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I'm not sure how common this is, but a couple of searches on the forum didn't turn up anything similar. My driver-side front window switch (cab) will often pop out when raising the window. It doesn't appear that anything is broken, and I can pop it back in, but it will come out the next time anything more than very gentle pressure is used.
I'm sure the dealer can fix/repair it, but I hate visiting them unless it's something major. If anyone knows what to check, modify, or what magic incantations are needed to fix it, I'd appreciate hearing about them.
The dealer will swap out the entire switch panel assembly. It's warranty and they must send the unit back to PCNA and in some cases it goes back to PAG for diagnostics.... I saw hundreds of such parts awaiting shipment to Germany at the Regional Dist Center and Training Facilities. Also, in my own case I had just the slightest imperfection on the chrome strip on my drivers window control switch, and the whole panel was replaced. They usually don't do individual switches. So I would say live with it until you have some other warranty work to justify a visit to the dealer. There's no magic involved, just modern manufacturing methods....
Thanks for the info. I guess this is one of those things where Pelican or another vendor will offer a repair kit in another 5-10 years.
There is a console switch repair kit, but don't believe there is a window switch-specific repair kit. As I mentioned prior, my understanding is that a "repair" kit would consist of a replacement of the switch panel in the door, which is a very simple procedure once the inner-door trim panel is removed. I've done DIY posts on the door panel removal and replacement if you're interested -- but at this point in time I would say just have the dealer do it under warranty, unless you really can't stand going there -- I would guess the switch panel is likely in the $150 USD range (maybe more, maybe less, my guess based on the price of the center console switch box/switches)! LOL
Just kidding. :-) Looking at a used 991 that has this exact problem. It's out of warranty, so I won't just be taking it to the dealer and saying 'fix it', likely try to figure out exactly what part is the problem and repair or replace it myself.
And plenum, thanks for the door panel removal info, very helpful.
Dealership in Plano TX wants $438 to fix this tiny plastic part. Classic Porsche - a 2mm tab that breaks easily requires an entirely new window lift unit and taking apart the door.
Really disappointed (2 cars in a row now) with Porsche plastics. I'm 3 months and less than 2k miles out of warranty.
Does anyone have a hack for this? I know that I can ever-so-gently put it back in place and use it carefully. But I'm thinking a couple drops of glue on these white plastic arms? And once again - shame on Porsche - I know 30 year old Hondas with better plastics than my 2013 991 CS. My '08 Cayman was even worse - by the time I sold it you couldn't read half the buttons on the climate/stereo.
I’ve replaced both driver and passenger window switch units... it requires door card removal, which isn’t that bad, but if you have plastic doors instead of leather, getting in there will irritate the door enough the trim will start to bend and come up, and you’ll end up needing all new door cards which are like $3k.
So have the dealership do it so when the door cards bend up, you can make them replace those for free.
Thanks for the quick response, Dewinator. My interior is leather stone/agate, so maybe I will give it a whirl myself and save about $240 in labor. Still really bitter...
Pretty much all you do is disconnect the battery so the airbag doesn’t blow up, use one of those plastic trim tools to wedge a couple covers off (careful with the little front black triangle one as it has long skinny plastic hooks), then take like 6 or 7 star screws off and then pop the whole card up. There are directions with photos online. Once you do that you can pop out the old switch and connect the wires to the new switch.
The only reason you can’t do it without taking the door apart are the wires aren’t long enough to plug the switch in when it’s not in the door yet. One extra inch of wire and it would be a 30 second job.
This happened to me today. Driver's door window switch popped out. I'm out of warranty so will DIY. There are certain things that Porsche simply cannot seem to master: valve guides (until the water-cooled era), head studs (until the 964), and window switches (forever). I replaced the window switches in my 911SC and 993 multiple times. Now the 991.
If anyone has a fix that doesn't involve buying an entire new switch assembly, please post it.
I bought a used switch panel from eBay then popped out the new switch cap and clicked it into place. Still working great! I bought some replacement switch caps online at amazon for cayenne but they did not fit the 991.
update 2021: the switch does occasionally still pop out after about 2-3 years of working fine. Probably need to replace the whole thing
Last edited by megatron991; 07-11-2021 at 12:22 AM.
There will be 991's in junkyards by now, that's where you will want to source a window switch unit on the cheap and out of warranty. Gluing plastics rarely works for very long.
06-20-2016, 07:56 PM
Window switch popping out?
$438 fix???!!!
