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Automatic rear spoiler electronics question

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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 02:51 PM
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Default Automatic rear spoiler electronics question

I have an early 964 that has the manual spoiler switch under the engine hatch. The switch "rocks" in two directions to deploy or retract. Besides the necessary ground, are there two separate positive currents or is it a matter of polarity reversal?

Bonus question: given all newer 911s have manual switches in the interior, is the electrical current flow the same?
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 04:50 PM
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As far as I can tell from the wiring diagram, the manual switch - whether it be in the cabin or the engine compartment - is just a 2 pole switch whcih provides a voltage on one side or the other. This voltage feeds into the spoiler controller and it's THAT which provides the drive to the motor. The limit micro switches interrupt the signal from the manual switch once the spoiler reaches it's travel limit.

Regards

Dave
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Old Mar 26, 2009 | 11:21 AM
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Thanks for the response. Do you see what the color code is for the two wires that run from interior switch to spoiler motor?
THANKS!
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Old Mar 26, 2009 | 12:07 PM
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There are no wires that go from the switch - either engine lid or console - to the motor. The motor is solely controlled by the control module and all 3 wires from the switch go back to the control module.

As far as I can tell from the poor quality of the diagram the supply feed is via a brown/green wire, the "down" wire is green/red and the "up" wire is green/black. Please don't take this as gospel as I'm trying to read what is quite badly blurred. All these wires terminate at the control module.

Regards

Dave
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Old Mar 26, 2009 | 01:02 PM
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Dave, Thanks so much for the info. I pulled the switch off and played around with it and your wire codes are correct and there was no positive current in any of the three wires. While I was in there I noticed a light that was burned out to illuminate the engine bay. I replaced the bulb, it lit up but would not go off when I closed the lid? I found the plunger switch and wondered if that was part of the alarm (do we have those) and would turn off light which it did not do immediately......maybe there is a timer?
I removed the new bulb as I do not want to kill my battery. Do your wiring diagrams show any switches for engine compartment light?
Thanks,
Steve
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Old Mar 26, 2009 | 01:06 PM
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Yes, there is a switch that controls the light for the engine compartment. If memory serves, its on the left side near the hinge. Its identical to the ones used on the car doors to control the interior light.
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Old Mar 26, 2009 | 01:11 PM
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Steve,

The engine compartment light is an interesting subject - one I've been around a few times.

Some wiesenheimer in the Porsche design department obviously decided to play a game because the engine compartment light is on the same circuit as the luggage compartment light and you'll find that if one is on, so it the other!! Quite often the small metal bracket which operates the luggage compartment light gets literally bent out of shape and no longer operates the switch - hence the lights (in both luggage and engine compartments) stay on and, usually, drain the battery pretty effectively over the course of a day or two. You may find that the bulb has also been removed in the luggage compartment light too.

If it's working correctly, the engine compartment light will operate directly on the push switch but if the luggage compartment switch is operated (i.e. it thinks the lid is open) the push switch for the engine compartment light will do nothing.

Happy hunting!!!

Regards

Dave
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Old Mar 26, 2009 | 01:20 PM
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Oh boy....................those weisenheimers!!! I open the front trunk and my engine glows....wunderful! I think I will make sure both bulbs are out and stick with my Surefire flashlight!
What year or vin did the switch get moved inside the car?
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Old Mar 26, 2009 | 01:35 PM
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Not sure when the exact change happened. My 1990 doesn't have a light switch in the engine compartment. My 1991 does.
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Old Mar 26, 2009 | 02:30 PM
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Rob, does the 1991 also have one in the interior? Also, one more question.....for anyone:
If you are going fast with spoiler up and for some reason push the down spoiler rocker does the spoiler ignore the command? I owned a 993 and two 996s and never experimented?
Thanks,
Steve
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Old Mar 26, 2009 | 02:49 PM
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Steve,

If your question was about the spoiler switch (as opposed to the light switch) I think the answer is 1990. AFAIK, it was only the 1989 C4 which had the switch under the engine cover. The C2 had a switch in the console from the C4 in 1990 and they had to find a use for it!!!!

Dave
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Old Mar 26, 2009 | 03:39 PM
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Would love your thoughts/experience with this:
If you are going fast with spoiler up and for some reason push the down spoiler rocker does the spoiler ignore the command? I owned a 993 and two 996s and never experimented?
Thanks,
Steve
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