986 Hood clamshell won't close fully when hood down

[nev986]

Hello

I have a 2004 986 3.2S. The hood works fine, exccept that the clamshell won't go flush with the neighbouring panels when the hood's down.

I've disconnected the push rods from both the hood and the clamshell, and the hood still stands proud too much, stopping the clamshell from seating properly.

Also, the windows won't go back up when the hood's finished going down, but they go up fine automatically when the hood is fully up. Is this a problem?

Finally, the hood mechanism/motor seems to me to be quite noisy.

I've fitted new "hydraulic" pushrods to the clamshell, on the advice of a local independent, but no success.

Can any one help?? It's not the end of the world, but I must be able to solve this, and yet can't find anything on forums about it.

Thanks
Nev

[Chuck W.]

As the top is closing, close the latch. If I don't do that it will cause the seating problem you have described.

[nev986]

Hi, thanks, but...sorry I'm being a bit dim - which latch do I close?

[TRPLBLK04]

Pretty sure Chuck is talking convertable top latch...help pull into place while closeing all the way.

[thom4782]

The shop manual says there is an adjust to the closing. Here's a picture from the book.

[nev986]

Thanks for your replies!

The problem occurs when the hood is down, and the misfit is towards the rear, where the clamshell/tonneau stands proud of the boot/trunk lid.

I suspect my drive cables are perhaps weak and twisty, as it seems to me that the motor lacks enough force to pull the clamshell down , squashing the hood down so everything is snug. I can press down on the clamshell and get a good fit, but it springs back up again about half an inch or so.

Nev

[nev986]

Hi, problem solved. I replaced the cables, which were weak and wound up rather than transmitted enough torque to pull down the clamshell.

[TRPLBLK04]

Good to here nev986, and thanks for the update.

[Guvs]

Originally Posted by TRPLBLK04

Good to here nev986, and thanks for the update.

+1
always nice to know the out come of problems.
Guvs.

[KevinH1990]

I'm having the same problem with the 2004 "hood" and frame I installed on my 2000 Boxster. Which cables did you replace? I'm assuming you replaced the top drive cables, but if you could post the part number that you bought it would be helpful.