Convertible Top Latch Recepticle - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

schnellman · 10-22-2009, 09:21 AM

Driving along with the top down and the plastic piece which holds the dome light and catches the top latch fell down. It was held by the various wires, but both screws came out, their oval plastic covers fell off, and the screws fell to the floor. I tried to put them back in, but the "nuts" inside the windshield frame appear to be stripped, or broken. Neither of them will hold a screw.
What's the fix?

1998 Standard with 15K Miles.

Gougoushu · 10-22-2009, 10:26 AM

I had that same thing happen with the nuts that hold the sunvisors in place. Went to tighten them, and the nuts broke inside the windshield frame. Why Porsche uses these easily breakable and non-extractable nuts is a real headscratcher. Preventing over-torquing of screws? So the fittings will break away in an accident? Selling more parts? I'd be interested in knowing the reason.

For a solution, I filled the holes with an epoxy filler material [probably bondo would work ok too] and then, while the epoxy was still soft, inserted a plastic drywall anchor into the hole, pushing it flush. After the epoxy cured, I used 1" drywall screws. Because the screws are flat black, they are not visible, look just fine, and tighten up nicely.

Burg Boxster · 10-22-2009, 10:35 AM

Unfortunately, I know that problem...

Lucky for you, it's just the 2 inside retainers which are broken. On mine, it was a center latch one as well as both for the visors. Plus the rest of them were starting to split. anyhow, I wrote up a DIY on how to R&R. Pretty simple job once you get rolling.

File attached w/ details

Good luck and feel free to PM w/ any questions.

Gougoushu · 10-22-2009, 10:56 AM

Great DIY!

Burg Boxster · 10-22-2009, 11:30 AM

Thanks. Your solution seems to achieve the same result. As they say, there's more than one way to skin a cat

schnellman · 10-22-2009, 12:13 PM

Thanks guys. Don't know if I'll be skinning a cat real soon, but I appreciate your solutions to my broken nuts problem. I can't believe how much knowledge there is spread among the world-wide members of this forum.

s4alex · 01-11-2012, 02:30 PM

Hate to bump an old thread, but by any change does anyone still have this DIY on how to replace the two top screws in the dome light?

Mine just busted after I replaced the top and while I was stretching, all the pressure ended up snapping both cheap retaining screws in the dome. Now I have to find a way to get in there and replace or repair.

Thanks!

14Boxster0154 · 09-24-2012, 05:54 PM

It just happened to me this week end. Went for a drive with the top down. Came home, put the to up and the screw fell out. Tried to it the screw in a

Then noticed the nut. Any help is appreciated.

Thank you Boxster Buddy's!

Spinnaker · 09-24-2012, 10:21 PM

This should help you guys out.

https://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/randrcenternuts

Homeboy981 · 09-25-2012, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s4alex

Hate to bump an old thread, but by any change does anyone still have this DIY on how to replace the two top screws in the dome light?

Mine just busted after I replaced the top and while I was stretching, all the pressure ended up snapping both cheap retaining screws in the dome. Now I have to find a way to get in there and replace or repair.

Thanks!

I could NOT FOCUS on this thread….your Avatar is hilarious! I have been in that position (upside down with boots in the air and the bike on the ground).

How did you manage to get a snap of that? Aren't you too busy falling? Can you post the original?

That pic made my day! Funny!