Driver Window not Dropping - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

no_substitute · 08-09-2006, 05:24 AM

New to this forum, look forward to the sharing of info. First off, I am having a problem with my driver's side window. Window just does not drop enough when trying to open the door. I have heard many reasons as to why and how this may occur with no real conclusive results. The microswitches are working (the window jiggles down a little when you engage the microswitch without opening the door and goes up when you release the handle), the window works under normal switch opeation and top operation, the window can be pushed down to correct positon to close door and once shut the window moves up. - Thanks in Advance!!!

RandallNeighbour · 08-09-2006, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no_substitute

I have heard many reasons as to why and how this may occur with no real conclusive results.

The conjecture (lots of opinions on your issue) comes from the many components inside the door and all that the window does aside from go up and down when you want to get your cheeseburger and fries (that's usually why I put my driver's window down anyway!)

However, you've done a good job describing your problem. The console switch works, as does the microswitch in the door handle, and the motor works because you wrote that the window does function somewhat. This leaves the regulator, which is most probably your issue.

Another way to determine if the window regulator is worn out is to have a friend sit in your car and raise and lower the window with you standing outside looking at the distance between the rubber gasket and the glass at the front of the window and the back of the window when being raised. If the front or rear of the glass (front being closest to your front bumper and rear being closest to your rear bumper) is rising lopsided or crooked, your regulator has worn to the point of not working well.

A new regulator will set you back $150 or so (Sunset Imports, Oregon) and about 2 hours labor for a first-timer. I have not done this repair myself, but my Bentley manual shows how to do it and it does not look complicated. My mechanic did mine with some other work and only charged me an hour's labor to do it, but he does about half a dozen a week at his dealership job so he does it in his sleep.

no_substitute · 08-09-2006, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

Another way to determine if the window regulator is worn out is to have a friend sit in your car and raise and lower the window with you standing outside looking at the distance between the rubber gasket and the glass at the front of the window and the back of the window when being raised. If the front or rear of the glass (front being closest to your front bumper and rear being closest to your rear bumper) is rising lopsided or crooked, your regulator has worn to the point of not working well.

The window raises up and down with the window button normally. There appears to be no lopsided effect. When I push the window down to it normal drop postion and close the door, it raises to the correct position. The only part of the window not functioning correctly is the drop.
I have heard about some little white plastic piece inside the door that has a tendency to fail by developing a fracture. Have you heard about this mystery piece?

RandallNeighbour · 08-09-2006, 07:14 AM

Ah, the small drop in the window when the door is opened is what's wrong, right? This could still be your regulator or the microswitch.

I don't know about any small plastic piece, but I'm sure there's a handful in the works inside your door.

I think your first course of action would be to remove the door panel for a visual inspection.

MNBoxster · 08-09-2006, 11:22 AM

Hi,

You need to Standardize your windows. Have you had any work done, disconnected the battery or such?

To standardize the windows you:

1. Switch ignition on.
2. Open door window completely by continuously actuating the power window operating button, and then close window. Press power window button until the window is closed and is switched off by the blockage detection function of the power window motor. Standardisation is then completed.

Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

no_substitute · 08-10-2006, 04:28 AM

Yea, Thanks Jim - I have tried this step repeatedly with no resolve.

jeffsquire · 09-09-2006, 08:14 AM

FOr some reason the exact same thing happened to my driver's side window today. THe window won't drop. passenger side works. When I open the door, I can hear the driver's side window wanting to drop but it wont.
The window operates normally otherwise. I'll try standardization but I want to clear up a few things.

FROM MNBoxster<<< 2. Open door window completely by continuously actuating the power window operating button, and then close window.

When you say "continuously actuating" do you mean press and hold the power window button on the center console?

<< Press power window button until the window is closed and is switched off by the blockage detection function of the power window motor. Standardisation is then completed.[/list]

What is the blockage detection function? This term is not in my manual.

clb0099 · 11-19-2006, 02:53 PM

Ok... Here it goes. The window on the driver's side neither goes up/down by the switch at all. At this point it's in the up position but the lip of the top of the window does not allow it to close air tight. So this makes for a gap which air can get into. So here is my question is it the regulator ,motor, or the switch. I hear some kind of noise when I press the window switch up/down but that is it. Please some one shed a little on this. The boxster is a 1997. I read the instructions on how to replace the regulator but how do i know what is broke on it. Please any advice would be great

Strawfordt · 11-19-2006, 09:48 PM

What type of noise do you hear and does the glass move at all?

Does the W/R make a grinding noise or does it just hum?

Try to push and raise the glass down by hand. It should not move more than 8 or so millimeters. If it moves alot you've got a broken cable. If it does not move you may have a jammed cable or a dead motor.

clb0099 · 11-20-2006, 03:25 PM

well here is the thing there was a sound at one time but now when i hit the window switch i get no noise. I can not push the window down at all. I checked to see if it was the switch by swapping the plug for the passenger window but the window still wouldn't go down. i ordered a window regulator and motor. What are the chance that it's the motor? It's a 1997 porsche boxster with 93k.. when i called the place where i got the motor and regualtor he said very rare for the motor to go out. So please any advice to the updated info would be greatly valued
I also can't mannually push down the window it seems like a rock.

Strawfordt · 11-20-2006, 04:30 PM

Can you lift the glass at all?

djomlas · 11-20-2006, 04:36 PM

i had similar problem, it ended up being the regulator only. cost me $200 even with installation. ther was no way i was gonn do that myself in 30 degree chicago weather at that time

jeepdad · 02-13-2017, 10:10 AM

I'm reviving this ancient thread because there's so much information here to read and I'm kind of stuck with my 986 window problem. I replaced my battery last weekend, and afterwards the driver's window is acting a tad squirrely. The window goes up and down fine, but when I shut the door from the outside the window doesn't drop quite far enough -- making contact with the top frame. As a result, the door doesn't close properly.

The window drops as it should (the drop-down feature as you open/close the door) but as I shut the door the window pops back to its home position before the door is closed. It's as if the timing is off or something. Is the a symptom of the faulty regulator? It's just odd that it all started happening when the battery was replaced. (Also, for some reason by windshield washer pump stopped working).

navair · 02-14-2017, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepdad

I'm reviving this ancient thread because there's so much information here to read and I'm kind of stuck with my 986 window problem. I replaced my battery last weekend, and afterwards the driver's window is acting a tad squirrely. The window goes up and down fine, but when I shut the door from the outside the window doesn't drop quite far enough -- making contact with the top frame. As a result, the door doesn't close properly.

The window drops as it should (the drop-down feature as you open/close the door) but as I shut the door the window pops back to its home position before the door is closed. It's as if the timing is off or something. Is the a symptom of the faulty regulator? It's just odd that it all started happening when the battery was replaced. (Also, for some reason by windshield washer pump stopped working).

Sounds like the door lock or inner handle micro switch. This happened to me and it was the door lock unit. In contrast, when my regulator went out (removed I found lots of slack from wear), it wouldn't drop enough opening or closing.

All this before 80K miles

Anker · 02-14-2017, 12:04 PM

Did you go through the window reset procedure? Lower window, then raise and hold for several seconds after it has reached the top position. This lets the window controller know where the top window position is.

RogerD · 05-19-2017, 12:39 PM

Of all the posts on this subject I didn't see one like my particular situation. While sitting in the vehicle and pulling the door exit handle the window drops fine and I can exit. Sometimes right after that I can also close the door with no problem. However if I open the door from the outside the window drops and when the door is open about 12" the window goes back up and the only way it will stay down is to keep pulling up on the door handle. Thoughts?

I have done some more studying on this today and it seems the window position is related to the door latch position. I can wiggle the door latch and the window will index up and down. I have sprayed different lubes in the latch but nothing seems to help, could the latch spring be broken or stretched?

joecal · 05-27-2017, 07:06 AM

I'm still having a problem with both my windows not dropping enough. I doubt if both regulators went bad at the same time. I pulled the door panel on the drivers side a few months ago and didn't notice any slack in the regulator cable. I did try the reset procedure but that did nothing. RogerD did you ever solve your window issue?

Mark_T · 09-06-2017, 04:15 PM

My passenger side window stopped dropping. Didn't work with either the inside or outside handle. The method described for resetting the limits solved the problem. Gotta love a free fix.

jlang996 · 12-18-2019, 05:05 AM

I recently had this problem with the driver side (RHD) window not dropping when pulling the handle (inside or outside). Also the alarm would double-beep when unlocking, and the cabin light didn't come on when the driver door was opened.

Tried a number of things - replaced handle microswitches (no effect), replaced and reprogrammed Alarm CLU (had got wet so was prime suspect - but no effect), and even removed the carpet (as it needed to dry anyway) and checked as much of the wiring as I could get to between the CLU and the driver door). Finally replaced the door lock assembly with a VW part (£26 from Amazon UK compared to £200+ from Porsche) and a) the lock fitted and works a treat and b) all the above issues with the window drop and alarm beeps have been resolved!

I would recommend anyone with similar problems checking the lock assembly before experimenting with more expensive parts of the system!

Joe Serpico · 02-05-2020, 06:41 PM

Hello all,
New to this and appreciate all your help and advice
I have a 02 Boxster, 110 k miles on it and absolutely flawless. Never seen a raindrop and runs drives and looks new
Today I took the wife for a ride and noticed that the passenger window drop was not working. Also noticed that when the handle is operated and the door opened the interior lights are not coming on either ( don’t know if that’s a factor in diagnosis)
The windows both drop halfway down when the roof is being dropped or operated and both windows work correctly when the buttons are pressed
I can hear the microswitch clicking as it should when I operate both inside and outside handles.

Ok so 2 AM and because I’m neurotic I decided to start taking the door apart just to rule out the stretch cable and have a look
I found that when I wiggle or even touch the door lock mechanism the window drops
Even with the micro switches unplugged if I even touch the door lock mechanism ( basically touching the larger plug on the bottom the window drop function works

So is it safe to say the door lock mechanism is malfunctioning?
And do I go for a VW replacement? Or used ? Or am I totally wrong about this ?
Thank you in advance
Joe Serpico