Spoiler extension problem - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Bobiam · 03-31-2008, 01:39 PM

My spoiler is now able to become fully erect.

I just showed it some pics that I found on the internet.....LOL

Actually, it appears to have been a relay connection. I swapped the relays 3 and 9, and as Lil Bastard suggests it was the problem. However, it worked fine in both directions after I did it. So I switched 'em back and it still worked fine. Must have been a poor connection.

What seems odd is that the relay would allow it to go up 1" rather than all or none. I'll checked it periodicly to be sure that the proper operation wasn't just a fluke of a Viagra day.

Now I can drive as fast as I want to, and I'll just explain to the arresting officer that I can do this since my spoiler is erect!

Thanks to all that offered advice.

Bob

Sloan · 03-31-2008, 01:48 PM

As 9eighty6 asked, how do you know? Short of standing up and looking back while going over 75 (which does not seem like a good idea), or having a chase vehicle, or a mirror on a big stick, how are you able to tell if it is deploying? I'm pretty tall, but no amount of craning my neck, checking mirrors, etc., has allowed me to see back there? I have no reason to doubt that mine is working (fine when manually deployed) but am curious to see if there's some easy way to tell that I have overlooked.

Bobiam · 03-31-2008, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sloan

As 9eighty6 asked, how do you know? Short of standing up and looking back while going over 75 (which does not seem like a good idea), or having a chase vehicle, or a mirror on a big stick, how are you able to tell if it is deploying? I'm pretty tall, but no amount of craning my neck, checking mirrors, etc., has allowed me to see back there? I have no reason to doubt that mine is working (fine when manually deployed) but am curious to see if there's some easy way to tell that I have overlooked.

Sloan....... It my particular case, it didn't work on when manually operated. So, it's a pretty safe assumption that since it now works on manual, it will also work when over 75.... Silly as it sounds, I think you could see it with a handheld mirror with arm stretch with your top down. Therefore, Cayman drivers would be sol!!! Or, you can ask your passenger to use the mirror....they already know that you're a P-car nut, so they won't hesitate to assist.

Bob

Lil bastard · 03-31-2008, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sloan

As 9eighty6 asked, how do you know? Short of standing up and looking back while going over 75 (which does not seem like a good idea), or having a chase vehicle, or a mirror on a big stick, how are you able to tell if it is deploying? I'm pretty tall, but no amount of craning my neck, checking mirrors, etc., has allowed me to see back there? I have no reason to doubt that mine is working (fine when manually deployed) but am curious to see if there's some easy way to tell that I have overlooked.

You will know because the spoiler MIL will light if it fails to extend. It is a fault indicator once the car has speed calibrated itself to 3MPH and the light goes out.

Also, the rear can get fairly squirrelly above 75MPH w/o it, especially in the wet.

Lil bastard · 03-31-2008, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobiam

...What seems odd is that the relay would allow it to go up 1" rather than all or none. ..Bob

The fact that it raised 1" indicates to me that you have a failing relay. These can overheat and break contact after being energized just a short while - about as long as it takes the spoiler to rise 1" for example. The relays are cheap - 996.615.102.00 or generic - 20.201.004 12V 20/30A.

Bobiam · 03-31-2008, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil bastard

The fact that it raised 1" indicates to me that you have a failing relay. These can overheat and break contact after being energized just a short while - about as long as it takes the spoiler to rise 1" for example. The relays are cheap - 996.615.102.00 or generic - 20.201.004 12V 20/30A.

Lil...!
That sounds good, but that overheat failure would generally be the last time that the spoiler rose until it was allowed to cool off. But while I was discovring this problem I raised and lowered it a dozen times or so, some right in succession, and italways performed the same, witha 1" rise. And if it were the relay overheating, why would it perform correctly around 8 times in a row when I"fixed" it?

Another thing. The dashboard indicator never lit when it was rising only 1". The mystery deepens!

Bob