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Old 05-01-2018, 12:24 PM   #1
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Convertible Top Control Unit

So my top will not go down at all. Replaced the top switch (not that) checked the relay and that was fine. But I was wondering if anyone knew where to find this top control unit on a 1999 Porsche boxster? I checked up in the dash in the drivers side footwell and didn't see anything that looked like it.

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Old 05-01-2018, 03:43 PM   #2
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Quite possibly your parking brake switch. Search for a diy bypass.
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Old 05-01-2018, 03:50 PM   #3
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Hello - take a look at the link below for the location and a convenient fix/replacement.

https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/72-BODY-SmartTop/72-BODY-SmartTop.htm
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Old 05-02-2018, 01:58 PM   #4
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So its my relay?
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Old 05-02-2018, 03:55 PM   #5
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Not necessarily. Does your parking brake light come on in the dash when you pull the handle?
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Old 05-04-2018, 03:46 PM   #6
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Yes, it seems to only go down when it's in the 60s but doesn't do anything once it reaches 70 and higher.
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Old 05-15-2018, 10:57 AM   #7
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Don't forget to check switch near windshield were the manueal latch is..
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Old 05-16-2018, 04:22 PM   #8
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Yeah I think that switch is definitely going bad, I gotta mess with the latch before the motor starts going. But I still don't understand why on days where it's 70 degrees I wiggle the latch and nothing happens at all till it cools down to the low 60s.My only guess would be the top relay.
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Old 05-24-2018, 05:07 PM   #9
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So i figured it out....I took out the microchips where the light is inside the car for the windows and the top and it magically started working again. It also did something new, it now beeps twice after you lock the car. Any idea's why this happens now?
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Old 05-24-2018, 05:17 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon27 View Post
So i figured it out....I took out the microchips where the light is inside the car for the windows and the top and it magically started working again. It also did something new, it now beeps twice after you lock the car. Any idea's why this happens now?
You probably broke or didn't get the IR sensor hooked back up correctly.
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Old 05-29-2018, 02:30 PM   #11
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Yeah I'm starting to think it's a bad connector or something with the wires. It's always parked in the sun (no shade available) and the wires in there look flat in some spots.
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Old 05-29-2018, 06:14 PM   #12
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I have similar symptoms as you - roof intermittently doesn't work at all, sometimes seems to be related to temperature.

In my case, it's definitely the part with the two microswitches under the latch. If I take the switch out and fiddle with the switch that senses when the roof is un-latched, I can get it to go - I've just been two lazy/cheap to replace it. One trick I've found is that if I stick my fingernail in the hole where the latch goes and pull down on the plastic flap in there, I can usually get it start working.
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Old 05-30-2018, 03:22 AM   #13
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Honestly same, I've been saving up for a new exhaust for it so this is pretty low to fix. Ill try that. *Update it does work thanks so much.

Last edited by Jon27; 05-30-2018 at 10:54 AM.
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Old 05-31-2018, 04:59 PM   #14
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So theoretically speaking it must be the microswitch in there that's bad since u can put a screwdriver in the little tab to make it go.

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