996 turbo spoiler failure

mpowerrob · 18 Sep 2016

Hi all my rear active spoiler has started playing up :sad:

Is there a way of disconnecting it so I can stop it trying to work before it does more damage. I tried disconnecting one plug but that stopped engine fan working.

deMort · 18 Sep 2016

The spoiler is a safety feature which is why you get a message saying its not working .

Usual cause is a small oil leak and its now not going high enough to trigger the top micro switch.

If its not working at all then its often the relays .. in relay support 2 behind the rear seats .

There is only a codeing option to stop the message but the spoiler needs to be in the raised position for safety at speed so fixing the fault is the best way to go .

Junky · 18 Sep 2016

Demort said:
The spoiler is a safety feature which is why you get a message saying its not working .

Usual cause is a small oil leak and its now not going high enough to trigger the top micro switch.

If its not working at all then its often the relays .. in relay support 2 behind the rear seats .

There is only a codeing option to stop the message but the spoiler needs to be in the raised position for safety at speed so fixing the fault is the best way to go .

Although this reply was said in the kindest way ^^ I beg to differ that it's a 'safety' feature and feel it's just an OPC 'line'.. The oil pump that raises my spoiler was leaking and unrepairable / beyond repair.. So the specialist unplugged it totally and coded it out of my software.. The sum of £700 for a new 1 was banded about and I thought ***k that... This was about 5 months ago and I've done plenty of hoons and been across to the Alps n Pyrenees and hit 3 figures mph wise on the Autobahn since,and had absolutely no problems with regards to handling.. Mark Webber the former F1 driver once said he defied any 'normal' person to notice a difference with or without a spoiler on a road car.. Can't say I can..

deMort · 18 Sep 2016

Yup thats fine and maybe there isnt a difference , i just quote the official line as to do anything else would be negligent .

Many things it can be .. i was trying not to say to the OP it could easily be a £1k bill comeing his way and giveing him some cheaper options

And this is exactly why i prefer for everyone to give their opions , many people read these posts .. not so many jump in which is a shame .

Junky · 18 Sep 2016

Demort said:
Yup thats fine and maybe there isnt a difference , i just quote the official line as to do anything else would be negligent .

Many things it can be .. i was trying not to say to the OP it could easily be a £1k bill comeing his way and giveing him some cheaper options

And this is exactly why i prefer for everyone to give their opions , many people read these posts .. not so many jump in which is a shame .

:thumbs:

HSC911 · 19 Sep 2016

Rob, long time no speak!

I have a spare spoiler, including rams, if you want to try it.

Kept it as a spare in case it happened to mine.

You know where I am mate :thumb:

Johnny Graham · 19 Sep 2016

Hi, I just had to do this as my spoiler is not going up fully on one side. Looks like the pump is weeping so I am hoping I can top it up/fix some seals over winter.

In the meantime I wanted to disable it and not have any warn lights, I used the procedure below (from PH). It has worked fine - going over 75mph still triggers a spoiler warn light, but that disappears at each restart.

The harness plug referred to is in the engine bay (not on the bootlid) to the right of the oil filler cap attached to the inner wing. It is a bit of ***** to unplug, after that it is easy to do. Cheers

--------------------------------------

The Spoiler harness is located on the right side of engine bay... unplug this.

look at the harness from the rear, with the connector lock at the top... start at the bottom row and you will see the following wires...

Thick Brown and Thick Black = Fan Motor.... Thin Red/Blue and Brown/Red = Lamp... Single thin wire = Brake Light power

Look at the Top Row

Single wire = Brake light (Signal)... Green Grey = Spoiler switch wire... Thick Yellow/Green Spoiler motor (Positive)... Grey/Brown Spoiler switch... Green/Blue (ground) Spoiler motor

Unplug the Thick Green/Blue, by pulling it out of the harness (ground for Spoiler motor) and Tape this up... next connect Grey/Brown (Spoiler switch) with Yellow/Green (Spoiler Positive)

That should eliminate lights and Spoiler function

Deakmeister1 · 19 Sep 2016

My rear wing stopped working so I did a load of research and started taking apart. I had no noticeable sign of any leak but found the plastic parts in the motor had broken. I had these recreated and reassembled- still nothing. The motor would run if powered up but wing wouldn't budge- I looked further- I took the rams apart and found that the large spring had broken also. At this point I gave up and disconnected the micro switches (this stopped my warning light coming on- the switches are still there just not doing anything)
I have removed the motor and rams and bolted my wing in the up position- I couldn't tell a difference between it up or down tbh.
I am replacing with a GT2 rear wing but wouldn't mind finding another ram (or spring) to repair my deck lid if ever I sell.
The system is pretty simple but also pretty ****

With the switches still connected to the harness and both in the open position I get no warning light.

Bund · 8 Jun 2017

I am literally at the station on my return to home after driving my car to GT one for a minor service.

On the way I did think before even going over 60 would I notice oil in the garage if I had a spoiler issue(no reason to actually think I had) then pooooof like magic as I go over 60 odd it only comes up on passenge side.

And there I was thinking I had an inexpensive minor service bill to pay.

If I want to keep it oem has anyone had the rams reffurbed with a warranty?

cheshire911 · 8 Jun 2017

AS far as I know there isn't anybody that refurbs this item and offers a warranty. There are several internet articles on DIY fixes and have a go yourself, but how sustainable the fix will be is unknown.

Some go for the option of a second-hand unit from someone who put a fixed (aerokit) wing and has theirs surplus to requirement.

Another option is from a scrap yard - but no idea of its condition or price.

An indy told me recently, there is only one long-term guaranteed sustainable solution when a customer walked in with this problem - dig into your pocket to the tune of around £1200 and buy a replacement unit and have it professionally fitted. After all, the chances are, the one that is now faulty has been on the car for at least 10-15 years! Not bad to survive that sort of time period from new.

Bund · 8 Jun 2017

cheshire911 said:
AS far as I know there isn't anybody that refurbs this item and offers a warranty. There are several internet articles on DIY fixes and have a go yourself, but how sustainable the fix will be is unknown.

Some go for the option of a second-hand unit from someone who put a fixed (aerokit) wing and has theirs surplus to requirement.

Another option is from a scrap yard - but no idea of its condition or price.

An indy told me recently, there is only one long-term guaranteed sustainable solution when a customer walked in with this problem - dig into your pocket to the tune of around £1200 and buy a replacement unit and have it professionally fitted. After all, the chances are, the one that is now faulty has been on the car for at least 10-15 years! Not bad to survive that sort of time period from new.

And that's what I'll end up doing if it's bad news from them later. If only one ram has failed you wouldn't do the other as preventive measure? Is it labour intensive?

cheshire911 · 8 Jun 2017

There are various articles on the internet with DIY fixes - they seem fiddly and labour intensive.

I'd get the microswitches checked - a simple test and replace.

If it doesnt fix it, I'd honestly say - just bite the bullet and dig into your pocket and do as that indy told a customer. I'll ask what happened to that guy in the end - some just say its too expensive but don't know how to fix it. Siome look at a secondhand part and discover its knackered or gets knackered soon after fitting.

It then comes back full circle - a replacement unit c£1200 after wasting money attempting cheap fixes.

I know of one instance where a guy bought one off an indy who had one lying around and as far as I know it still works more than twelve months later. But I don't know how much that car gets driven and that too how many times over 75mph which is when the spoiler deploys.

If its not the microswitches, I can see a rock and a hard place for a sustiniable fix.

Bund · 8 Jun 2017

cheshire911 said:
There are various articles on the internet with DIY fixes - they seem fiddly and labour intensive.

I'd get the microswitches checked - a simple test and replace.

If it doesnt fix it, I'd honestly say - just bite the bullet and dig into your pocket and do as that indy told a customer. I'll ask what happened to that guy in the end - some just say its too expensive but don't know how to fix it. Siome look at a secondhand part and discover its knackered or gets knackered soon after fitting.

It then comes back full circle - a replacement unit c£1200 after wasting money attempting cheap fixes.

I know of one instance where a guy bought one off an indy who had one lying around and as far as I know it still works more than twelve months later. But I don't know how much that car gets driven and that too how many times over 75mph which is when the spoiler deploys.

If its not the microswitches, I can see a rock and a hard place for a sustiniable fix.

Just off the phone with GT one, so two rams £950 but then porsche say the lines have to be ordered too which brings it up to £1200 before Labour.

There is a kit that includes the pump also for £1600 which would bring labour down if comes complete. Damn!!!

diverzeusy · 8 Jun 2017

There is of course the electric replacement version, link
http://rennkit.com/product-info/996turbo-eram/
I think if mine started playing up this is the way I would go :thumb:
It's available in UK also I believe.

Andyvvc · 8 Jun 2017

Mine started playing up last year. I had mine removed, rams and various bits cleaned then re-assembled at my local Indy. They also drained and refilled the oil/fluid.

Spoiler was then fine (albeit slightly slow to raise/lower on one side but thats almost un-noticable). After about 3 months it started complaining again (light on the dash - sticking in the up position).

I've partly disconnected the right-side connection underneath the boot lid, that plugs into the side of the right-side ram plastic housing. With the housing opened, i cold see a connector. Disconnecting it fully results in the warning light. Disconnecting it at 45 degrees (so half plugged in, half not) has resulted in no dash alarm at all and the spoiler stays deployed in the down position where i want it.

Indy has recommended either new microswitches, or the whole spoiler loom (inc switches) as the next suggested fix.

It does seem that one of the microswitches is now the fault of my spoiler warning light. However, the strip down, clean and re-fill of fluids (£100 quid all in) has worked a treat in terms of how the spoiler mech sounded when it deployed. Much quieter and smoother now - it might have saved me damaging the internal plastic parts.

Thing is, i'm currently happy with my bodge-fix and keep forgetting to book the car in to get the loom inspected and replaced lol

uh:

996 turbo spoiler failure

mpowerrob

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deMort

Monaco

Junky

Silverstone

deMort

Monaco

Junky

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HSC911

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Bund

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cheshire911

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Bund

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