Automatic Roof - One Touch Mods
 

Fellow members, looking for some options that will allow me to lower my roof by one touch of the button and not have to hold down the roof button - so far the only thing I can find online is the SmartTop which costs $300+ and the Robo Top which is currently out of stock with no ETA on new stock. Can anyone provide any other affordable options ?

Thanks
DrCactus

Note: I own a 2001 Boxster S - orient red

I have 01 2.7L. I have to be careful. the plastic window does not fold down the middle all the time.
i'll get the top halfway down to where the plastic window starts to fold and see if the window needs the "boxster chop".
so one button for lowering is not good. one button to bring the top up is OK

I have had a "Robo Top" and it has severed me well for 3 years there are a few on our (UK) forum that are looking for the one touch option so if you do get hold of a Robo Top give us over the pond a heads up please, as that’s where I got mine from, but was informed that they were no longer making them.

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/p...kphotos013.jpg

Just seeing if this link works; (just click on photo) it shows my switch in action on my (03) 986 also I've done the relay mod so I can drop it on the move and I don’t have to put the handbrake on. Sweet.
Guvs.

There is still lots of interest in the Boxster community for this mod to make a come back. I should of purchased one when I had the chance. I'll be keeping my ear to the ground.

Hi guys! I am the owner of RoboTop and I can confirm that we'll have units available in ~3 weeks.

The delay in getting new units ready for sale is caused by finishing up the testing for the Version 2.0 unit which will feature the ability to automatically put the top into Service Mode - that's right, no more screwing around trying to get the top into the right position. You'll be able to easily command the top to go straight to the perfect position for accessing the engine area.

As many of you are aware, my 986 was totalled earlier this year and then I bought a 996 coupe and had the 986 turned into a Spec Boxster race car which uses a roll cage and hard top, thus I had to find someone else with a standard soft top to help me with the testing.

Feel free to PM me here anytime or email using the address on the RoboTop website if you have any questions. And yes, we will resume shipping to international customers when the 2.0 units are ready.

Again, sorry for the delay and thanks for your continued interest and support!

Being the cheapskate I am, I'm OK with not having one-touch operation, but I had to have the ability to move the roof without ratcheting the handbrake. It really bothered me to drag the parking brake shoes while the car was rolling. This way, I don't have to.

Many thanks to Guvs on this forum, and dominouk on Boxa.net for pointing me to this relay hack. Guvs had done this on his ride, and pointed me to the necessary info to pull it off.

I've had this mod for over a year now, with no issues.

Although I still have to chop when putting the roof down; this mod lets me put up the top while rolling along slowly, say in traffic as it starts to rain. Whirrrr, just put up the roof as the rain starts, no stopping or handbrake needed.

With this mod, you can operate the top at any speed, so you've got to watch the speedo when the top is in motion. Yes, it is possible to lower or raise the roof at highway speeds, and do major damage to the top & actuating mechanisms. All safeties are disabled by doing this hack.

If you have a 2000+ Boxster with this relay, http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1378053000.jpg
you can perform this hack.

Bend over pin 15 & pin 18 as shown. There is no contact with other relays doing this. http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1378053187.jpg

Open the relay by gently and evenly prying near the centre of the long sides with 2 small screwdrivers. You will have to tin both ends of a a wire and then solder it to the rear of the circuit board as shown.http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1378054030.jpg The solder job must be as flat as possible, because there's not much room as the curcuit board slides in a channel as you close the relay back up.

This mod took under 20 minutes to do, including searcing for an appropriately small gauge wire.

Hi all.
What a lovely pleasure reading this thread knowing that others will have the same system up and running like I have had for the last three trouble free years.
Thumbs up for Robo Top i will post this info on our UK forum if thats ok with you.
And what a very good and detailed post from Boxster Steve, very precise and informative write up and with photos, cant ask for more, well done.
Guvs.

An easy way to achieve the same result without soldering and permanently changing (or risking damaging) the relay is to simply connect a wire to the bent over Pin 15 and connect it to a ground. Done.

Yes, no problem posting this info anywhere. Thanks!

Its so tough to hold that button for 12 seconds.

My father says the same thing about using a crank to roll up the window versus electric windows.....
One touch seems a pretty cool convenience.

i have the original robotop. it is a "convenience," yes. and yes you can live with holding the button down for 12 seconds.

but it is very nice to get in the car, start it and open the roof while you're getting situated and putting on the seat belt. by the time you're ready to go, the top's down. saves you 12 seconds.

if you drive your car 4 days a week, and put the top up/down an average of 3 times per day, over the course of a 9 month driving year, that's nearly 3 hours you're holding that button instead of driving...

the 987's top works up to 35mph, however if it detects too much movement (like sharp turns, acceleration/de-acceleration, etc) it will stop and display on the dash that the top is not closed, even if user is holding down the switch. User then has to release the switch and hold it down again for it to start again.

Because of that stopping I don't think the 987 can have a auto-down feature, I have to hold it down.

I usually just get the car to 2nd and put the top down then. 2nd goes from ~6mph to 73mph so that covers everything and 1st is too jerky and will probably cause the top to stop opening.

will this work with a 99 boxster base model?

Just ordered the Robo Top 2013 chip today! I can't wait to get it installed before storing car away for the winter.

Thanks Tom.

What if you're in a car chase, how are you going to shoot back when your hand is busy lowering that roof? :eek:

I love my SmartTOP. There's no negative other than the price.

Bummer,
They dont sell outside the US :/

The RoboTop site will be ready to accept orders again by Friday!

And RoboTop will resume shipping worldwide. :)

What happens if you need to put top in service mode?

Thats Realy good to hear!

Press the button again and the top will stop.

i think i had the original robotop when it first came out. but there was a problem with the light. the switch no longer illuminated underneath with the relay in place. has that been fixed? if so, i am interested again. is there a discount for forum members? no biggie if not..just curious.

Funny you should be asking that.
My exact thoughts as well, thstone what do you think ?
Guvs.
I could be your UK Rep. lol !!

According to the robotop web site, the backlight of the button will not work.

Robo-Top, One-Touch Convertible Top Module for 996 Cabriolets and 986 Boxsters, Convertible top module for Boxster and 911 Carrera

Although it seems like that would be relatively simple to address, it might be that the circuit for the backlight is being used for another function.

I made a top opener using an Arduino board. I haven't posted about it since I installed it in May because I wanted to be sure it was reliable first.

It mimics the way the power windows work:
short tap on open or close will fully auto-open/close the top (less than .5 second tap), another tap or long press of either open or close will stop the current auto-open/close function. Holding on open or close will manually open or close the top for as long as you hold it.

the only annoying thing is that it needs a switched +12v supply...I just spliced into the stereo's switched +12v (not the +12v switched by the stereo being on, the +12v from the ignition being on).

Arduino nano:$10
transistors, resistor, and 5v regulator:$10 -$15 (had all parts laying around)
Fun/simple Saturday geek-out project:$priceless

very nice! Where do you buy your Arduino boards?

Also the 987 solved this: from 6mph to ~35mph the roof is automatic one touch. Under 6mph and you have to hold the switch.

I did this mod. works great. I bought a spare so I can always change back if I need to.