Rear Spoiler

[paintboy]

OK.....so I know my spoiler in theory goes up at speeds in excess of 75 mph....but how do I actually know if it is doing this ? Is there a dash light saying its up? Should I be able to see it in the rear view?
Thanks

[Homeboy981]

Put something funny on the rear spoiler and watch people behind you SMILE!

[aclark133]

There's a nice kit on eBay that replaces one of the dummy switches and light up to indicate spoiler operation, I've never seen mine go up but have been told it works

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by paintboy

OK.....so I know my spoiler in theory goes up at speeds in excess of 75 mph....but how do I actually know if it is doing this ? Is there a dash light saying its up? Should I be able to see it in the rear view?
Thanks

The spoiler is not visible while driving. One trick is to pull along side of a truck or trailer that you can see your reflection on the side of . Be careful though !

[ekam]

Take a picture with your iPhone...

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by ekam

Take a picture with your iPhone...

What if the top is up ?

[aclark133]

Buy one of these and you'll never wonder again

[Crono0001]

I usually just (as JD pointed out) pulled along a white truck or semi

[Overdrive]

Hit the manual switch on your fuse box panel by your left leg while the car's running and you can see if it comes up before you even take off. You only have to press and release the up button for it to go up all the way automatically, but you have to hold the down button for about 3-4 seconds for it to come completely down.

If you put the spoiler up manually, it will stay up regardless of your speed until the car is shut down or until you lower it manually with the switch. Upon a full lowering via the switch, it will resume its normal operation after that. If you leave it up, upon the next startup it will resume normal operation when you exceed 55mph.

If your spoiler light comes on when you start the car and extinguishes when you start moving, that means the system is working properly. If the light does not come on, the bulb is either burnt out or the system is not operating correctly. If the light comes on any time during your driving, that means that it is not working properly, and the spoiler is either stuck up, down, or somewhere in between. You can also check your fuse to ensure that it is intact just as another sign of whether or not the system's working.

If you want to find out the hard way, do twice the highway speed limit and see if the rear end sticks in the turns. (Please don't actually do this).

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by Crono0001

I usually just (as JD pointed out) pulled along a white truck or semi

You don't flash the trucker do you ?

[Jittsl]

Feel the sudden and vast improvement in the car's responses as a result of the sudden increase in rear downforce.


In all seriousness, I have often forgotten to manually extend the one on my SpecBox (no electric assist on a race car) and it makes absolutely no difference to lap times or performance.


My response therefore to your question would be - who cares?

[Spinnaker]

When I first got my car, I wondered if the spoiler worked also. You can't see it in the rear view mirror, so I put a long piece of masking tape across it at a 90º angle and went for a "spirited" drive. If the spoiler is working, the tape will be torn or pulled up when you stop and check it.

[Chief]

This one?

spoiler control indicator switch Porsche Carrera turbo 4S Boxster S 986 996 | eBay

Originally Posted by aclark133

There's a nice kit on eBay that replaces one of the dummy switches and light up to indicate spoiler operation, I've never seen mine go up but have been told it works

[tnoice]

Originally Posted by Chief

This one?

spoiler control indicator switch Porsche Carrera turbo 4S Boxster S 986 996 | eBay

Wow! For $79, I don't need to know that badly whether the spoiler is up. I guess if an officer, who knows Porsches, pulls me over in a 65 zone, I will know that it was working......

[aclark133]

Originally Posted by Chief

This one?

spoiler control indicator switch Porsche Carrera turbo 4S Boxster S 986 996 | eBay

Ya that's the one. Weird, it was under $40 when I first saw it

[mump]

Yeah, I bought that one a year ago for $30 shipped from the same guy. It works great, well, $30 great.

[Chief]

How was the install? Pretty straight forward?

Just curious. I would be in for $30-40 but not $80

Originally Posted by mump

Yeah, I bought that one a year ago for $30 shipped from the same guy. It works great, well, $30 great.

[Mark_T]

Let's not over-think the problem here. Wouldn't the easiest thing be to just get a buddy to drive behind you and check that it goes up and down at the correct speeds?

[Chief]

That would work too...

BTW..

New lower price in case its easier to do this than have your buddy ride behind you

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SPOILER-CONTROL-INDICATOR-Porsche-Boxster-S-986-996-TOP-/261073640659?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3 D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D1254278968662817392%26pid%3 D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26

[aclark133]

Originally Posted by Chief

That would work too...

BTW..

New lower price in case its easier to do this than have your buddy ride behind you

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SPOILER-CONTROL-INDICATOR-Porsche-Boxster-S-986-996-TOP-/261073640659?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3 D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D1254278968662817392%26pid%3 D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26

Yes! This is what I was talking about.