I have a Porsche 996 1999 C4 and have a problem with passenger side window not dropping when I pull door handle.
I have seen similar problems on forums but not matching this completely.

Window drop function doesn't react on either outside door handle or inside door handle.
The red light on the door-lock-switch on dashboard is always on.
When unlocking with remote or key it gives two short beeps on the horn.
When locking with remote, first time the horn beeps twice but doesn't lock. Second time you press remote it locks without any sound from horn.
When locking with key, no sound from horn.

And sometimes the window drop suddenly works for a day or two.

Can it be door handle microswitch? I understood there is more than one microswitch in the door.
Can it be something else?

I hope for some guidance here!

Many thanks
Nic

 

Sounds like more of a security system issue than a micro switch. The horn beeps indicate that something is open when you try to lock the car. I guess it could be the passenger door latch mechanism, but that's just a wild guess. A check with a Durametric may be able to pin point the fault.

 

Thanks for the tip. I will open up door and see if I can understand something of the door latch mech. I don't have a durametric but will see if I can find one. I get back with results from my searching!

 

As you say in your first post, there are several microswitches in the door. I would start with the latch/door handle per Bill's suggestion. Durametric would probably be helpful in pointing to the fault.

 

I had written this for a similar post. Maybe it'll help...

There's plenty of information in these forums about changing the microswitch in the inside door latch which fixes this problem. I was convinced that this would fix my car after reading many posts here. A few of the posts referred to a Volkswagen part that is a direct swap for the entire 996 latch mechanism including the microswitch. You had to trim a little plastic off the part for fitment but other than that, a direct replacement for much less $$$. I bought the Volkswagen part thinking it would save me from having to remove/replace the switch, plus the mechanicals would be brand new. Well, it didn't work for me. When I plugged it in, the entire lock system didn't respond including the driver's door. My next thought was to remove the microswitch from the Volkswagen part and install it into the Porsche lock mechanism. That didn't work either, same problem with the window not going up/down when door latch open/closed. With everything apart and no other ideas, I decided to reflow all the solder joints on the lock mechanism's circuit board. There were probably 12 or so solder joints and I was certain I was wasting my time but amazingly, that fixed the problem!

In your case it could be the switch but if not, at least you have another thing to try.

 

^^^ It's amazing how often this technique works. I've used it on many different types of electronics (mostly guitar/bass amplifiers, but also electric guitars, remote controls etc. - almost anything that's used repetitively or that gets moved around/jostled a lot) with probably 90% positive results. Good Luck

 

I went through the same steps as Flenn did when I got my 1999 but unlike him, resoldering the microswitches didn't fix my car. I then cheaped out and bought the VW part which didn't work either. It physically fit after trimming a plastic part but it must be wired differently.

I ended up replacing both latches with the right parts and everything worked after that. I wasted a bunch of time pulling the door panels and latch mechanisms.