Having access to YouTube is practically a need for Porsche do-it-yourselfers. You can certainly find a video online for practically every repair you can think of. This has the drawback that not all videos are made equally. I’ve learned all too frequently that when things don’t go as planned, a repair that appears to take 15 minutes on a video may easily turn into a three-day repair.
I therefore went into the following video with some mistrust. But I’m delighted to say that it really is as simple as the video suggests. Anyone, regardless of technical ability level, can attempt this repair.
The side top bead on Boxsters (986/987) from 1999 to 2011 frequently fails to seat correctly. Many times, owners of used items aren’t even aware that the bead should fit inside the channel rather than on top of it. You need to take care of it as soon as you can. The threads stretching out the beading are visible with a short glance. Here are a few pointers I discovered while filming the video.
- Get a powerful light. LED, preferably (less heat in a confined space). When I initially started using my iPhone, I not only wanted extra light but also a place to rest it so the light would brighten the workspace.
- I went to JoAnn Fabrics and bought a yard of 1-inch white elastic as instructed in the video. I could have chosen a different hue, but doing so would have required me to stand in yet another line—something I didn’t have much time for. Less than $7 was spent overall.
- Instead of trying to stitch, I used a stapler. Here’s your chance to flaunt your needle and thread skills, if you have any. But a simple stapler did the trick. Each end of the elastic was stapled with four staples.
I spent a total of under an hour repairing both sides. I’ve read that this is only a short-term solution because the elastic will ultimately stretch out much like the factory. I’m okay with that. The temporary task of changing the oil is far messier than the task of replacing the elastic.
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How is a convertible top changed?
Needed for this action:
In order to access all the fastened parts, the top will need to be fully opened and occasionally just partially closed during this stage, which has the purpose of removing the top from the sides and window.
Remove all of the Phillips or Torx screws holding the front trim strip in place starting at the front of the top. By removing the side trim strips, you can see where the top is attached to the frame’s sides as well. You can locate the plastic screw mounts that the screws were in underneath them. Gently push these out with a little screwdriver while placing your hand over them to prevent them from flipping out and disappearing; replacements may be challenging to come by. More trim strips and more fasteners that need to be removed can be found when you investigate the frame’s edge all the way to the rear frame member.
Look for any additional locations that are keeping the top in place, such as the pop-riveted flap in the picture. Use a 1/8″ drill bit to remove the pop rivets by drilling out their centers. Additionally, the Cabrio has a frame strap with plastic fasteners that may be unfastened by delicately prying the two parts apart. Don’t lose these because it will be difficult to replace them.
Note the locations where the vinyl has been adhered all over, from the front to the back. Before removing the vinyl from these regions, pay close attention because the new top will be overcut and you will need to clip off extra. If it doesn’t fit exactly as you see it here, your top will wrinkle.
The top should now be free on the front and sides once you peel it off of these parts. It will now become even more obvious how thin the worn vinyl is—it resembles the skin of a dead reptile.
The following step requires some laborious removal of staples from the window frame inside and out using a small-tipped screwdriver. If at all feasible, remove the entire staple to avoid having your new installation hung up. Try grasping the remaining piece with needlenose pliers to pull the staple out if it breaks off due to rust. If you’re unable to completely remove it, make sure you tap it in or bend it so that it is flush with the window frame’s edge.
When finished, the top should slip back into place and only the trim strip will remain connected, as seen in image 5.
Why won’t my convertible top rise?
If you get into your car one day and press the convertible switch in the console but the roof doesn’t go down, don’t be shocked. It has numerous causes and is a widespread issue. Of course, you could always try flicking the switch a couple of times to see if it helps. If you’re fortunate enough, it might just solve the issue, albeit frequently just momentarily. However, if the problem hasn’t gone away after a few tests of the swap, a bigger problem probably exists.
Remember that understanding how convertible tops function is the key to identifying the issue. The good news is that the logic underlying the functionality of all hydraulic convertible top systems is the same. The precise make and model of your car is much less important once you understand it.
Most convertible tops operate in a same manner. Let’s examine the convertible rooftop issues that come up the most often before going over the system in more depth.
- If a convertible top simply won’t go up or down when the switch is activated, a blown fuse, lift cylinder, or relay could be to blame.
- The most common reasons for a convertible top to become stuck during operation are a lift cylinder or a broken cable.
- Another frequent issue is an extremely slow-moving convertible top, which is often brought on by a faulty lift cylinder.
- Check the electric motor that controls the soft-top or hard-top roof if the previously identified problems don’t appear to be the cause.
- Ironically, there are situations when a faulty switch is the only problem.
Can the top of a convertible be fixed?
One of the greatest pleasures in life is driving down the road in a convertible with the top down. Driving in bad weather, however, is an unpleasant experience if your soft top has a hole in it. With a repair kit and a little know-how, you can patch a hole in your vinyl convertible top if you’ve noticed one. Here is a simple how-to for patching a vinyl convertible top hole.
Examining the damage in detail is the first step in repairing your vinyl convertible top. You should be able to fix the damage yourself with a repair patch from a Tear-Aid repair kit if the tear is shorter than 12 inches. A Tear-Aid 5-foot roll offers a longer mending option if the tear is more than 12 inches. You can start filling the hole once you’ve determined that the tear is tiny enough to be repaired with a kit.
Once you have the right vinyl convertible top repair kit, you should use rubbing alcohol and a lint-free cloth to clean the damaged area. After letting the alcohol dry, thoroughly clean the affected area once more using water and a lint-free towel.
You can then use the patch that comes with the repair kit after waiting for the water to completely dry. Applying the repair patch requires extreme caution to ensure that it is centered over the grip and thoroughly covers it. Apply the patch firmly to the tear once it is evenly spaced out. Both the inside and the outside of the convertible top must be used to apply it. To make it simpler, you might want to enlist help for this stage.
The repair patch’s adhesive should be strong enough to keep it in place. However, you might want to add some stitching to the patch to strengthen it for further security or if there is a very huge hole. In order to strengthen the patch before applying it, you can sew the vinyl top where the hole is.
Is there a power top on the Porsche Boxster?
When the Boxster made its début in 1996 as a vehicle for the 1997 model year, it was Porsche’s first new design in more than 20 years. The 986 Boxster and the impending 996-gen 911 replacement had to share as many parts as possible to make the project affordable for the cash-strapped Porsche of the early 1990s. Therefore, a large portion of the front end structure, together with the doors, front trunk lid, headlights, and most of the front chassis and suspension parts, were shared between the 986 and 996.
The 986 had unibody construction made of different grades of steel, as was covered in the tech section on body construction in issue #255 (June 2018). Key areas of the floor, rocker/sill regions, and frame horns were constructed of high-strength steel, while the windshield frame and rollover hoops were constructed of ultra-high-strength, boron-enriched steel tube. For an open-topped roadster, the end result was extraordinary rigidity in torsion and bending, which was essential to the 986 Boxster’s finesse and handling ability.
The Boxster had a sleek, light-weight power convertible top mechanism that folded under a steel tonneau cover (#261/February 2019). There was an optional detachable hardtop with a heated rear window. The rear window on early 986 Boxsters was made of plastic, however heated glass was added to those models in the 2003 facelift. The 986’s compact design precluded the use of a standard engine lid or hatch; instead, the top had to be opened to the “service position” and insulation and a cover removed in order to gain access to the engine’s top.
Is the Boxster being phased out by Porsche?
Due to the potential for a connecting rod to crack, 190 of the coupes have been recalled in the United States. To solve the problem, some of them will get new engines.
- Due to the possibility of the connecting rod shattering, Porsche has announced a recall and halt sale for 190 of its 2021 Cayman (seen above), Boxster, and 718 Spyder models.
- Engine replacement may be necessary for the recalled models, which include the 2021 Cayman GT4, 718 Spyder, Cayman GTS 4.0, and Boxster GTS 4.0.
- 20 of these cars, according to Porsche, have already been delivered and will all get new engines.
The 2021 Cayman GT4, the 718 Spyder, the Cayman GTS 4.0, and the Boxster GTS 4.0 are among the 190 impacted vehicles. Of these, 20 were delivered to customers. According to the spokesman, all 20 of those vehicles will have their engines replaced, and the engines of the remaining vehicles, including those that have already been purchased but have not yet been delivered because of the stop sale, will be assessed to see if one has to be changed.
Porsche claims that all owners who have taken delivery of the vehicles have been informed of the recall and that it is not aware of any issues caused by the faulty connecting rod. Porsche learned of the recall on March 8, per paperwork submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
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What is the cost to repair a convertible top?
The brand and type of your car determine a lot of the cost of replacing a convertible top. However, the costs often consist of the following:
- one substitute top (including pop rivets, staples, hold-down cables, and adhesive)
- a windshield sealant strip (for those who own a vehicle with glass windows with rubber trim)
- silicone aerosol
Many DIY kits frequently do not include a new curtain window and backlight, so if you intend to complete the project yourself, be sure to buy these separately.