Part no. please-rear defrost wiring harness for soft top - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

docdyh · 03-18-2006, 05:16 PM

thanks jim!

Alshig · 03-18-2006, 05:41 PM

The harness should already be on the drivers side - prewired for a hardtop?

MNBoxster · 03-18-2006, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alshig

The harness should already be on the drivers side - prewired for a hardtop?

Hi,

You may be correct, but it seems to me that the Harness runs to the Driver's side and then an extension harness is required to run from there to the Hard Top Defrost connector, I just cannot remember - I have no Hard Top...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

ddb · 03-19-2006, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alshig

The harness should already be on the drivers side - prewired for a hardtop?

Behind the drivers seat is the electrical connector (covered by a flap) that the part listed above by Jim connects to. One wire from the harness connects to the contact on the glass window behind the driver. You'll need to add 2 or 3 feet of wire to the remaining wire on the harness so it will reach to the contact on the glass window on the passenger side. I'm attaching a couple of pictures. One shows the harness as it comes from Porsche and the other shows my harness after I added the extension and covered it with protective sheathing. I don't remember exactly how long of an extension I added, but it was enough to reach to the passenger side contact while allowing the wire to lay flat behind the speaker/storage box. I was concerned about the wire/connections when the top folds down, but no problems, it works great. This is how it worked on my 2000, I can't say for sure on any other year.

Good Luck,

ddb

docdyh · 03-19-2006, 12:03 PM

if this harness is for the original hardtop, why would it be 2 to 3 feet short?..if that is the case, I may not connect it to my new softtop since I don't drive in winter anyhow, but would have been nice for a misty rainy day. Porsche must have this extension for the additional length.or else how would one connect a hardtop.

anyone know for sure?

thanks...

ddb · 03-19-2006, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docdyh

if this harness is for the original hardtop, why would it be 2 to 3 feet short?..if that is the case, I may not connect it to my new softtop since I don't drive in winter anyhow, but would have been nice for a misty rainy day. Porsche must have this extension for the additional length.or else how would one connect a hardtop.

anyone know for sure?

thanks...

Hello docdyh:

I don't have a hardtop so I'm unfamiliar with its setup. Porsche may indeed have an extension for the additional length. One scenario that would allow the harness to work with the hardtop is for both defroster connectors to be on the same side (drivers side) of the window. Remember these glass window tops aren't manufactured by Porsche. This may explain why the harness isn't plug n' play. It would be interesting to see how all of this works on a 2003 and newer soft top with a factory glass window. Someone with a 2003 or newer softtop or a hardtop please describe the setup as far as the electrical connection for the rear window defroster.

I too don't usually drive my car during the winter when the weather isn't ideal. I did on occasion get in a situation where I wished I had the defroster function. So after a long time, I finally activated the defroster function and am really glad I did.

Thanks,

ddb

docdyh · 03-19-2006, 03:47 PM

ddb,

you would think that GAHH would have taken this into consideration when they developed their top since the put the defroster strips on them..if anyone has a hardtop, let me know if the connector is indeed on the drivers side...thanks...

ddb · 03-19-2006, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docdyh

ddb,

you would think that GAHH would have taken this into consideration when they developed their top since the put the defroster strips on them..if anyone has a hardtop, let me know if the connector is indeed on the drivers side...thanks...

docdyh,

Yea, I agree. When I bought my GAHH top I thought either the harness was already in the car or everything needed was included with the top. I was shocked when my installer called and said he had no way of making the necessary connections. I may not need it often, but I'm glad I made the effort to make the defroster functional.

ddb