Q – I haven’t done much to my 91 Carrera Cabrio for a couple years, and this spring, it is really showing it’s age. The rear window is cloudy and I think I might want it replaced. The top only releases from the top edge of the windshield, but it won’t go down; and neither of the windows are moving! I am wondering if all the expense is worth it. – David
A – Well, David, that last question puzzles me. It is a Porsche. If the body, engine, transmission, the fundamentals are all there, how could it not be worth it? I don’t stay up on values, but the C2 or C4 Cabrio is very desirable and I don’t think their value will drop any time soon. What would you do with your poor wounded car anyway? Donate it?
The only expensive part of your question is the rear window. Usually when they get nasty, the rest of the top is in equally shabby condition. So that IS going to hurt. Since it is a summer car, I suppose you could just leave it down and not drive it on rainy days. But then there is that problem with it not going down.
The top components that usually cause your symptom include the combi relay (on my car it was under the passengers side toe board) the micro switches (there are a few of them) the drive motor, cables and transmissions. I have seen a later style drive motor installed in a C2 that had the early style terminal (wrong size) plugged in and it worked…and for quite a while, with no problem. Then one day, the loose fitting terminal stopped making contact leading to an unnecessary and annoying repair bill to find it.
It could have been much worse. Obviously the original motor had failed and had already been replaced. It is a shame that the Bozo who replaced it didn’t replace the terminal at the same time. Maybe that same guy did yours too, and all it needs now is a terminal repaired. You can only hope, and hope that its easy to find.
Whether you replace the whole top or not, clearly you need to have the lack of function diagnosed. After that you can decide to have the cover repaired or not. If you don’t, it will soon become very annoying to crank it down and up manually. To determine the basic problem probably won’t be too expensive. Fixing it? Well, that is another chapter.
Since the windows worked last fall and went down once this spring, check the fuse first. If you find the fuse blown, replace it but don’t count on that being the end of the story. My guess is that one or both of the switches is failing. The switch paddles are under constant spring tension and the plastic will eventually fatigue and allow the paddle to go adrift. When this happens, the window motor may continue to receive power when you release a switch. This burns out the motor or if you are fortunate, blows the fuse. Of sometimes the switch simply fails to make contact internally from just laying dormant over the winter. Try some contact cleaner (available from Radio Shack) or try swapping switches.
On this generation, the switches are a lot easier to replace than on the early cars. In 1989 and prior, the switches had individual wire terminals that had to be plugged in one at a time. On your car, they simply unplug and plug right back in.
A useful tip: Those cheap switches in the unmarked white boxes may be tempting, based on the price. But the only good ones are European. Funny, those off brand switches even have names that sound like “Euro”, but don’t be fooled.
You know, David, the one thing you forgot to mention is oil leaks. If you haven’t noticed them, maybe you still have the under engine sound tray on the car. Or maybe you are in denial. That is one of the issues that could be a deal breaker for me. If I am facing a $3,000 bill for the top, and if the oil leaks are as bad as some I have seen, you could get upside down in this car quickly.
Knowing all this, I would have the car evaluated overall. I would have an experienced Porsche tech look at the whole car; not just to nail down the issues you know about, but for purposes of long range planning. Even with oil leaks, the car can still be a lot of affordable fun. Naturally, you should have the best car you can afford, but few of us can afford the newest version. And in the immortal words of C.S.N.Y.: “When you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with”. – MC