Convertible top hack (lower top while moving)
 

Did the 'driving while lowering the convertible top' hack this weekend. Someone else posted it here and it was indeed a five minute job. Pull out the convertible top switch next to the fuse box (the big white block) and locate the #18 pin. It says #18 Tach with all the other codes for the other numbers. I used a set of pliers to break off the pin completely. Plugged it back in and fired up the boxster.
Works fine, you just need to have the emergency break up at least one click so that the brake light comes on your dash. I was travelling about 25mph while the top was lowering. My plastic window has started to fold precisely without having to do the chop so its been a perfect hack.
BUT...
When I raise the top the windows don't automaitcally lower that little bit so that you can engage and lock the the top. I have to first lower each side window and then raise the top. I didn't notice if the windows still also lower that little bit when the doors are opened.
It seems more useful to be able to lower the top while moving than having the windows come down atomatically to close up the top. If you don't like this hack you can always get a new fuse block for $40.

I guess I am wondering why you would want to operate the top while moving. Should you be driving?

:)

well let's say it starts raining you could have the top up by the time you pull over to the shoulder. What if you can't pull over right away and man its really coming down?(happened to me once in my miata and that was a manual top. Or how about if you decide to lower the top at a red light and and the light changes green before your finished lowering and your holding up traffic just so that guy in the Porsche can get a tan!? :D

I'm curious to hear from the people who paid $200 for this aftermarket option.

when I first purchased my boxster, I was actually soo close to purchasing one of those after market parts that would allow you to operate the top while driving....

I forgot the name of the company, but they were in germany and had 2 types, one that would allow you to operate it up till 15 mph and one 25 mph...

however after seom serious consideration, and my frustration with the "boxster chop" I found that this device would only be useful in putting the top up, not putting the top down as I would still have to get out of the car, sooo....i decided against it...

plus the product was about 300 dollars...yikes!!!!

I have a 99' Boxster and I did the same hack. However, my windows do automatically go down a little bit so that I can latch the top when i raise it (they also go down the little bit when i lower it). Perhaps a difference from different model years...

I looked into one of those other non-hacked system. The feature i would like to have is 1 touch top up or 1 touch top down, instead of holding the button.

Larez2

Rain, rain, hmmmm. what is that again??

;)

hey perfectlap,
i have a 2000 box and it works fine. (i originally posted the hack)
i also know that it is not recommended at any speed faster than 25mph but i think that is still too fast. i would say 15 mph should be max.
i hardly ever used it on mine but the weather in southern CA is so beautiful now days, i am using it at least 2x a day. right brucelee???

do your windows still come down that little bit automatically when you push the top up button so that you can lock the top?
Or do you have to lower the windows yourself?

it comes down when the botton is pushed, other words, it works the same as before.

The german one is called smarttop

Taping over pin18 with some thin scotchtape has the same effect - you can remove the tape when the vehicle goes to service if you so desire.

I guess you don't use the felt pad when you lower the top in the cars with plastic windows

Smarttop arrived today and is installed
 

I received my Smarttop for my 2001 Box and installed it in about 5 seconds. Works as advertised and I am delighted with it! The full stop, pull brake, mash the button while the top opens/closes is not such a big deal, but it was annoying. My initial impressions are that I can get going quicker just like a real car without having to fiddle around with it. :)

I love my SmartTop, I think it is quite expensive at $200 but makes the roof easier and just an all round nicer experience. The one exception would be the people doing the chop, I have glass so that isn't relevant to me.

One-touch is how it should be, I know it doesn't make a big time difference, it's just "right". As I pull in to park I tapthe button once and the roof is reay to latch when I am at a standstill.

More importantly, for me, I have a tip and rarely use the hand brake, as such that need was always a pain. I set of a couple off times with it still engaged!

Probably the best point for me is putting the roof up while moving. Let me stress that wouldb more accurate to say while not at a complete stop, in park with the hand brake on". I left work the other day and it was warm but gloomy, I'll be on a highway ging slow for half an hour so ordinarilly would not have been able to stop and put the roof up, now, in 15mph Boston traffic, I can with one click.

Now, as for those hacks, I was tempted but decided not to as it removes the speed restriction completely and could be dangerous. Bending/ breaking / taping pin 18 removes the speed check completely, your roof will work at any speed. There is also another pin that you can ground to remove the hand brake check if you're interested.

I kow both work well and many swer by them, I just wouldn't want to risk someone pushing the hood up button at 65mph. I suppose keeping the hand brake check in place would prevent this, but that was one of the main things I wanted to avoid needing to do.

I have no affiliation with any of these solutions, just passing on my experiences.

I just wrapped tape around the #18pin in the top relay. I was a little leary of breaking the pin. It went in perfectly and works pretty good. Its not to practical most of the time but sure does help when your driving and it starts raining. I wish i had the one button hack done.

The only hard part about the SmartTop is handing over the $200, other than that it couldn't be easier. You pull out the relay, put the replacement one in and you're done. No wires, no switches, no messing, just money.

Just found this hack, took 2 Minutes and it seems to work perfectly...

Placed tape over pin 18 and no issues. The windows go down as they should.

P Lap - did you ever resolve that issue?

Once I get my top replaced with a glass window top, and it works well, I'd love to get one of the SmartTop things... I'd like to be able to click the button once while I'm pulling into a parking spot, and be able to reach up and latch the top by the time I've set the parking brake.

Be wary of messing up the 'relay' unit. It's more than a relay, and the part costs $108 new. Not TOO expensive, but not TOO cheap either.

Maybe I'll try the tape over the pin and see what it does.

This mod is too easy not to do it...pulling out the relay and putting it back in could not have been easier.

Has anyone heard of someone damaging the relay in this way?

...anyway the real function of this hack (for the non-rear glass owners in the crowd) comes into play when you need to quickly put the top up while in transit. You can now do it without stopping.

Mine works same way as when I'm stopped. Window comes down a bit.

The top going up/down while moving is standard on the 987 and I have NEVER used this feature. Think its interesting that so many people are doing 'hacks' to make that work. How often does it rain and you don't have time to raise the top at a stop light etc.... and the speedlimit is sufficient for closing the top while moving. Hasn't happened to me yet.

Has happened to me at least 3 times already since I've owned my car. Scenario is usually that I have the top down, and driving on the freeway or two laner, and there's no convenient place to pull over, or not safe to pull over, and then it starts pouring. Traffic is moving slow, but still moving, so I'm not gonna come to a full stop to annoy the folks behind me. IMO, this hack is terrific. Besides, it just looks so cool to put the top up/down while moving. LOL :D

drburton,
My car is not a DD and so when I do get out I run almost exlusively with the top down no matter if it is perfectly sunny and warm or not (just can't get enough of the fun). Anyway since my purchase last August I have had the rain thing happen to me at least a handfull of times...admittedly not that big of a deal. However at the risk of sounding redundant here, the minimal effort needed to pull this hack off really made it a no brainer for me.

If I were to tape pin 18, would I still have to hold the button down to raise and lower the top?

YES. It sounds like it. :cheers:

Ah, ok, well its still a useful modd in the hands of the responsible.

what happened to those guys selling that one touch switch for $100? I need to send them an email now that its top down season...

Never seen it that low. Ceapest I've seen it advertised for was $199.00 :cheers:

I think Perfectlap is talking about a different component that just affects the dash switch. Basically imitates you holding the switch down to open/close the top.

That, in combination with the pin18 mod might be a cheap way to get the 'auto top' functionality for cheaper.

.... I might try it.

I have the other solution, the Bahntech Autotop (http://www.bahntech.com/products/AutoTop/default.asp). I think this is the one P/L is referring to? I got mine for less than the $157 it is now on that site (I think we had a group buy on them once). Works a treat, love the 1 push auto up/down. I did not do the speed sensor part of it (at least I don't remember doing that part), so I still stop to move the top.

john v i think sold the top hacks works perfect

1 touch caution?
 

Hi folks,
First post. Bought an '03 S on Memorial Day. I've been an early 912 driver since 1989. Need to learn to drive all over again! Nice power increase over the '68 :) .
When I had a PPI done on the Boxster, at RMG, Bob told me about a repair he did as a result of the aftermarket 1 touch relay. I guess one of the top cables broke and the top continued to try to close, twisting the frame into a useless mess of bent parts. Said it was a $5K repair! I don't know how common a broken top cable is but keep a sharp eye on the top as it closes. I do love the 1 touch feature especially with the glass rear window. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions in the near future. Great site and civilized members.
Tony

Yep, if you choose to do a mod like this, you do need to keep your wits about you... monitor the top's performance, make sure it's not doing anything goofy.

I think I will try to get a unit like the autotop, that way I can keep the stock controller and swap it back in if needed.

Did the same process tonight and it works great. Wife will be much happier next time we run into a freak hailstorm in fast moving traffic and no real shoulder.