If I had my time to go again I would avoid a convertible 996. I have had problems with this top for the past 4 years. I took the hard top off last week. It went up ok but jibbed a bit too long as the hook was engaging into the screen frame. It did actually click in but after a short pause. Thinking my battery may have been a bit low, I charged it over night. Went out the other day after lowering the top inside the garage. I tried the top as I left the car on a shopping car park. I lowered it again and drove home fine. Went out again today and the weather changed to light rain. I stopped thinking the top would go back up. WRONG. The handbrake was on as it should be but the top never moved from either the dash or the key in the drivers door method. After screaming home about a mile breaking all speed limits, I am pissed off with this top. So here I go again. Another summer of trying to fathom out whats wrong this time. I will go out tomorrow and it will probably work normal. It's been known to do just that. its driving me crackers. If anyone mentions WD40 I will kick them in the stones. lol BTW I don't need any advice on the subject. I am venting steam right now. ANY OTHER CAB OWNER HAVING THIS PROBLEM SHOUT UP.

 

Sorry you're having troubles, Hurdi! I also have a '99 and except for once when the fluid was low and another when one of the hydraulic cylinders began leaking, I've had zero issues with mine. But of course after saying this, mine will probably fail today!

 

Well, sorry to hear of your problems.
Doubt that I have any solutions since I had a coupe.
4 the record, I know many brands have persnickety convertible tops.
0 chance it will clear up on its own with regular use over the summer?

 

I've had my share of troubles with the top, but mine has been working fine for the past 3 or 4 years. It's a complex system, with lots of potential failure points.

 

 

I had similar problems with a Mercedes SLK. By comparison,my wife's Miata with a Power Retractable HardTop, works flawlessly every time. It is very simple, compact,lightweight and no wind noise. Pity it is a 'hairdressers' car.The ND will be better and will attract so Boxster buyers.
Note to Porsche - just buy the Japanese mechanism !

 

Luckily the previous owner of my cab poured lots of money into my Top. I haven't had any issues with it going up or coming down. Plenty of other things have gone wrong (hook mechanism, guide wires, wire mounting point broken, top unseated in main bow, broken nuts in frame, etc., etc.) but it does go up and down. I'm just waiting for the next mode of failure.

BTW have you tried WD-40?

 

What did I say in my previous post. I went into the garage before going to bed yesterday, tried the key in the door and the bloody top went up NO PROBLEM. And that was without the engine running so there is nothing wrong with the battery. It's only 2 years old anyway. .. God only knows why it didn't go up when I needed it too yesterday.

 

buy a Sports car with the roof cut off

 

Did you try the key in the door before? like in the rain instead of driving home?

 

No... but I did try it in the door as soon as I arrived back in the garage. Nothing happened then.... I tried again some 10 hours later and it was then that it worked. I will leave it up until another nice sunny day.

 

Could be that one of the interlock switches is failing intermittently. Maybe the switch that detects if the parking brake is enabled or not - something like that. I understand your frustration. I have done a LOT of work on my Top to keep it going. It really seems to be much more complicated than it needs to be.

 

My 2002 Cab failed, took it to the local independent Porsche shop. $32 later, it was fixed! The micro switch went out......

 

Hope you get it sorted out. I am sure this is frustrating. There's nothing harder to troubleshoot than intermittent problems.

 

Didn't your Durametric show any top codes?

http://www.durametric.com/modelfeaturematrixv6.aspx#996

1998 - 2005 Porsche 911 (996)
Module ECU Identification Information Read Codes Clear Codes Actual Values Activations Commands Coding*
ME5.2.2 for 1998-1999 (Engine) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
ME7.2 for 2000-2001 (Engine) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
ME7.8 for 2002-2004 (Engine) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
ME7.8 for 2001-2005 Turbo, GT2 (Engine) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Tiptronic G40 for 1998-2001 Yes No Yes Yes No No No No
Tiptronic G100 for 2002-2005 Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes No
ABS/DSC/PSM 5.3 for 1998-2001 Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No
ABS/DSC/PSM 5.7 for 2002-2004 Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No
Instrument Cluster K03 for 1998-2001 Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes No
Instrument Cluster K21 for 2002-2005 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Targa Roof Yes No Yes Yes No No No No
Cabrio Roof Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes No
Roll-over Protection Yes No Yes Yes No No No No
Airbag Yes No Yes Yes No No No No
Air Conditioning Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Alarm Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No No
Xenon Headlights Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
Park Assist Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
Seat Memory Yes No Yes Yes No No No No
Special features for this car:
•Ready status on ME7.2 and ME7.8 engine ECUs
•Enable on-board computer
•Enable cruise control (requires Pro kit)
•Adaptations reset on G100 transmission
•Brake bleeding activations
•Steering angle calibration
•Cabriolet top calibration
Maschinenschmieröl: WD40