Nick Appleton

...my spoiler that is!

On Saturday I went for a good run in the sun over to the coast.

On the way back I came to some traffic lights and stopped, glanced in the rear view mirror and noticed that the spoiler hadn't retracted. I tried to do it manually via the switch on the console and it moved down about 2 inches and stopped. Moving the switch would either raise it or lower it by that same amount but no more.

I pulled over and stopped and switched off but couldn't get it to retract.

So I set off home and at some point the gremlin fixed itself because as I reversed onto the drive the spoiler had retracted as normal - although it was about an inch proud of the normal position.

So I have searched the archives and think I know what to check but would like some guidance/reassurance that I'm on the right track.

There are two microswitches under the lid that control maximum travel of the mechanism - should I try and clean them, is there a means of testing them?

From what I can find out the control module (two of them?) are under the passenger seat (LHD) but in what order should I try and trouble-shoot this problem?

I have inspected, cleaned and lubricated the mechanism under the lid which all appears in good order - I tried it via the switch last night and it went up all the way and then down completely!

Just one thing while I remember, the warning light did come on when the spoiler was playing up but went out when I operated the console switch.

Cheers

Bins

Similar thing happened to me last year. Actually soon after I had thoroughly washed the car. I used WD40 around the spoiler mechanism. Thereafter it was fine.

Roly

Thanks, Bins, I have the same problem too.

Roly
'90 C4

Nick Appleton

Thanks for the replies, but I don't think my problem lies with the mechanical gear parts being dry/sticking as I lubricated them with some 'dry' lubricant a couple of months ago and it is not noisy or sticky in operation - it's just that it doesn't always set the motor going when I come to a stop.

I think it is a sensor or microswitch problem, but I could do with someone who knows (Adrian where are you ) confirming things before I start dismantling my car

Cheers

Christer

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Nick Appleton:
<strong>confirming things before I start dismantling my car

Cheers</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Or before searching the archives for this repeat problem....?

see this thread <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=001465#000008" target="_blank">Intermittent spoiler problem</a>

Nick Appleton

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Christer:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Nick Appleton:
<strong>confirming things before I start dismantling my car

Cheers</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Or before searching the archives for this repeat problem....?

see this thread <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=001465#000008" target="_blank">Intermittent spoiler problem</a></strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Thanks for the hint Christer <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> but I had already read this thread because... </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">So I have searched the archives and think I know what to check but would like some guidance/reassurance that I'm on the right track.

</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">

Bins

Nick, where are you based. I can give you the number for a Porsche mechanic friend of mine if you want to run it by him. He's in Harrow.

Edit... DOH! ... NW UK is a little bit far out.

Irishdriver

Nick,

Mine decided to get stickey in the middle of rural France and I found that it was too much play in the main gear. Remove the cover on the gear mechanism and tightem the center bolt of the main gear.

Just the sort of job you love doing in the garden in mid summer....side of the road in North England in February...I think not !!

Syd B.

This is exactly what happened to mine. The bolt on the left side had become loose and the gears were misaligned. The danger here is that if they gears get jammed, you could burn out the spoiler motor.

Nick Appleton

Thanks for the tips guys - I will check the tightness of the gear fixings tonight.

Cheers
<img border="0" alt="[byebye]" title="" src="graemlins/wave.gif" />

Nick Appleton

OK, I know it's not cool to bounce your own thread <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> but I need a little more info.

I have checked the gear mechanism and removed, cleaned and relubed the drive gears but no improvement - in fact the spoiler will now not move at all using the manual switch. I have ordered a new microswitch loom and will fit it this week.

My question is, if this still doesn't work (pessimist moi?!!! ) and the fuse in the front box appears fine, where do I go next?

Is there a relay for it and where does it live as I cannot find it in the front?

If the loom fixes it then I'll post back

Thanks in advance!

Cheers

Irishdriver

Hmmmm...

actually you can get the worm drive gear at the end of the cable from the motor to mechanically lock if you try hard enough. I fixed this on a neighbours 964 but removing the motor and the drive, running the motor unloaded and then checking the gear mechanisms were free to move without the motor.

Before you do too much, check for voltage at the motor. This will tell you if it is an electrical or mechanical gremlin.

Good Luck.

Porschedude

I've had two problems with my spoiler.

1. Crunching gear sound while deploying or retracting. Found water in the gearbox that rusted the bearings to nothing. R&R Gearbox

2. Spoiler retracted all but 1/2" on one side. Folding vain under grill slide to one side and was hanging up the scissor mechanism.

Sounds like a mal-adjusted micro-switch or the up limit micro-switch roller fingers is jammed, or you have lost a ground on the motor.

The controller is under the dashboard. It is the first box you can see if you stick your head under the right foot well on a LHD. If you listen closely, you can hear the relays open and close when it is operating properly.

The motor will run until a limit is reached. Even to the point the motor will stall and burnout.

There are three inputs to the relay:
1. Spoiler is down (Micro Switch at Spoiler)
2. Spoiler is Up (Micro Switch at Spoiler)
3. Spoiler should be up (Central Electronics input) 45mph
4. Spoiler should go down (Central Electronics input) 0mph

There are three outputs from the relay:
1. Spoiler motor up direction
2. Spoiler motor down direction
3. Spoiler not positioned as commanded warning. (to central electronics)

The logic in the circuit is as follows:

At speed (45mph and up)
If not up, go up.
If up do nothing
If up do not go down
If vehicle stops, go down

Under speed (0mph)
Go up if manually selected up.
Go down if manually selected down

Do you have the schematic for it? I can send you a pdf if you need it.

Keith

Bill L Seifert

I had a similar (Darn, I can't spell that word.) problem a year or so ago. The way I had it diagnosed was to reverse the leads on the spoiler motor. If the spoiler goes down when you start the car, then the problem is most likely the brain, which is under the dash. It is about the size of a checkbook, only thicker, and is held in by one bolt. Change that and I think your spoiler will work properly. They sell for about $250 in the US, and I bought a used one from a wrecking yard in Chicago for $125, and it has worked great since.

I think it works like this. When the brain fails, the spoiler fails in the up position, because then you can still drive it. If the spoiler is down and you go over 50 or so mph, then not enough air gets to the engine, causing the car to overheat. The fail in the up position is some kind of fail safe. Reversing the leads makes the car think the spoiler is down, so it tries to raise it, which lowers it because the leads are reversed. At least, that's what I was told, and it worked for me.

Bill Seifert

1991 CII Cab