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My wife the other day was driving her 2014 CS and the spoiler failure error came up. After she made it home we cycled it up and down no problems. We drove the car at freeway speeds and it happened again. After we got home I raised it up and took a look. The drivers side post will not lock in the full upright position. After talking to a few Cayman owners and my Indy I found out it's the drive assembly. I was told the the unit is a plastic assembly and most likely the springs inside the unit are most likely broken. The part number for this unit is 981-504-109-08. It runs about 900.00 for the assembly. The dealer I spoke to told me the unit is on hold and that a newer version should be released some time it the future.
Has anyone run into this? The car has only 30K on it.
My wife the other day was driving her 2014 CS and the spoiler failure error came up. After she made it home we cycled it up and down no problems. We drove the car at freeway speeds and it happened again. After we got home I raised it up and took a look. The drivers side post will not lock in the full upright position. After talking to a few Cayman owners and my Indy I found out it's the drive assembly. I was told the the unit is a plastic assembly and most likely the springs inside the unit are most likely broken. The part number for this unit is 981-504-109-08. It runs about 900.00 for the assembly. The dealer I spoke to told me the unit is on hold and that a newer version should be released some time it the future.
Has anyone run into this? The car has only 30K on it.
First I've heard of. I do know the 981 Cayman and Boxster use different part numbers but the design may be very similar.
May be able to repair without the entire unit purchase. If one side is good and the unit moves, that suggests to me that the drive motor is good. You can buy the hinge assembly for the right or left side for ~$400.
May be able to repair without the entire unit purchase. If one side is good and the unit moves, that suggests to me that the drive motor is good. You can buy the hinge assembly for the right or left side for ~$400.
Well as a follow up I ended up buying the complete unit seeing that it was one of three left in the US. I was told by my local Porsche dealer that they couldn't even order it unless I gave them the VIN number and had them install that. Nope not doing that.
I finally had time to get it replaced. The problem with the old unit was a hinge pin had fallen out. Porsche inspectors didn't check this unit out to well as it was simple to see the the locking mechanism that locks the pin in place wasn't engaged from day one. I had the new unit installed anyway while we we in there. Needless to say I have a used drive assembly that I will be selling in the near future. We did replace the pin in it's original spot and made sure the locking ears were in their correct orientation. And we bench tested it.
Same thing looks to have happened on the right hand strut of my CGTS. The rear pin that holds the mechanism in place looks missing. The whole strut can be pushed forward.
Just an FYI in case this ever happens to anyone else.
My right strut could be pushed forward, it would pivot on the front mount. The left was solid. Couldn't see the pin in place as the whole thing would move forward. My spoiler started hitting the boot lid.
It's a super easy fix. No need to take it anywhere if you're mildly competent with a socket.
Use detailing tape to tape up where the bumper meets the wing - protects the paint when removing the bumper/refitting. Better safe than sorry.
Remove the rear lights - pull out internal boot trim, remove rubber bungs, unscrew long T20 screws. Remove the bung in the wheel arch, lever out rear lights with a screwdriver.
Remove the spoiler - Raise it up then remove the T20 screws all the way along, eight I think. Then remove the two screws that sit below in the bumper. Mark around the large 13mm washers with a Sharpie so you can get them back in the right place when refitting. Then put some detailing tape over the bolts that are sticking up so you don't catch the paint on the bumper. Lower spoiler hinges back down.
Remove the rear bumper - six screws underneath (two each corner by the wheels, two in the middle behind the exhaust), two screws under the rear lights, two screws in each arch liner.
Whole process takes about 20 mins.
Put blankets down on the floor so you don't scrape your bumper.
Pull the bumper out from the wings (where you taped), it clips in.
Lift bumper up and over the spoiler struts.
Hold it while you disconnect the numberplate cable.
Now, the pin should hopefully always fall and be caught in the heatshield above the exhaust. I don't think it can rattle its way out or be lost while driving, and it is pretty heavy.
I then coated it in some loctite on each end and pushed it back into place.
I also removed the other pin and did the same - just in case.
The pin is a bit of a bad design to be honest. There are two 'hooks' meant to keep it from pushing out, but they don't meet...or barely meet to hold it in place. Not so great German engineering!
My car has 13k on the clock so by no means high mileage. Odd that this has happened after so few miles.
If it ever happens again I'll stick them in with JB Weld. They don't pivot so no idea why they don't have a locking washer or split pin on the end.
Also incredibly annoying that Porsche don't supply them as a part. You just have to buy the whole mechanism if you lose the pin - or get one fabricated/use a bolt the same width with a locking nut.
Hole where rectangular end of pin sits. Push pin after fishing it out from the heatshield. Other end of push pin hole.
Related but not the mechanism. The wing on my 2013 BS started sliding back and forth on the right side. I found out when the trunk didn't open because the wing was rubbing the trunk lid. The are 5 torx screws on the back side that hold the cover on the wing. Removed the screws and cover. There is a nut on each side that allows for gap adjustment of the wing with the trunk lid. Tightened both. Could not find my lock tight
Same thing looks to have happened on the right hand strut of my CGTS. The rear pin that holds the mechanism in place looks missing. The whole strut can be pushed forward.
What did you use/do to replace the pin?
The pin was still in the assembly. It didn't fall out completely. We just put it back in. And the clip wasn't fully engaged from the factory it has a positive click and locking position when installed properly.
I have a similar issue. Just bought a 2013 Boxster. I saw that the wing did not go up or down. i took off the bumper. NOT easy, Found that the spoiler was bolted down closed. tI hen saw that the motor assembly was half missing.
I saw some gaskets that were from Tech Art. So, i think that rather than fix the motor, the previous owner put an aftermarket spoiler on, and did not fix the motor. Then for some reason took the aftermarket spoiler off.
I sourced a used assembly from Ebay. it did come from a Cayman.. not sure if that is the issue. I installed it. does not work with the switch or automatically. I get the spoiler mis-function error at 75 MPH.
I am able to hotwire the motor and get the spoiler to go up and down, but can only do so with the bumper off.
I took it to a Porsche specialist, and he put it on the PIWIS diagnostic system. Initially it had a bunch of errors.. then, he4 cleared the errors. But they still can't get it to work.
I am hoping to accomplish one of the following:
1) get it to work properly. I am going to go back to my specialist, and have them try again.
2) Get the error to go away. If I can do that, I'll run power and ground to the motor, and put it up and down manually.
I am thinking that when you install an aftermarket spoiler, you have to tell the car not to raise the in car spoiler, so there has to be a procedure.
I have a similar issue. Just bought a 2013 Boxster. I saw that the wing did not go up or down. i took off the bumper. NOT easy, Found that the spoiler was bolted down closed. tI hen saw that the motor assembly was half missing.
I saw some gaskets that were from Tech Art. So, i think that rather than fix the motor, the previous owner put an aftermarket spoiler on, and did not fix the motor. Then for some reason took the aftermarket spoiler off.
I sourced a used assembly from Ebay. it did come from a Cayman.. not sure if that is the issue. I installed it. does not work with the switch or automatically. I get the spoiler mis-function error at 75 MPH.
I am able to hotwire the motor and get the spoiler to go up and down, but can only do so with the bumper off.
I took it to a Porsche specialist, and he put it on the PIWIS diagnostic system. Initially it had a bunch of errors.. then, he4 cleared the errors. But they still can't get it to work.
I am hoping to accomplish one of the following:
1) get it to work properly. I am going to go back to my specialist, and have them try again.
2) Get the error to go away. If I can do that, I'll run power and ground to the motor, and put it up and down manually.
I am thinking that when you install an aftermarket spoiler, you have to tell the car not to raise the in car spoiler, so there has to be a procedure.
06-30-2022, 12:12 PM
Spoiler Failure
