Boxster 987 Wind Deflector Rattle

[Hoopster]

My plastic wind deflector vibrates and rattles intermittently. The clips are secure and it is properly fitted - removing it and replacing it can cure the problem for a few days, however in the end the rattle always returns. I've tried several different fixes, including foam inserts between the deflector and the roll bar surround, blue tack, insulating tape, thoroughly cleaning the deflector edges and the roll bar ... but to no avail. It doesn't do it all the time, but it does it enough to irritate. Has anyone else shared this experience and more importantly found a solution ?

Many thanks,
Adam

 

[Pezky]

They all do that One side is ok, the other rattles like a rattly thing.
I put some duct tape round the bit that clips into the frame

 

[RadioRayson]

Dear Adam,

Don't it though...! After I bought my 2005 987 Boxster in 2013 I looked all over The Net for an answer to this problem. The American chatrooms are full of it!

Taking advice from one of those chatrooms I removed the plastic wind deflector and put two strips of Velcro below the clips (the 'female bit - hairy rather than hooky) in the bottom groove into which the wind deflector sits, so not all along the groove. Each strip was about 2-3 inches long. I then put the wind deflector back in place, and the Velcro gave enough pressure upward to the clips that that the wind deflector no longer rattled - for a few weeks!

After having lived with the rattling for about 18 months I added a second couple of strips of Velcro on top of the existing ones and I also put a tiny strip of Velcro (again the hairy bit not the hooky bit) round each male part of the wind deflector and then clipped the wind deflector back into its clips on the roll bar.

So far - and it has been many months now - that has cured the problem. I think the good thing about the hairy part of Velcro is that it is both soft and resistant, as well as being sticky-backed of course.

I'm sure Mr Ferdinand Porsche would not be very keen on fixing problems with stick-backed plastic, but I'd ask him why he changed the seemingly-robust clips on a 986 for the minimalist, but pretty ineffective, clips on a 987. An annoyingly weak detail on what really is 'the best roadster in the world'!

If you choose to try this I hope it works for you - it worked for me!

Best wishes,
Adrian

 

[MrDemon]

Most have the rubber gromments missing.

they don,t rattle if they are in place.

 

[Boxstercol]

Most have the rubber gromments missing.

they don,t rattle if they are in place.

Can these rubber gromits be purchased separately?

I've never noticed any on mine. I fixed the rattle (so far!) by using some black B&Q self adhesive weather strip. Think the roll has about 5m of the stuff so will last a while!

 

[Hoopster]

Thanks for all these suggestions... (I do appear to have the rubber grommits in place.) I like the sound of the Velcro solution, although I had tried a similar fix with some thin foam strips, and this only provided temporary relief. I have a slight concern that if the thickness is too great, then whilst stopping the rattle, it might also prevent the deflector from seating properly in the bracket at the bottom, creating a flight risk at higher speed!
As an aside, I have removed the deflector completely recently (when the roof is up,) and had the accidental discovery of an improved soundtrack inside the car... if you don't wish to make conversation ...!

 

[MrDemon]

the rubber can be there but a bit missing off it, this extra rubber bit caused tension on the deflector and hence no rattle.

I tried to take pics but they did not come out.