auto spoiler not going up - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

jl1252 · 04-09-2007, 05:43 PM

Hello all,

I have an 02 base and the rear spoiler isn't going up automatically at all when I reach the magic speed of 75. If I manually raise it and then slow below 50 it will retract the way it supposed to. It just won't go up. Is there something I'm missing. I'm not getting a soipler-realted malfunction light either. Any help diagnosing this would be much appreciated before I have to take it to the dealership.

Thanks

Jeff

racer_d · 04-09-2007, 06:32 PM

I would recommend a search on the site as I am sure it has been discussed. Out of curiosity, how have you been able to tell it hasn't been working?

jl1252 · 04-09-2007, 07:12 PM

well, we were out looking at property with my folks who were following me most of the time. I asked my dad after we had stopped and I asked him if he ever saw the spoiler up. He said "no." Between there and the next stop, I manually raised the spoiler and when we stopped he said he saw the spoiler go up and then down when we came to a stop sign.

Then on the way home, I looked over my shoulder and couldn't see the spoiler.

Jeff

GroovieGhoulie · 04-09-2007, 07:29 PM

This brings up the question, (I was gonna say "raises the question", but the pun made even me cringe), but why did Porsche put the manual switch in such a damn outta the way location? Why didn't they want the owner using the thing manually?

MNBoxster · 04-09-2007, 07:41 PM

Hi,

The Spoiler uses a separate Relay for Deployment and Retraction. They are #3 and #9 (#10 on '97MY) respectively in the Rear Relay Panel.

I suspect you have a bad Relay. Reverse these Relays and see if the malfunction doesn't reverse itself too. If so, replace the Faulty Relay. If not, report back. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

jl1252 · 04-09-2007, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

Hi,

The Spoiler uses a separate Relay for Deployment and Retraction. They are #3 and #9 (#10 on '97MY) respectively in the Rear Relay Panel.

I suspect you have a bad Relay. Reverse these Relays and see if the malfunction doesn't reverse itself too. If so, replace the Faulty Relay. If not, report back. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Thanks Jim,

I was hoping you'd reply. I'll give it a shot and report back.

Jeff

MNBoxster · 04-09-2007, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroovieGhoulie

This brings up the question, (I was gonna say "raises the question", but the pun made even me cringe), but why did Porsche put the manual switch in such a damn outta the way location? Why didn't they want the owner using the thing manually?

Hi,

The Original '96 Boxster didn't have a Spoiler Switch at all. Then Owners complained that the Spoiler acted as a Tell-Tale for the Police, because they read magazines too, and knew that a Boxster with raised Spoiler was exceeding 75MPH (121KPH). The Switch was added to eliminate self-incrimination.

Porsche doesn't want the Owner raising the Spoiler manually at speeds other than where it was designed to function. With the Spoiler extended, you increase the Drag on the Car considerably reducing the Range (MPG). So to discourage this, they placed the Switch in an inconvenient location.

At Speed, the added stability outweighs any concerns of increased Drag. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

RandallNeighbour · 04-09-2007, 08:05 PM

Jim, I've got one of the earliest boxsters made. In fact, mine is so early it does not have an external temp sensor that all the mid year 97 cars came with. Yet I have a spoiler switch... and while 97's were sold in 96, there was not a 96 model to my knowledge.

Are you sure the first boxsters came without the spoiler switch located in the fuse box area?