My 2004 996 Turbo is having issues with the spoiler light. Here is the recent history. I started having the driver-side spoiler deploy without the passenger-side deploy. No error lights though. I sent out the spoilers for rebuild and when I reinstalled it both deployed and retracted fine, however, a couple of seconds after deploying, the error light went on.. I thought I'd take it to the dealer and after $400 and new micro switches and block, the light still went on. The mechanic told me it looked like there was a slot in the ram that was not lining up. I called the shop that rebuilt the rams, sent it back - this time with the block and switches attached, as the shop recommended. After mounting it after the second repair, I still get the light. Does anyone have any thoughts? Any description of how the micro switches work inside the ram?

 

it could be as simple as insufficient fluid level in the rams, preventing full deployment and/or triggering the cel. i've never messed with the switches, only re-bleeding. but if and when they dont fully deploy or retract, that alone can cause the dash light cel.

 

I spoke with the person that rebuilt the rams and pump. He says they were deploying all the way. I am sure he bled the system when he put it back together and the rams appear to go all the way up. So I don't think its the fluid level.

 

i'm sure they did too. was all i could suggest, since again.. i've never messed with the microswitches. but i do know from experience that low pentosin levels are often the cause of issues that only get worse if left unaddressed. GL w it.

 

We have a MicroModule Device that prevents the warning. Find it here: https://rennkit.com/product-info/996turbo-eramkit/

 

If you are certain the wing is extending fully, then your problem is definitely one of the microswitches. It's not complicated, the car sends the command to raise the wing, the wing goes up and the microswitch tells the car that the wing is up. Same thing on the way down. If the microswitch doesn't mirror the command to the wing, you get a warning light. The cause of the microswitch not making contact is either a bad switch or the ram has not moved far enough to move it.

Troubleshooting - Turn the car on, raise the wing, turn the car off. Take off the microswitch mount and see if the ram is in position to contact the microswitch. If it does, the switch is bad - if it doesn't, the ram is moving too far/not far enough.

 

Okay, issue solved. It turns out after the rebuild you have to take the car the Porsche and have them recalibrate the system. I wish they told me that before I spent $400 on labor and hardware that may not have been the issue.

 

Hi Saline, Okay... this is new. I wonder exactly what they "calibrated"? There are two holes in the right side hydraulic ram's chrome outer "beauty" cylinder, below the seal, either microswitch lands in a hole, a signal is sent back to the ECU. Analog. Nothing more. I'd sure like to know what they did.

 

How reputable is your dealer? That sounds awful fishy to me. I have rebuilt these and replaced broken parts - never had to "recalibrate" anything.

 

Yeah, I'm with you guys. It seems to me to be a binary signal, and not an encoder position system. However both the rebuilder and Porsche dealer say there is a setting in the PWIS system for the position of spoiler. Having said that, I took the car in today and we couldn't find the setting. The mechanic still feels there is a setting because he saw it the first time I had it in there. Meanwhile, he disabled the error signal, so the spoiler works without throwing an error.

The only thing I can think of is that there is a timing setting for it to shut off. If you guys are interested I'll keep providing updates.

 

I agree there is probably at timer so it knows the command was not completed. The computer gives the command to raise spoiler - the "spoiler at bottom" microswitch clicks off and the system waits for the "spoiler at top" microswitch to connect. If a timeout happens before the first or second microswitch clicks, you get a spoiler error light. I don't know what you would need to "adjust" there, but I guess there is a number somewhere.

 

first time hearing of any "re-calibration" also. but i suppose the ecu has to be "programmed" to know when to 74 and 37. never knew that was "adjustable" with a porsche pwis ( whatever its called ).

 

There is no calibration. There are 2 micro switches on passenger side hydraulic ram. There are syringes with plungers that are driven in and out by a threaded block connected to a motor with a jack shaft. It is likely that you are low on fluid or a micro switch is defective or some connector or wiring issue is present. Back to the dealer...