I'm troubleshooting why I can open the hatch with the inside switch on the driver side kick panel and not with the key.

The key engages a microswitch which should complete the circuit and run the release motor. I unplugged the wires and tested the microswitch with an ohm meter and it shows open circuit when resting and closed circuit when the key is turned.

I used a jumper wire on the female plug and the motor turns when I connect the white wire and the outer red wire. These are the same wire positions I tested on the male plug.

I'm stumped as to why it works with a jumper wire and not the switch

Hugo

 

Did you do your testing with the hatch open or closed? Miss aligned pins can put tension that makes it tough to open that hatch, but if you turn the key and pull up on the hatch it will release. I believe factory behaviour is to turn the key and the hatch will just pop and slowly open.

Mine does no such thing.

 

All testing done with hatch open.

Hugo

 

Because the switch won't carry the current needed to operate the relay for the motor?

Put you DMM on volts and measure across the switch, then operate it with everything hooked up. If it goes to zero then the switch is closing and current is getting to the motor. If the voltage stays high, or just drops some, then the switch isn't carrying the load.

Measuring with the ohmmeter doesn't give the complete answer. It may show low or close to zero ohms, but when your have to carry current across the contacts that are too resistive.

Also check the grommet around the key hole. If it is cracked (or missing) water gets in and the switch fails.

 

That possibility didn't occur to me. Thanks for the idea.

Hugo

 

Ah, I missed that you didn't measure across the key mech to see if that allowed continuity Mis-read your post.

 

Actually, I did measure across the key/microswitch, but Paul's point is that although there is continuity when the switch is closed, it may not be passing enough current.

Hugo

 

hb253, I see you're still around. I seem to be having the same issue you described. Do you recall how you fixed this problem? Thank you.

 

My hatch needs a nudge to open. I'm just glad that it does.

-Yogii
AKA 968 Novice

 

IMO, One of the few faults in the 968 design. Nothing worse than a flat battery when your booster pack is in the trunk!

I love the new-fangled button release in the footwell, but the key should be analogue/manual imo. That’s how a Mercedes is. And how the central locking is.

 

Too late now...

-Yogii
AKA 968 Novice

 

That's how it was on the 944. Porsche changed it sometime around 88 - 89 - 90. Maybe for the S2 or late Turbos.