986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners - View Single Post - 2001 Boxster convertible Clamshell issues

oldskool73 · 05-18-2017, 08:43 AM

Pretty sure if it was the balljoint then the top wouldn't open (or would be making noises), but your clamshell still would. I think Disaster called it, the cable for your right (driver) side has snapped or come loose, so only the driver side transmission is being run, the left (passenger) side is just being forced up.

Pretty easy to get in and have a look, the pictures on the pelican page here should help... Porsche Boxster Convertible Top Repair - 986 / 987 (1997-08) - Pelican Parts Technical Article

Basically there's a motor right in the rear middle, under the clamshell, a little metal box (figure 6) with a black plastic cover on it normally. That drives 2 black cables that run to the transmissions mounted on either side inside the top area. These turn a v shaped lever that drives 2 push levers on each side, one of which attaches to the top (via the ball joint that often snaps), and one of which attaches to the clamshell (via the piston looking thing). If the cable slips, snaps or comes out of one side at either the motor or transmission end, that side doesn't open.

You'll want to try to lift the clamshell as much as you can safely (but don't push it or you can bend the clamshell or cause further issues), and then try to get a look at the motor first, the cables just go into a hole on each side and are held in by a small metal clip show in figure 6. If the right one's come out just put it back in and maybe replace the clip if it's gone missing.

If it's not that simple, you can try to remove the clips that hold the clamshell levers onto the pivot point show in the inset image here with the yellow arrow http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/03-BASICS-Air_Filter/images_large/Pic3.jpg
If you can slide these off on both sides (lift the tab then slide out) you should be able to then pull the arm inwards a bit and off it's pivot. If you can do that both side you can then just slide the clamshell up and forward as shown in the larger image. Then you will have full access to the top area and can check all the way down the cable to the transmission end for issues. Also check if your cable is smooth (old type) or has criss-crosses down it (new). The old ones are prone to stretching which will cause this, then you just need to fit new cables.

That should get you started, and if you search on here with 'clamshell stuck' you will find plenty of other discussion, promise

05-18-2017, 08:43 AM	#6
oldskool73 Registered User Join Date: May 2015 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 335	Pretty sure if it was the balljoint then the top wouldn't open (or would be making noises), but your clamshell still would. I think Disaster called it, the cable for your right (driver) side has snapped or come loose, so only the driver side transmission is being run, the left (passenger) side is just being forced up. Pretty easy to get in and have a look, the pictures on the pelican page here should help... Porsche Boxster Convertible Top Repair - 986 / 987 (1997-08) - Pelican Parts Technical Article Basically there's a motor right in the rear middle, under the clamshell, a little metal box (figure 6) with a black plastic cover on it normally. That drives 2 black cables that run to the transmissions mounted on either side inside the top area. These turn a v shaped lever that drives 2 push levers on each side, one of which attaches to the top (via the ball joint that often snaps), and one of which attaches to the clamshell (via the piston looking thing). If the cable slips, snaps or comes out of one side at either the motor or transmission end, that side doesn't open. You'll want to try to lift the clamshell as much as you can safely (but don't push it or you can bend the clamshell or cause further issues), and then try to get a look at the motor first, the cables just go into a hole on each side and are held in by a small metal clip show in figure 6. If the right one's come out just put it back in and maybe replace the clip if it's gone missing. If it's not that simple, you can try to remove the clips that hold the clamshell levers onto the pivot point show in the inset image here with the yellow arrow http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/03-BASICS-Air_Filter/images_large/Pic3.jpg If you can slide these off on both sides (lift the tab then slide out) you should be able to then pull the arm inwards a bit and off it's pivot. If you can do that both side you can then just slide the clamshell up and forward as shown in the larger image. Then you will have full access to the top area and can check all the way down the cable to the transmission end for issues. Also check if your cable is smooth (old type) or has criss-crosses down it (new). The old ones are prone to stretching which will cause this, then you just need to fit new cables. That should get you started, and if you search on here with 'clamshell stuck' you will find plenty of other discussion, promise Last edited by oldskool73; 05-18-2017 at 08:47 AM.