Door window drops but immediately jumps back up

[bugman]

On a similar vein to other door window drop problems, but with a difference:
Mine drops on pulling the door release but jumps back up immediately.

I have found that pressing down on the door latch causes the glass to drop down again (and stay down), it seams like something in the door release mechanism or the microswitch is out of adjustment. Is this correct ?

Like to know before I have to take the door liner etc off.

Ta Bugman

[timothy]

Mine did something similar when the door lock went bad. It's comes as assembly containing several microswitches. When doing mine I read that sometimes it's possible to repair by replacing the faulty microswitch, but no guarantee. Instead I bought a new lock from the dealer and installed it myself. The Bentley service manual details replacement but I also found this link helpful for removing the door panel. http://www.ecoutez.net/boxster/door-panel-removal/

[bugman]

Thanks for the link, I will have a look at it, then have a go during my next day off.
rgds Bman

[bugman]

Thanks for the link, it was very simple tp remove the door trim after reading that.
OK having got the door latch assembly out, I found that the catch was sticking owing to the plastic coating around the latch having split.
Did my best to remove it all, but as unit is riveted together could not clean it all away from pivot pin.
Had to reassemble as no spare catch available here (mid east), problem still there.
Will have to source one from Europe or try the breakers yard.

[bugman]

Just to update any curious window fixers, the removal of the plastic coating and liberal oiling has finally fixed the problem.

[Jaxonalden]

I had the same problem and swapped out the drivers door lock assembly. I did some investigating and found the micro-switch that works the window drop with the door handle. The switch is below the lock and upside down and I found that the switch (with a plastic plunger) was dirty and didn't have any lube on it and was worn to a point that it didn't operated the micro-switch.

I'm now going to keep the mechanism clean and lithium grease applied to those contact points.

[MN 986]

My window drop-down feature stopped working today. Do you think I need to replace my door lock assembly, or lubricate the existing one?
If I need to replace it, do I need to do anything with the key, or is that a separate part?
Thanks.

[bugman]

The lock assembly is a serparate item, so no need to change it.
I found that there is an equivalent VW item that fits on a Jetta.
The latch assembly is actually of French origin (the manufacturer's name is on the side) so it could be cheaper to find one from this source than OEM.

Mine is still working fine after removal of the plastic coating! Good luck

[MN 986]

Thanks for the help to bugman and especially jaxonalden!
A few emails and pictures from jaxonalden gave me the confidence to replace the latch mechanism (which contains the faulty microswitch), and everything works perfectly again!

[Jaxonalden]

Your welcome bro. We were practically neighbors a few years back. I grew up in Northern Wisconsin and after a short 23 years in the USAF I ended up in Oklahoma. Need anything else, don't hesitate ask.

[sparker]

Any chance you could forward those pics to me??? I have the same problem and would like to see what I'm in for before I start. Sparker@deakin.edu.au

Thanks in advance!
Sam

[Jaxonalden]

Originally Posted by sparker

Any chance you could forward those pics to me??? I have the same problem and would like to see what I'm in for before I start. Sparker@deakin.edu.au

Thanks in advance!
Sam

Sam,

I forwarded you my correspondence with Ken, I hope you can understand my description of the latch and micro-switch assembly. Let me know how things go.

Dave

P.S. Your lucky I was able to send you this info. I just happen to check 986forum (it is the holidays) and saw this post. I was interested and opened it, not knowing I helped out Ken fix his window. I saw your request and remembered I deleted the pictures off my hard drive a couple of months ago. I was able to go back in my "sent e-mail" folder and voila, 300 messages ago I found the ones I sent to Ken. There are Christmas miracles.

[97 Boxster]

Originally Posted by Jaxonalden

Sam,

I forwarded you my correspondence with Ken, I hope you can understand my description of the latch and micro-switch assembly. Let me know how things go.

Dave

P.S. Your lucky I was able to send you this info. I just happen to check 986forum (it is the holidays) and saw this post. I was interested and opened it, not knowing I helped out Ken fix his window. I saw your request and remembered I deleted the pictures off my hard drive a couple of months ago. I was able to go back in my "sent e-mail" folder and voila, 300 messages ago I found the ones I sent to Ken. There are Christmas miracles.

Could you send me those photos? Sounds like the same problem I am having. Thanks in advance for all your help and advice.

[97 Boxster]

BUMP. Please help. I need your expertise. If you have experienced this and have a solution I would like to hear it. I have looked at a few different topics, but none mention all the red flags that I am seeing. Thanks in advance.

[sb01box]

Originally Posted by 97 Boxster

BUMP. Please help. I need your expertise. If you have experienced this and have a solution I would like to hear it. I have looked at a few different topics, but none mention all the red flags that I am seeing. Thanks in advance.

I don't know of all the red flags and can't find a thread where you describe your red flags.

at Pelicanparts technical article section, there is a comprehensive writeup on the door panel removal and the door lock mechanism removal.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/78-BODY-Door_Handle_and_Lock/78-BODY-Door_Handle_and_Lock.htm

also here
http://boxster.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

These are the references I used to gained access to the door lock mechanism.
I don't think there is any choice but to either roll up tour sleve and DIY or take the car to a specialist

good luck

[97 Boxster]

So are you suggesting I need to replace the door lock mechanism?

Symptoms include
-Window not going down when door is opened or closed
-door lock button on dash comes on automatically
-Car door does not lock from outside like it used too. No noise like before when locking the doors
-Interior lighting does not come on when door is opened

This is ALL on the drivers door only. Passenger door works fine.

[schoir]

Originally Posted by 97 Boxster

So are you suggesting I need to replace the door lock mechanism?

Symptoms include
-Window not going down when door is opened or closed
-door lock button on dash comes on automatically
-Car door does not lock from outside like it used too. No noise like before when locking the doors
-Interior lighting does not come on when door is opened

This is ALL on the drivers door only. Passenger door works fine.

The symptoms that you describe are precisely those that usually indicate that a replacement of the door lock assembly or the microswitch contained within it is needed.

Unfortunately, Porsche will not sell just the microswitch so you usually have to buy the whole assembly. FWIW, there is a guy on RennTech ("Juniinc") who posted that there is a source for the microswitch by itself on a British website, but I've never been able to nail that down.

IIRC, the assembly for the '97 is unique to that year and changed in '98 and later.

You may be able to clean and lubricate the assembly and microswitch as that is frequently good enough to repair the problem.

Regards, Maurice.

[97 Boxster]

Originally Posted by schoir

The symptoms that you describe are precisely those that usually indicate that a replacement of the door lock assembly or the microswitch contained within it is needed.

Unfortunately, Porsche will not sell just the microswitch so you usually have to buy the whole assembly. FWIW, there is a guy on RennTech ("Juniinc") who posted that there is a source for the microswitch by itself on a British website, but I've never been able to nail that down.

IIRC, the assembly for the '97 is unique to that year and changed in '98 and later.

You may be able to clean and lubricate the assembly and microswitch as that is frequently good enough to repair the problem.

Regards, Maurice.

Any tips on how to clean/lube the switch Maurice? Photos would be great as well.

[schoir]

I don't have any photos in my current files, but I may be opening my door up again because my microswitch has acted up three times in the last month.

The last time I was in there, I took a photo of the switch that was giving me a problem at the time:



The arrows point to the the microswitch and to the cam on the back of the inside of the outer door handle, but this is NOT the microswitch that causes the symptoms you describe when it malfunctions. That one is further towards the rear of the door, at the lock assembly.

When time permits, I will be doing the repair and I will take and post some photos.

It's also been hot and humid around here in NY the last two weeks, so it makes it a little less enjoyable than usual.

Regards, Maurice.

[97 Boxster]

Do you have to take the glass and regulator off as well to access this lock?