993 C2S Spoiler & Grill Replacement

Guest · Nov 30, 2006

I am in the process of replacing the Turbo spoiler, that was fitted as an option from new, with an original C2S engine lid & split grills. I have located a used lid with grills, which I have stripped down to have painted. The split grills and centre strut are fixed into the spolier's frame with a type of mastic and I am having trouble releasing them from the frame.

1. Have anyone any idea what adhesive was used and if there's anyway of reducing the adhesion?

Also, I fitted a new spoiler switch into the centre console and attached wiring which I found loose inside the console. I located the spoiler wiring loom in the engine compartment and conected it up to the replacement spoiler, prior to strip down, to test. Nothing happened when I pressed the switch. I checked all fuses and they were OK. Igniton was on. Even though the Turbo spoiler was fitted from new, all wiring seems to be in place.

2. Is there anything I have overlooked or need to add, for it to operate?

Hope someone can help.

968er · Nov 30, 2006

There is a silver box which is part of the spoiler operation which is found to the left of the steering wheel column

Guest · Nov 30, 2006

Thanks William. Do you think that Porsche would have omitted to fit this, due to the fact that the Turbo spoiler was specified at order?

RichardLW · Nov 30, 2006

What are you going to do with the fixed wing, just out of interest??

Guest · Dec 1, 2006

Thank you Maurice. When you say warning light, I haven't seen one. Do you mean, they disconnected the control umit as the the warning light would have been on constantly, due to the fact that the standard spoiler wasn't fitted?

The option code on the car's order spec., was Y75

Richard, I'm going to put the spoiler into storage. The vehicle is completely original with only 6800 miles on it from new, it's just that I prefer the split grills.

Scott

LK_991GTS · Dec 1, 2006

What, 6800 miles!!!!!!!!

Steve Humphreys · Dec 1, 2006

Scott

I would be interested in hearing how you get on--I am going through the process myself--albeit slowly having bought a complete engine cover and split spoiler--then the wiring and motor separately.

My roject over the Xmas period iss to disassemble the spoiler and strip the engine lid of all its components--my intention is to have the two interchangeable--I hadn't realised about the disconection of the control unit though I should have relaised given I have a spoiler motor failure on the 964 which caused the light to be on.

Updates gratefully received.

Thanks

Steve

Guest · Dec 1, 2006

Hi Steve

I'm so glad to hear that you're also about to have a go. It took me around 3 hours to strip the mechanism and all the parts from the lid, then I came to the grills in the frame! Well, after removing the circular clips from the lugs, I thought the grills would just fall out, no way! In the end, after looking at it and walking away that many times, I decided to use a long bladed Stanley knife to cut through this mastic type adhesive, and it worked, they're out. It needs a bit of force in places, and I thought the grills were going to bend and crack, but they're pretty strong. Problem now is, removing the left over mastic stuff from the frame prior to painting. I've got most of it off, I hope the body shop will have something to remove it. Looking at all of the bits that came off, I think I may still be working on mine at Christmas 2007! The Official Porsche Dealer Manual shows an exploded view, so hopefully it'll be like building an Airfix model!

Still haven't located the spoiler control unit, and if Maurice, William, or anyone else for that matter reads this, what's the best method of getting to it without dismantling the whole dash?

Look forward to hearing how you get on!

Scott

Guest · Dec 1, 2006

Lawrence, honestly, 6800 miles! I have only had it 2 weeks.

Guest · Dec 2, 2006

Steve H, this may interest you. I drove over to see Craig & Ram at Ramus Porsche in West Bromwich today, it's not too far from where I live, to try and find out where the exact location of the Spoiler Control box is, on one of their dismantled cars. Ram came out to have a look at my Porsche, stuck is hand under the glove compartment, to the top and left hand side of the passenger footwell, and said, "no wonder you can't find it, you haven't got one!". Craig then pointed out the loom and connector, hidden behind the footwell carpet at the top. Of course, they had all I needed from one of their dismantled cars, the Control box, mounting bracket and two plastic securing nuts. The mounting bracket turns out to be incorrect, this one's about 170mm long, where as the one that fits my car looks to me that it should be 140mm long and cranked (approx. sizes). There are two threads protruding through the bulk head, this is where the bracket fixes to with the plastic nuts. Anyway, even though the bracket didn't fit, I plugged the loose connector into the Spoiler Control box I had purchased, connected the Spoiler mechanism to the wiring in the engine lid (located on driver's side on my car, fixed to the lid's hinge), and pressed the spoiler control switch in the car....hey presto, it works!

www.ramusporscha.com they seem to have one or more of everything if your stuck, £65.00 for the bits today, and enough knowledge and know-how to save a few hours!

Steve Humphreys · Dec 3, 2006

Hi Scott many thanks for the advice--I will have a grope around the glove compartment during the week---nothing is quite as straight forward as it seems.

I'll go out and have a play witht he spoiler this afternoon and see if I can find the mastic.

Thaks for the advice.

Steve

Guest · Dec 12, 2006

Help!!!! I'm begining to wonder whether I should have started this! I have had the lid and grills repainted by Shorade in Cannock. Super job and great service. Removed the existing spoiler, Y75 option code, and fitted the newly painted lid, without grills and mechanism at this stage. Trouble now is, due to the weight difference with the standard lid being so light, it's difficult to push the lid down to close. And, if someone isn't applying downward pressure on the lid when you pull the lid release, it would shoot up and off probably! I assume this is down to Porsche fitting stronger gas struts, excuse my terminology, to combat the extra weight. Looks to me as if the engine requires dropping out to get at these? Please, any ideas anyone?

Porker993 · Dec 13, 2006

Panic ye not. Struts are around £15 quid each fitted. It's a five minute job. Your friends at Ramus will show you how. Alternatively if two struts are too powerful, why not try removing one ?

You are quite right in your assumption - over the years Porsche fitted many types of strut, depending on the load carried. Those supporting fixed spoilers tend to be much more powerful. All leak and sag eventually.

Guest · Dec 15, 2006

Thank you Mark, you're quite right. Had spoken to Porsche before I read your reply.

Have booked the car in with Porsche Centre Sutton Coldfield for a 24,000 in Jan and they're going to fit them for me. Have reassembled lid and grille and it's all working now, when using the switch. Haven't road tested it yet though, as it's raining! Had to buy another part though, the rubber cowling on the air intake is different, it's shorter than the one that's fitted with the Y75 spoiler.

Steve H. Please discount what I said about the spoiler control box bracket and sizes in my reply dated 2/12/06. I still haven't ascertained whether I've got the the right spoiler control box bracket or not, or even if there is an alternative. Have ordered a new one from Porsche (£1.00) just to check. I seem to have a wiring loom secured to one of the threads that is protruding through the bulk head, and this is the the same thread that the bracket was secured to on the 993 I saw at Ramus Porsche. It also seems to me that the back of the glove box fowls the bracket when I offer it up to this thread, prohibiting fixing. Watch this space.

RichardLW · Dec 16, 2006

Interesting comment about the standard lid/spoiler being so light. I have just put a turbo lid and spoiler on my C4S and this weighs far less than the original did. The turbo S spoiler weighs far more than either of the other two options though and I was quite shocked when I picked one up.

Guest · Dec 16, 2006

Hi Richard. I think it may have something to do with weight distribution rather than physical weight. That is, the center of gravity shifts towards the rear with the larger spoilers, where as the standard lid's weight is central, over the engine.

Now it's totally reassembled I can release the engine lid catch and the lid 'just about' stays down, I just have to hold carefully as I lift it to the top, to stop it jerking upwards!

Road tested it today and glad to say it raises automatically at 55 mph. Everything seems to be working fine. Only thing left to do is to sort the Spoiler Control Box Bracket out now, as the Box is hanging down in the top of the passenger footwell. If anyone has any past experience with this bracket, could they let me know please.

The rubber stops, that the spoiler drops down on to, seem to be too short. Is this why most spoilers rub on the lid on the bottom edge? Had a bit of a nightmare trying to horizontally align the rear edge of the spoiler with the lid, shame you can't adjust these stops.

Steve Humphreys · Dec 17, 2006

Hi Scott

Many thnaks for the running commentary--I will start the process over the Xmas holiday period--so I may well come back with some basic questions--re the control box brackets, etc.

Steve

Guest · Dec 17, 2006

Cheers Steve.

If you decide to go ahead, this article will help. I printed it off and used it, great help.

http://p-car.com/diy/spoilerwall/

It helped me considerably. I used washing up liquid along the lip that you fit the lower part of the spoiler wall on to. And, as the article says, you get a great deal of satisfaction when you hear that final 'snap' into place!

Good luck, if you have a query just let me know.

Regards

Scott