The convertible top on my 2002 Porsche 911/996 cabriolet suddenly stopped working sometime last week. Since it was cloudy couple of days ago when I went to close the top I got nothing...No movement, no sounds, no clicking noise of any kind...total silence. Here are the things I checked so far...all fuses, the E brake switch, the actual switch above the consul that closes/opens the top, all of the relays both in the driver footwell area behind the fusebox and secondary relays behind the back seat. Everything seems to be working and OK and relays clicking once energized.
Anyone here knows which relay specifically operates the top? Any other suggestions to check? By the way the fluid reservoir is full behind the back seat area.


Relays behind the back seat

Relays in the footwell area behind the fusebox

 

Have you tried closing the top using the key? If you put the key in the drivers door lock. Turn to the lock position (clockwise) and hold for several seconds this will initiate the top to close.

The other thing to check. there is a switch for the engine compartment door that will not let the top close if it thinks the engine bay is open. Try opening and shutting the compartment firmly.

the order of the top closing is

1) drop the windows
2)open the clamshell
3) close the top
4) latch to the windshield
5) close the clamshell
6) close the windows

are any of these things happening?

M

 

Thank you for a quick reply Makoto0406. I tried inserting the key in the lock and turning it clockwise and holding for a few second. I hear one click (maybe a relay click) but nothing else...No movement of anything else. By the way my key never locked the car remotely since I've had the car for a few years. I have to always physically insert the into the driver's side door lock and lock the car that way.
As for the engine compartment and also the frunk, I tried to open and shut it a number of times...but no luck with the top.
By the way, when the top worked I have closed and opened the top many times with no issues, and know the order you're talking about.
I need more help. Do you know which one of the relays is for the top operation?

 

A possible cause is one of the limit switches that controls the operation of the top. Check the e-break switch first, but there are a number of them.

 

If you can get a hold of a durametric or other code reader it can give you a code which is a good place to start.

I'm guessing from your last post that the windows don't drop so it sounds like the problem is in one of the first steps in the process.



These are the fuse and control module locations

These are the error codes

Hope this helps
M

 

@Makoto0406 thanks again for more suggestions. When you say "I am guessing windows don't drop"... my windows do drop by the quarter inch or so that supposed to drop when lifting the door handles to enter the car, so not likely a window dropping micro switch issue.
Where does one get a Durametric code reader? is that a dealer owned tester?
The pages you've posted here are great? Where can I get this book?
I may end up going to the dealer and spend a bunch of money just to diagnose the problem, and spend much much more for the repair...and that's what I'm trying to avoid.

 

There are a couple different code readers. The most common are durametric and foxwell. You can buy a durametric direct from the company (durametric.com).

I believe the PiWi can interrogate every switch in the process. The 997 forum has a long thread on the Chinese clone.

The pictures are from the Bentley service manual. You can get that at Amazon

M

 

@Makoto0406 I took the car in to my local indy shop that has a Porsche code reader/tester, but he couldn't communicate with the module. He said the module could be bad or is unplugged. That sounded pretty strange because everything was working couple of weeks ago. He needed the car there for min. 2 hours at $150 per hour to further diagnose the problem. I have to think about that.
Since I only had the top up a handful of times in the last few years, I am not sure if I want to waste $300 for something that may or may not work and I don't use often...only in an emergency.
You said the pictures are from Bentley manual? what does the Bentley cabrio top have in common with Porsche, other than they're both owned by VW.

 

There is a small fuse on the immobilizer box under the driver seat, I'd check that.

 

Bentley is the name of the publisher that produce all the VW/Audi/Porsche "Official" shop manuals. Nothing to do with Bentley cars.

 

@mayart This is an older thread but I have a 2002 C4 cab and am chasing the same problem. I even had my Indy diagnose the car and same result, 2hrs of labor and they couldn’t communicate with the module. Did you ever fix it?

Thanks in advance,
Huy

 

No I never pursued the problem further and just closed the top and I am driving the car as a coupe.