacts that can be cleaned / rehabilitated?

axl911

Adrian,

So what you're saying if the "closed position" switch failed and stays closed, then the spoiler will raise up above 47mph but won't retract when the speed drops? And only retract when the car is shut off?

If so, that's the exact behavior I'm looking for. I drive in the city to work and my spoiler goes up and down twice every city block. VERY ANNOYING.

thanks,
anthony