Sensors for top activation
 

Aside from the parking brake, what other sensors are there to get the top moving?
I'm having a lot of trouble closing/opening my top, even at full stop with parking brake (and parking brake light) on. I hate electrical gremlins!

I had the same problem.
I bypassed the issue by getting a Comfort Top module.
Check the video out on the initial post: http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/51527-all-new-comfort-top-5.html

Depending on what year, 97-99 has one on top of the top motor and one behind driver's left shoulder. 00-04 have one inside one of the top transmission.

Sorry. It's a 99 Boxster.

I'll have to investigate that comfort top thing.

I think there's four in total:

One behind the driver's left shoulder.
One on the top of the top's motor mechanism near the 3rd brake light
One in the emergency brake handle area
One inside the hole where the hook for the center latch above the mirror is located.

Will that comfort top bypass all my stupid sensors?

it will bypass your handbrake sensor and allowed speed to operate the top will be limited to around 22-23mph.

I guess if it's the shoulder sensor, I'll still have problems.
I have to track down this electrical gremlin after all.

what kind of issues do you have exactly?
i am dealing with top operation issues as well. mine goes down and the light stays lit on the dash probably because the clamshell doesnt close all the way. when that happens i cant operate the top at all.

i am thinking its either the sensor in the transmission (mine is 2000) or i need to readjust the mechanism through the cables.

more info on this conversation here:

http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/58565-top-dash-light.html

if the top doesnt close correctly all the way it could also be the plastic gears in the transmission.

I would check the sensor in the latch and hand brake. I believe the one on top of the motor and the one behind the shoulder tell the top it's closed or open. I had a car where the shoulder sensor was bad and it kept letting the motor run until the gears inside the transmission came off.

His is a 99 and shouldn't have the crappy plastic gear. I have seen the 00-04 transmissions in a 99 though.

yeah if the issues start when trying to open the top the two sensors you mentioned are most likely the culprit.

my problem is worst than that probably. as soon as i get a chance i'll swap out the micro switch you sent me and will also check the passenger side transmission to make sure the gears are intact then start realigning the mechanism if needed.

Button sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. Sometimes works and stops halfway. Sometimes hiccups, like a loose ground somewhere.

if your windows drop when you pull the handle then its probably not the microsiwtch in the center latch above the mirror.

is your emergency brake light on all the time while operating the top? does it flicker? the microswitch in it failing is pretty common and since its one of the requirements the top wont operate. as a temporary fix people pull on the handbrake a few times until the microswitch works and the light is on the dash.

you can replace the microswitch or get the smart top that you've been told about.

alternatively you can modify your existing top relay to ignore the speed sensor (just pull it out and bend a pin) and even the emergency brake being pulled (this second one is bit more tricky and involves soldering a wire inside the relay). you're getting sort of a halfway smart top because one of the best parts of that is you dont have to hold the button pressed all the time.

My emergency brake light is on all the time. The hand brake turns that light on without fail or flicker.
I may modify my existing relay to ignore speed sensor. If that fails then we've concluded it is the shoulder sensor, since the back one only displays top open or closed.

I remember seeing that thread years ago. Can someone link me that img on which pin to bend?

you have to bend pin 18

Top Operational while-in-motion Porsche Boxster DIY