Convertible top converted to manual but light won't go off - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

BryPorscheGuy · 01-18-2018, 05:35 PM

Hello all,

I have a 2001 986 that I converted the top to a manual operation. It works great and I can have it opened/closed faster than the auto operation. However, the top light is on and it won't go off. I tried holding the closed button for a few minutes but that didn't do anything. Any thoughts on how I can get the light to go off?

Thanks,
Bryan

78F350 · 01-18-2018, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BryPorscheGuy

Hello all,

I have a 2001 986 ... Any thoughts on how I can get the light to go off?

Thanks,
Bryan

The switch that activates the warning light is in the left side roof transmission. Just jump or short the wires in the connector. Brown-Black to Brown:

Here's my old post:
http://986forum.com/forums/550374-post2.html

BryPorscheGuy · 01-19-2018, 04:10 AM

Great! Thanks for the tip.

BryPorscheGuy · 01-20-2018, 06:29 AM

When you say the "switch is in the left side transmission", do you mean behind the transmission? I pulled the transmission off the drivers side but I do not see the switch anywhere around or behind it. I don't think it's actually inside the gearbox since there are only a few 22awg wires going to it. Where exactly is this switch located?

Brian in Tucson · 01-20-2018, 08:17 AM

The wires connect to a micro switch which is a top position sensor. In the movement position, it's open--so that the motor runs and the dash lite is lit. At either end of the tranmissions travel, it closes. You want to fool the system into thinking that the top is either open or closed all the way. So you jump the connector as shown below.

djw8282 · 12-03-2020, 07:44 PM

Hey guys,

I'm having any issue here and I'm a little confused. My top dash light won't go out when I put the top up and clamp down the shell but it turns off when the top is totally down. What is the issue? I can't find any transmission sensor and I'm a little confused by "jumping or shorting it". How do you do it? This light is driving me crazy. Any help would be appreciated!

particlewave · 12-04-2020, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djw8282

Hey guys,

I'm having any issue here and I'm a little confused. My top dash light won't go out when I put the top up and clamp down the shell but it turns off when the top is totally down. What is the issue? I can't find any transmission sensor and I'm a little confused by "jumping or shorting it". How do you do it? This light is driving me crazy. Any help would be appreciated!

Jumping the pins only applies to manual tops. Probably a bad idea if your top is still powered. You either have a bad transmission micro switch, or one of the top latch switches.

piper6909 · 12-04-2020, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djw8282

Hey guys,

I'm having any issue here and I'm a little confused. My top dash light won't go out when I put the top up and clamp down the shell but it turns off when the top is totally down. What is the issue? I can't find any transmission sensor and I'm a little confused by "jumping or shorting it". How do you do it? This light is driving me crazy. Any help would be appreciated!

There are microswitches in the latch. Seems like one of those switches is your problem, or a couple solder joints within that latch.

A forum member posted this great video on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xntJKWZpFac

I wish I could remember his username. Someone please remind me so I can give him proper credit.

EDIT: The forum member who posted the video is TTGator.

BryPorscheGuy · 01-20-2018, 08:10 AM

I got it. I didn't realize it was actually the 22awg wires going to the transmission that was in your photo. I jumped the brown and brown/black wires and the light went out. Thanks for your help!

Didier · 06-08-2021, 01:24 PM

Old thread...anyway same problem.
I have 1997 986 with manual operation top. When I bought the car light was OFF, but now it´s ON.
The light came on when I pressed the open button, for some reason, a stupid act. That light is annoying!

I have connected together the wires of the left b pillar switch, wont help. What next?
Can somebody help me with this issue?

CrisZenithBlue · 06-10-2021, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Didier

Old thread...anyway same problem.
I have 1997 986 with manual operation top. When I bought the car light was OFF, but now it´s ON.
The light came on when I pressed the open button, for some reason, a stupid act. That light is annoying!

I have connected together the wires of the left b pillar switch, wont help. What next?
Can somebody help me with this issue?

Most likely the top doesn't open or close all the way, the left and right transmissions could be out of synch or maybe one of the nylon gears inside of them is broken and it doesn't pull the top down tight enough so the microswitch thinks top is not fully down.

I would open both top transmission and check the condition of the gears inside and then readjust/realight/synch the top so it opens closes the same on both sides.

Theres an article on pelican site explaining the process

Didier · 06-11-2021, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrisZenithBlue

Most likely the top doesn't open or close all the way, the left and right transmissions could be out of synch or maybe one of the nylon gears inside of them is broken and it doesn't pull the top down tight enough so the microswitch thinks top is not fully down.

I would open both top transmission and check the condition of the gears inside and then readjust/realight/synch the top so it opens closes the same on both sides.

Theres an article on pelican site explaining the process

OK, must open and check those transmissions. They seems to be sync.
Can I bypass the entire gearboxes microswitch by connecting the wires from the gearbox connectors? Or somewhere else? Gearboxes are completely useless when the top is manually operated.

CrisZenithBlue · 06-11-2021, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Didier

OK, must open and check those transmissions. They seems to be sync.
Can I bypass the entire gearboxes microswitch by connecting the wires from the gearbox connectors? Or somewhere else? Gearboxes are completely useless when the top is manually operated.

Apologies, I didn't realize you went to manual operation. Old thread and just read the title properly and your post. So you're just trying to get rid of the pesky light on the dash.

I remember when my light was on, it was always when the top was down which was even more annoying because it thought the top was still operating and it wouldn't let me put the windows all the way up. With the top up the light would go off. I have the 2000 model which has the microswitch inside of one of the transmissions. In your case its on the driver side pillar so not sure exactly how it works.

If your top motor still works and spins the transmissions what I would do is: remove the V shape "boomerang" piece from the transmissions so when they spin they don't move those parts that connect to the top and clamshell (assuming you haven't removed them yet) and damage anything. Then just run the top all the way up to the closed position when the light should go off. If that happens, never touch the button again

But that depends on what your top can still do and I hope that microswitch functions the same on the earlier models, just in a different spot, but i dont know for certain. If it detects when transmissions are fully open or closed then this might work.

blue62 · 06-11-2021, 05:10 AM

Remove the light bulb from the indicator on the dash

CrisZenithBlue · 06-11-2021, 03:10 PM

Only thing I can think if is you have to somehow get those transmissions to spin forward to fully closed position to get the light to go off and windows to go fully up. Maybe spinning them manually somehow if the motor doesn't work at all or isn't connected?

Didier · 06-11-2021, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrisZenithBlue

Only thing I can think if is you have to somehow get those transmissions to spin forward to fully closed position to get the light to go off and windows to go fully up. Maybe spinning them manually somehow if the motor doesn't work at all or isn't connected?

Motor works and i can use it on the buttons. I have already drive motor both direction and try stop all possible places, but light stay ON. Do you know what is the fully up position on the motor? Both transmissions have markings (small lines). One sign is in the rotating part and the other is on the outer ring, I have driven the marks in alignment, but still the light is on.
What really turns that light on? Some microswitch probably but what? And whether the microswitch should be pressed or open. I have already connected the wires of the B pillar microswitch.

CrisZenithBlue · 06-12-2021, 03:01 AM

On the 2000 and up models im pretty sure the microswitch in one of the transmissions keeps check if the top is up or down, and it checks transmissions position not motor. Im sure motor has nothing to do with it.. Try to do more research on the earlier models and see how your b pillar microswitch works, what exactly it checks.

But before that I'd try one more thing. Try to have the transmissions in full up position, if you say they have some markins and then try to remove the relay on the left side under the dash. Lookup "top relay" for our cars so you see where it is but its hard to miss as its a big bulky one. Try removing and putting it back with a ignition switch on and off, its part of the top mechanism and sometimes is even the issue for malfunctions. What I am hoping is maybe it will reset the light but its just a hope.

blue62 · 06-12-2021, 05:24 AM

If the top light is on constantly just remove the bulb from the dash pod.
No more light.
Why worry about the microwitches and top transmission parts if yours is in manual mode?

Didier · 06-12-2021, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue62

If the top light is on constantly just remove the bulb from the dash pod.
No more light.
Why worry about the microwitches and top transmission parts if yours is in manual mode?

If I remove that bulb, window does not goes all the way up when cruising top down.

78F350 · 06-12-2021, 12:18 PM

Have you tried removing the top relay from the panel below the dashboard? Red arrow in this picture:

in a 1997 model the transmissions for the top will have no direct effect on that light. Removing the instrument panel and pulling out the bulb is a lot of work. I'd rather cut a small piece of black tape and place it over the light.