SMART Top Relay Question

[Cunningr]

Originally Posted by TrumpyAl

That’s interesting. Are you describing the operation of a standard 986, a 986 with the SmartTOP installed, or a 987+?




One touch feature remains available for a few seconds after you stop moving. And, as mentioned, there is an override to access one-touch that is still more convenient than holding the button for the whole time. You can also deactivate the safety feature so that one-touch always available any time that you are under 25mph.

Personally, I’d never have paid the retail asking price, but it was a nice bonus to find already in the car after purchase.

Only resson I did is my hand brake microswitch is going out and dont have the time to tear the console out, plus been wanting one. You guys always too quick on the forum to grab a used one lol.
My car is a 986 euro version, havent fiddled with it much yet but the operation you described is how it seems to function on my car. I still have not gotten the hang of it yet. Friday isthe day I drive it to work so can try the operation modeagain.

[Brian in Tucson]

Originally Posted by Cunningr

Anyone purchased a SMART Top relay from Pelican or any other distributor? I ask because I received mine in from Pelican today and it looks like a used relay, has oily thumb print on it a paper label that says smartTop mod4cars. I was expecting a new relay for $422.50. Even has an oily smell on it, it appears to be a modified relay as it has a 986.618.199.00 part number.

The picture on the website doesn't match what I received, so just want to see if this is normal. I usually receive brand new parts.

Thanks

From their website, "This product is a modified original part. As a result it is not covered by the manufacturer's warranty and does not carry a type approval. Please make sure that installation and use is legal in your jurisdiction and be aware that you carry the responsibility for installation and use of the product."

[Cunningr]

Originally Posted by Brian in Tucson

From their website, "This product is a modified original part. As a result it is not covered by the manufacturer's warranty and does not carry a type approval. Please make sure that installation and use is legal in your jurisdiction and be aware that you carry the responsibility for installation and use of the product."

Thanks, I ordered it from Pelican. But at $400 a new modified original relay was expected not a relay with a greasy thumb print. Frankly I am not overly impressed with the product so far. Other than it works to open and close the top with the hand brake off and did get 2 1 touch operations to work.

Still trying to figure out the operation.

[Stroked & Blown]

Anyone have a DIY to modify the factory relay?

[Cunningr]

Originally Posted by Stroked & Blown

Anyone have a DIY to modify the factory relay?

Only ones I have seen are done by bending pins, and running a ground wire from pin 15. I think its on pedros site. No 1 touch activation though.

I was reading the operating instructions again, need to keep working on the correct key combo and timing for the 1 touch functions.

[BoxsterSteve]

Originally Posted by Stroked & Blown

Anyone have a DIY to modify the factory relay?

Look here...
http://986forum.com/forums/diy-project-guides/59535-model-year-2000-2004-convertible-top-relay-mod.html

[Pirate50]

I bought one used off eBay a couple years ago. Got the instructions off their website. It took a little fiddling to get it to work right but works as should since then. As others have said, the one touch operation only works when moving. When stopped it functions as the stock relay (have to hold button)

[Cunningr]

Originally Posted by Pirate50

I bought one used off eBay a couple years ago. Got the instructions off their website. It took a little fiddling to get it to work right but works as should since then. As others have said, the one touch operation only works when moving. When stopped it functions as the stock relay (have to hold button)

Thanks yeah I been on their page, supposedly need to hold 3 sec closed then quick touch open and vice versa to activate the one touch.

[TrumpyAl]

Yeah, it made sense to me that you’d go this route.

The tricks I’ve picked up from the manual are;

Nice, short button ‘clicks’ to trigger the one-touch operation.

The module may have already been set for a 2000+ model and you may need to manually configure it to be pre-2000. (Or just reset it for auto detection)

[TrumpyAl]

Remember, you can turn that safety feature off and have the one-touch feature available before commencing the drive, if you like.

[Cunningr]

Originally Posted by TrumpyAl

Remember, you can turn that safety feature off and have the one-touch feature available before commencing the drive, if you like.

I saw that but my military training keeps me from it! Lol. Maybe after i see how everything works. I prefer deliberate actions though, hate to do something silly by accident.

[DrCactus]

I have a one touch button roof mod for sale if anyone is interested. I know it works on 2001 S model cars but not sure about others as I only own a 2001 S. PM me if anyone is interested.

[Cunningr]

Just to close out the thread wanted to do final update.

Smart top relay works as advertised. Was unhappy with condition it arrived in, but otherwise seems to be a nice convenience.

Before moving used one touch feature to open by holding the button in closed direction for 3 seconds, and quick touch to open. Seems I wasn't waiting quit long enough. Top closed I used 1 touch function while moving, work great there, freed up my right hand to get nats out of the car.

Still think its too pricey, but nice addition.

[Starter986]

It's a ridiculously expensive addition. $400+? Labor involved? Pffffft.

I can think of much better things upon which to drop $400 plus, and saving a finger on a button for 10 seconds isn't one of them.

I would be a raging lunatic if a part I ordered arrived with fingerprints, grease, and smelling like oil. No. Way. I don't care of it worked or not... it better arrive like they gave a **************** about modding it, and especially at that ridiculous price.

Finally, it can't be rocket science. It's a relay. Surely PW has a workaround, and for several hundreds dollars less.

$00.02

[TrumpyAl]

Originally Posted by Starter986

It's a ridiculously expensive addition. $400+? Labor involved? Pffffft.



I can think of much better things upon which to drop $400 plus, and saving a finger on a button for 10 seconds isn't one of them.



I would be a raging lunatic if a part I ordered arrived with fingerprints, grease, and smelling like oil. No. Way. I don't care of it worked or not... it better arrive like they gave a **************** about modding it, and especially at that ridiculous price.



Finally, it can't be rocket science. It's a relay. Surely PW has a workaround, and for several hundreds dollars less.



$00.02

So, don’t buy one?

[Cunningr]

Originally Posted by Starter986

It's a ridiculously expensive addition. $400+? Labor involved? Pffffft.

I can think of much better things upon which to drop $400 plus, and saving a finger on a button for 10 seconds isn't one of them.

I would be a raging lunatic if a part I ordered arrived with fingerprints, grease, and smelling like oil. No. Way. I don't care of it worked or not... it better arrive like they gave a **************** about modding it, and especially at that ridiculous price.

Finally, it can't be rocket science. It's a relay. Surely PW has a workaround, and for several hundreds dollars less.

$00.02

Why I am passing along my comments. My point exactly about the presentation, but wanted to provide a complete non-objective review. I needed a quick solution, so had to pay for the quick solution. As for llabour trying to give benefit that there is some.

I suggest you buy a used one, for function.

[Brian in Tucson]

I doubt very much that they're used relays. The Smart Relays don't have a core charge, where would a business get a supply of used, working relays to modify? My reading of their website was that these are new Porsche relays that are opened up and modified. If there was an oily fingerprint it was just a matter of dirty hands and lax quality control.

Amazing to me that no one has opened one up and reverse engineered it. At least no one has posted about it.

[Cunningr]

Originally Posted by Brian in Tucson

I doubt very much that they're used relays. The Smart Relays don't have a core charge, where would a business get a supply of used, working relays to modify? My reading of their website was that these are new Porsche relays that are opened up and modified. If there was an oily fingerprint it was just a matter of dirty hands and lax quality control.

Amazing to me that no one has opened one up and reverse engineered it. At least no one has posted about it.

Kinda my opinion as well. I was concerned might have been one returned and reworked. I might look at the sechematics. The brake bypass is the easy piece just ground pin 15. The one touch funcions though must be some type of circuit board.

I will be repairing the micro switch in the winter, so ifigure when i sell the car, i can probably sell the smart relay seperate. I like it just an expensive convinience, did easily resolve my immediate problem.