Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Performance and Technical Chat

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-30-2015, 04:06 PM   #1
Need For Speed
 
KRAM36's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Funville
Posts: 2,114
Garage
Can the mph that raises the rear spoiler be changed?

Can the mph that raises the rear spoiler be changed? If possible I'd like to change it to 100 mph before it raises.

Thanks!
KRAM36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2015, 04:33 PM   #2
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Moore, Ok
Posts: 105
Garage
Porsche says that the car becomes unstable and dangerous without the added down force from the spoiler over 75 MPH. So I doubt that there would be an easy way to do this.
Redboxs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2015, 06:55 PM   #3
On the slippery slope
 
JayG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Austin and Palm Springs
Posts: 3,798
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redboxs View Post
Porsche says that the car becomes unstable and dangerous without the added down force from the spoiler over 75 MPH. So I doubt that there would be an easy way to do this.
On the Boxster it is a spoiler, not a wing. It does not produce down-force, it disrupts the airflow over the car and reduced the tendency of the car's aerodynamics to act a wing and lift.

A wing will produce down-force and actually push the rear of the car down. This needs to be co-ordinated with the suspension
__________________
2004 Boxster S 6 speed - DRL relay hack, Polaris AutoTop DIY
2004 996 Targa Tip
Instructor - San Diego region
2014 Porsche Performance Driving School
2020 BMW X3, 2013 Ram 1500, 2016 Cmax, 2004 F-150 "Big Red"
JayG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2015, 04:43 AM   #4
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Moore, Ok
Posts: 105
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by JayG View Post
On the Boxster it is a spoiler, not a wing. It does not produce down-force, it disrupts the airflow over the car and reduced the tendency of the car's aerodynamics to act a wing and lift.

A wing will produce down-force and actually push the rear of the car down. This needs to be co-ordinated with the suspension
Ah! I see! I havn't ever really researched it. Just what I've read in my owners manual. Thx!
Redboxs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2015, 04:43 PM   #5
Certified Boxster Addict
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 7,669
IIRC, it is hard coded into the ECU to deploy the spoiler at 75mph.

So, my best guess to work around this is either modifying the speedometer input to trick the ECU that 100mph was 75mph (without screwing up the speedo displays in the cluster) or modify the ECU code itself.

Maybe someone else knows more and will jump in...
__________________
1999 996 C2 - sold - bought back - sold for more
1997 Spec Boxster BSR #254
1979 911 SC
POC Licensed DE/TT Instructor
thstone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2015, 08:49 PM   #6
Registered User
 
linderpat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: pittsburgh
Posts: 238
why does it matter at what speed it raises? You can't see it when it's up from inside the cabin.
__________________
Ed
Pittsburgh, PA
78 5 spd 928 Blumaxx (in Hemmings S & E issue #100)
85 928S garnet red stock daily driver
06 Mustang GT Legend Lime and modified to go even faster
linderpat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2015, 01:21 AM   #7
Need For Speed
 
KRAM36's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Funville
Posts: 2,114
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by linderpat View Post
why does it matter at what speed it raises? You can't see it when it's up from inside the cabin.
Because it creates unnecessary drag on the car, plus I don't really care for the looks of it in the up position. It doesn't go back down until you slow to 50 mph. It's easy to hit 75 and then travel a long distance at a lower speed and the spoiler stays up for no reason. Yes I know about the manual raise and lower button at the fuse panel door, but that's PITA.

I'd rather it not deploy until I hit 100 mph or even 85 mph. Was hoping maybe the Durametric could set this function.

Guess I could buy one of these. http://www.ebay.com/itm/261698591779



.

Last edited by KRAM36; 01-31-2015 at 01:34 AM.
KRAM36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2015, 03:35 AM   #8
Rennzenn
 
j.fro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,369
Garage
Even with the switch, once the spoiler has been automatically deployed I don't think You can override the function.
__________________
Rennzenn
Jfro@rennzenn.com
j.fro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2015, 07:06 AM   #9
On the slippery slope
 
JayG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Austin and Palm Springs
Posts: 3,798
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by KRAM36 View Post
Because it creates unnecessary drag on the car, plus I don't really care for the looks of it in the up position.
It keep the car from lifting at higher speeds. Probably does add some negligible drag, but that is what it is supposed to do.
Porsche put it there for a reason!

Why are you concerned with drag anyway? Are you trying for a high speed record?

In any case, if you don't want the spoiler to deploy, you probably could get inside it and disconnect the gears and while the motor would still work and therefore no CEL, it would not move.

There probably are alternate methods as some have added fixed wings and disconnected the spoiler and have no codes.
Do some searching here, on boxa.net, boxster register and rennlist boxster forum
__________________
2004 Boxster S 6 speed - DRL relay hack, Polaris AutoTop DIY
2004 996 Targa Tip
Instructor - San Diego region
2014 Porsche Performance Driving School
2020 BMW X3, 2013 Ram 1500, 2016 Cmax, 2004 F-150 "Big Red"

Last edited by JayG; 01-31-2015 at 07:23 AM.
JayG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2015, 08:03 AM   #10
Need For Speed
 
KRAM36's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Funville
Posts: 2,114
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by JayG View Post
It keep the car from lifting at higher speeds. Probably does add some negligible drag, but that is what it is supposed to do.
Porsche put it there for a reason!

Why are you concerned with drag anyway? Are you trying for a high speed record?

In any case, if you don't want the spoiler to deploy, you probably could get inside it and disconnect the gears and while the motor would still work and therefore no CEL, it would not move.

There probably are alternate methods as some have added fixed wings and disconnected the spoiler and have no codes.
Do some searching here, on boxa.net, boxster register and rennlist boxster forum
I want the spoiler to come up, but I don't think it's needed at 75 mph.

Why am I concerned with drag? Because this is my DD and that causes fuel economy to go down and drag isn't the only thing, I think it looks tacky when deployed for no reason.

I rarely hit 85 mph, but 75 mph is easy when the highway speed is 70 mph and you need to get around another car. So here is this spoiler up for no reason and doesn't come back down until 50 mph.
KRAM36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2015, 08:50 AM   #11
Registered User
 
Porsche9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 1,796
For safety reasons raising the speed at which it goes up is risky. My thought is that instead the speed at which it drops back down be changed. Instead of 50 let's say 65 or maybe even 70. I always thought the 25 gap was a bit much.
__________________
03 Carrera
02 Boxster S Guards Red, black interior with matching hardtop
89 Carrera 4
89 944 S2
78 911SC
Porsche9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2015, 09:09 AM   #12
On the slippery slope
 
JayG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Austin and Palm Springs
Posts: 3,798
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by KRAM36 View Post
I want the spoiler to come up, but I don't think it's needed at 75 mph.

Why am I concerned with drag? Because this is my DD and that causes fuel economy to go down and drag isn't the only thing, I think it looks tacky when deployed for no reason.

I rarely hit 85 mph, but 75 mph is easy when the highway speed is 70 mph and you need to get around another car. So here is this spoiler up for no reason and doesn't come back down until 50 mph.
Fuel economy, really? slow down a bit, that will improve your fuel economy.

I get around 27 mpg on the hwy doing 75-80, so I don't know what you expect. A Boxster is not an economy car and was not meant to be one
Besides the spoiler at worst has a negligible effect on fuel economy

The spoiler comes up at 75 for a reason. I am fairly certain that Porsche did a lot of wind tunnel testing and determined that 75 is where it is needed.
The spoiler is up FOR A REASON!!!

Basic aerodynamics are in play here. the shape of the car acts like an airfoil (wing). when air flows over the top of a wing, it moves faster than the air below the wing and creates a partial vacuum. this causes the wing to move towards the partial vacuum, in this case up. by disrupting that airflow over the top, it prevents the partial vacuum and therefor prevents the car from lifting. It is exactly how the wing on an airplane works and why they deploy spoilers on landing.

A proper wing on the back of a car is in fact inverted and the airflow is faster on the bottom, causing down-force. In a car you need to counteract that down-force with springs (adjustable coil-overs)to push up a bit

They probability have the down set at 50 so once it is up, its not constantly moving up and down
__________________
2004 Boxster S 6 speed - DRL relay hack, Polaris AutoTop DIY
2004 996 Targa Tip
Instructor - San Diego region
2014 Porsche Performance Driving School
2020 BMW X3, 2013 Ram 1500, 2016 Cmax, 2004 F-150 "Big Red"

Last edited by JayG; 01-31-2015 at 06:57 PM.
JayG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2015, 09:33 PM   #13
Track rat
 
Topless's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Southern ID
Posts: 3,701
Garage
A little bit of science and aerodynamics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKH1DyV9vNU
Pickup Truck Tailgates | Fuel Economy - Consumer Reports News
__________________
2009 Cayman 2.9L PDK (with a few tweaks)
PCA-GPX Chief Driving Instructor-Ret.
Topless is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2015, 06:46 AM   #14
On the slippery slope
 
JayG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Austin and Palm Springs
Posts: 3,798
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by KRAM36 View Post
I want the spoiler to come up, but I don't think it's needed at 75 mph.

Why am I concerned with drag? Because this is my DD and that causes fuel economy to go down and drag isn't the only thing, I think it looks tacky when deployed for no reason.

I rarely hit 85 mph, but 75 mph is easy when the highway speed is 70 mph and you need to get around another car. So here is this spoiler up for no reason and doesn't come back down until 50 mph.
I realize you have now seen the light and understand that the spoiler goes up and down at a specific speed for a reason and does not lower mpg as that was your concern. So if getting better mpg is your concearn, why are you looking at increasing HP with a bunch of engine mods in another thread? That will surely decrease MPG. The easiest way to increase MPG is to slow down a bit, especially if you are going 70+
__________________
2004 Boxster S 6 speed - DRL relay hack, Polaris AutoTop DIY
2004 996 Targa Tip
Instructor - San Diego region
2014 Porsche Performance Driving School
2020 BMW X3, 2013 Ram 1500, 2016 Cmax, 2004 F-150 "Big Red"
JayG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2015, 04:41 AM   #15
Registered User
 
Nine8Six's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Montreal, QC. (currently expat to Shanghai)
Posts: 3,249
Quote:
Originally Posted by KRAM36 View Post
Can the mph that raises the rear spoiler be changed? If possible I'd like to change it to 100 mph before it raises.

Thanks!
Just cut it off from the Porsche's system and built your own. Hardware: Arduino + automotive 12vdc relay ($20). Hand code one simple condition in your arduino backend (e.g. if >150mph then PIN#HIGH else PIN#LOW end)

The speedo analog signal can be tapped from the OBDII harness, and so its ground.

But you knew all about Arduino did you? If not it takes a day to learn on their site (ask their million-members-forum for support if you ever need lol)
__________________
______________________________
'97 Boxster base model 2.5L, Guards Red/Tan leather, with a new but old Alpine am/fm radio.
Nine8Six is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2015, 06:40 PM   #16
Registered User
 
Nine8Six's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Montreal, QC. (currently expat to Shanghai)
Posts: 3,249
Dynamic: air speed, wind force, direction, turbulence, density....

I think spoilers are a scam LOL great marketing none the less
__________________
______________________________
'97 Boxster base model 2.5L, Guards Red/Tan leather, with a new but old Alpine am/fm radio.
Nine8Six is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2015, 07:28 PM   #17
On the slippery slope
 
JayG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Austin and Palm Springs
Posts: 3,798
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nine8Six View Post
Dynamic: air speed, wind force, direction, turbulence, density....

I think spoilers are a scam LOL great marketing none the less
LOL, until you design and make some super duper cool illuminated one

Next project????
__________________
2004 Boxster S 6 speed - DRL relay hack, Polaris AutoTop DIY
2004 996 Targa Tip
Instructor - San Diego region
2014 Porsche Performance Driving School
2020 BMW X3, 2013 Ram 1500, 2016 Cmax, 2004 F-150 "Big Red"
JayG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2015, 04:19 AM   #18
Registered User
 
madmodz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 174
You can bypass the oem system and use and two relays and a Porsche window switch and manually control the wing. The wing motor wiring works the same as a window regulator. It has 2 wires on the motor -up and down. Reverse polarity to move in the other direction. I have also in the past used dei window controllers to wire the wing to alarm remote controls. Your sitting having some coffee when some people come to admire your Porsche. You hit your remote switch and the wing goes up.

Last edited by madmodz; 03-11-2015 at 06:49 AM.
madmodz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2015, 10:44 AM   #19
Custom User Title Here
 
particlewave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ft. Leonard Wood
Posts: 6,164
Garage
Wow...what happened here?

I really don't want to end up having someone mad at me, but one person is absolutely 100% correct and the other is absolutely wrong.
Let's just say that Porsche did their homework and a spoiler is called so for a reason.
Aerodynamics affect a car differently at different speeds, hence the reason for a speed activated spoiler
__________________
https://youtube.com/@UnwindTimeVintageWatchMuseum
particlewave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2015, 02:44 AM   #20
Need For Speed
 
KRAM36's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Funville
Posts: 2,114
Garage
Topless, apparently my thinking is incorrect. You are correct in this on the way our spoilers works.

I'll no longer worry about the spoiler causing a drag on the car and lowering the mpg.

I am grasshopper. Thanks for the lesson learned.
__________________
2003 Boxster S
| 987 Air Box | K&N Air Filter | 76mm Intake Pipe| 996 76mm TB | 997 Distribution T | Secondary Cat Delete Pipes | Borla Muffler | NHP 200 Cell Exhaust Headers |

Last edited by KRAM36; 03-13-2015 at 02:48 AM.
KRAM36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 07:28 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2025 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page