Porsche 911 997 Convertible roof inoperative / not working or very slow - 12$ FIX

[@captaincoyote1792]

Brother, you deserve some sort of award…all that, and not one swear word! I own a 1990 944S2 Cabriolet….that I ‘gifted myself’ the year I turned 50 which coincidentally was the same year that I was promoted to Navy O-6 Captain. Here I am, almost 20 years later….my 944 has just over 65k on the clock. I love the car, but I am not getting any younger….and I do so want a 911 Cab. My days of turning a wrench are over……too May other interests….maybe I should look at a Targa? Anyway, I felt your pain, and applaud your patience! Bravo-Zulu, well done, very well done!!

[@MassProject]

Thanks for watching!

[@davesvarczkopf]

Good video. Just for context to a common problem. If fluid is low, it is leaking somewhere. usually in the lower front end of the hydraulic pistons. Yes, with bad leaks, it will show up on the ground in front of either the right or left rear wheel. Bought my car 2 weeks ago. Previous owner said he added fluid and it was working fine. Used it 6 times myself. Last time was acting very strange. Barely moving. I added fluid, kind of worked than nothing. The driver side cylinder blew out and was pouring fluid in to the cavity on driver side and on the ground. Easy removal and sent to Craig for a $400 rebuild. You can guy o rings on $bay, but from my research, they are not correct, even though some have had them for a couple of years without problems. It's a problem that is $4k at the dealer. Took me 20 min. to remove both cylinders and will probably be 1/2 hour to install when done. Than on to the long list of deferred maintenance that needs to be done.....no such thing as a "Cheap Porsche"!!

[@MassProject]

Yes common problem, if you need to add fluid there is a leak!! Mine had a small leak and just needed to top up every year.

[@daryljay3936]

Ole from Spain 3 years after...Cheers your my solution 966 hood..Mate total respect seeing You done it first time with balls..

[@MassProject]

Thanks for watching, hope this help!

[@davidspitz2880]

This was perfect. I had exactly the same problem and feared a $2000 dealer visit. Took me an hour to do this and it works better than ever. Thank you!

[@MassProject]

Glad this helped!!

[@frankrubino3343]

I cant thank you enough for this video! It gave me the confidence to fill up the reservoir and return the cab top to operational. Heads up All wheel drive models including the Turbo have an extra module in the way so removing the pump bracket is required to tip up the pump. BTW the fuild is now $43 @ Porsche

[@MassProject]

Great!!

[@dansraspberrypisoftwarecla1690]

Just in case you don't need a Porsche brand the fluid is CHF-11 ( Prestone AS268 Power Steering Fluid) is same@ $5 for 12oz or Pentosin 1405116 CHF 11S @ $22 / L). My 996 which I drive every day and Top goes up and down 2x every nice day has same system just different fill plug need fluid every other year and I am still on my first $20 can.

[@MassProject]

That’s probably what we will do, top up the fluid when needed unless it starts leaking a lot. Didn’t get to do any research on the fluid, it was Friday and wanted it fix for the weekend. I agree, it’s hydraulic fluid same has power steering probably.

[@frankdiaz4913]

The question is why is the fluid level low? It has to have a leak from a cylinder that will need to be repaired otherwise the leak will worsen over time. You can send them to Cab Hydraulics in Sarsota, Florida for a rebuild much chraper than buying new ones.

[@jaxacdc9554]

Nice fix. Convertibles always get me worried on repairs.

[@MassProject]

Yes, Was hoping that it was not the motor.

[@chriswhitpan7725]

Just wanted to leave a thank you! Had the exact dame thing on my 06 997 Cab and aside from waiting for the oil to ship, the process is very straightforward as you ran through. Just in time for the first 70 degree day!

[@MassProject]

Nice, glad it works

[@DavidS-x9y]

Thank you! I am doing springs, so I needed to see where I could get access. Your video helped a lot!

[@MassProject]

Thanks for watching!

[@rulez-sm9je]

Thank you! Mine (997 2007) operates flawlessly but now l'll be able to check the fluid by myself. Best regards from Lake Bled

[@MassProject]

Thanks for watching

[@SM-ob4js]

thank you for the videos you post...Great help!

[@donccarlos9794]

Brilliant ! You deserve a medal, .. my 987 has been good so far !!

[@MassProject]

Thanks, we hope we won’t need to change those cylinder. Those a quite expensive.

[@martinespinosa]

You saved me again, with my 996 and now with my 997.2!! Thank you!!

[@MassProject]

Same problem on both car??

[@martinespinosa]

Yes. I sold the 996, now my 997.2 had the same issue today, fixed with fluid. Hopefully no leaks anywhere

[@MassProject]

@@martinespinosa Check the hydraulic cylinder on each side. That’s probably we’re it leak. I needed to top it up every spring and it was ok.

[@AC-xw5tj]

Great job dude. You saved yourself some $$$$

[@MassProject]

Yes, inexpensive fix, but temporary!

[@chris-sc]

Excellent video. My 2004 996 Turbo Cab has exactly the same pump reservoir set-up and was easy to fix following this video. I experienced the same need to fill in fluid twice. After the first fill-up and some open and close of the roof, the fluid level will drop quite a bit, making a top-up advisable. Mine took about one fifth of the bottle (or maybe a bit less).

[@MassProject]

Great, happy it help you fix your problem!! Stay tune for more 911 stuff.

[@danleitner1635]

I was told by a friend who is a dealer tech that CHF 11S will damage the seals in the hydraulic cylinders. We always use the factory fluid. Just last week I diagnosed a bad cab top harness on a 2006 997S. The wires are damaged where the top folds. The top control unit is not seeing the front latch as open. It looks like I will need to remove the headliner to replace the harness.

[@louir3199]

been there , done this....if you are losing hydraulic fluid, having to replenish the reservoir, you have a leak.. look for oil drops in front of the rear drivers tire - the cause is a leaky convertible top piston inside the fender well.

[@MassProject]

I agree, if you look in the video I’m cleaning the cylinder because they are leaking.

[@carreralicious]

This is great. Thanks for making that video! The noise/whine from your top moving is strange though cause my top makes no noise at all when going up and down. Don’t spray the mosquito repellent when near your car. The spray will eat your clear coat if it gets on it and is not washed off.

[@MassProject]

The noise is from the air in the line. Once the air was gone it was quiet.

[@carreralicious]

@@MassProject ah, great!

[@Studio3EJax]

There was a guy in south FL which rebuilt mine years ago when the seals failed. It was much cheaper then purchasing new cylinders.

[@MassProject]

If I need to, I’ll look into a rebuild. Thanks

[@torstenkerbstadt2838]

Thx for the tutorial, good explanation and easy to makeup, thats safes me lot of money , time and discussion 😀 Regards from Lake Konstanz/ Germany

[@MassProject]

Thanks for watching!!

[@DSC800]

Nice DIY savings! I cringe every time I use my top for fear it fails and I will need to dig in there. The worst would be any issue requiring a recalibration at the dealer.

[@MassProject]

Thanks.

[@josephgrillo823]

Followed your video and got it working about a little over year ago and fixed.....however now same problem but I don't see any leaking fluid....stumped in NJ

[@MassProject]

It doesn’t need much of a leak, mine two did the same and I added fluid

[@cinemawerks]

Thanks for the video! Great information!

[@MassProject]

Thanks

[@olegsisackij9999]

Great video, thanks very much.

[@MassProject]

Thanks for watching.

[@pjay3028]

Excellent video, thanks very much.

[@MassProject]

Glad you liked it!

[@stephanebourezg5413]

Good job. Toutefois, je pense que la pompe à pris un coup du fait du manque d'huile au vu du bruit... Je pense que vous pourrez prévoir ça à l'avenir.

[@MassProject]

En espérant ne pas a avoir à changer la pompe. Toute les bulles d'air sont passé et le système est très silencieux maintenant.

[@stephanebourezg5413]

@@MassProject alors ça devrait aller.

[@MassProject]

@@stephanebourezg5413 fingers cross 🤞🏼

[@herrfinke1]

Thanks! Only a real man can rock the pink rags! ;)

[@MassProject]

Thanks for watching! Not only a pink rag🤪

[@jayezz4090]

Great job

[@MassProject]

Thanks

[@Fishermang709]

Very lucky. Most of the times , it’s the cylinder , requiring a rebuild of the unit. Unfortunately , the fix may be temporary, until the fluid has leaked out. So , always look for puddles of fluid on the ground or next to the cylinder.

[@MassProject]

had to refill a little every year, I did show the cylinder leaking.

[@9jfd1]

Not sure if its dirty oil before you filled or Pentosin CHF 11S which is green hydraulic oil also used for power steering. It is compatible with convertable hydraulics for 996 997 etc....

[@edwardrossotti2567]

Great video, thanks. My 997.1 top is having issues similar to yours, so I will check the fluid level. One question, what driver did you use to remove the plug at the end of the reservoir?

[@MassProject]

Can’t remember the exact size. It’s Allen 4. 5 or 6 mm I would guess.

[@corpltd505]

Great Video, thx

[@MassProject]

Thanks

[@timothyleemay]

Great video. My 2006 997 cab is doing the *exact* same thing. I see the comment below about using a Prestone alternative -- but just curious -- did you get the Porsche branded fluid from a dealer? What is it called?

[@MassProject]

Yes got the Porsche fluid. Link is in the description below. Thanks for the sub!! Will have more content on the 911 in spring when we take it out of storage.

[@brennersydney]

Do you know you could likely use your key in the door to open the roof top, eliminating the need to hold the button inside. If you turn your key in door and hold it in position

[@MassProject]

Was not aware of this, I’ll give it a try. Thanks

[@brennersydney]

@@MassProject did it work ? I did double check again just to make sure and it worked for me. Some 911 have a button on the remote allowing you to do it too, mine doesn’t so key in door does the job

[@MassProject]

I just tried and only window went down, might not have the good sequence to get the roof down or maybe to many beers on a Saturday night.😅🤪

[@Edgy01]

The roof function is country specific, so it may function differently throughout the world. In America I installed a Smart Top module which lets me open and close remotely with the normal key, and also use the lever switch in the cockpit-but don’t need to hold it down or up.

[@KCMedia33]

Just shared your video to a guy having top problems. Did the problem come back? Usually the rams seals start leaking which is where all the fluid went.

[@MassProject]

Yes I had to refill this summer also. One ram is leaking a little bit.

[@gtcoffman]

Good video but a few questions ... I'd assume it's a closed system since it's hydronic so where did the fluid that was in there go (assume there's a leak somewhere) and how is air purged from the system if it's closed?

[@MassProject]

Small leak at the cylinder, air goes back in the reservoir

[@gtcoffman]

@@MassProject Did you ever do anything with the cylinder? I know this was posted 2 years ago.

[@MassProject]

@@gtcoffman top up fluid every year. Got a new 911 this year. If it keeps leaking, you will need to refurbish the cylinder

[@marcst-pierre6632]

Their goes the 10 mm. That is always the case. All socket kit should come with a dozen of 10 mm . Its always missing

[@MassProject]

Yep, I agree 💯

[@m-fee4359]

YOU LEFT THE TOWELS BACK THERE!!!!!

[@MassProject]

I believe not!! where did you see that?

[@victoria19853]

So my guess is the hydraulic fluid evaporates over time is that why the convertible top won’t open? Around what mileage this is happening in the 997 generation? Any one knows. Also if the fluid goes completely dry could that cause the motor to go bad?

[@MassProject]

The fluid was leaking from the cylinder on each side. Had to top up again the next year!

[@victoria19853]

@@MassProject Thank you much. Around what mileage did you experience this issue.

[@MassProject]

@victoria19853 100k miles(160k km)

[@danrook5757]

Is that winning normal, mine doesn’t do that

[@MassProject]

There was air in the system, the noise stop after a few days.

[@SalTheCryptoFoo]

Damn that oil is now $40 lol

[@MassProject]

Well, it was $40+, but I only used a 1:4 of a can!!😅🤪

[@blueocean9305]

That's right. Just guess and take it apart. You're dangerous.

[@MassProject]

Lol, but got it fix for 12$!!

[@tonyyiamkis155]

Hey, cool dude! I was worried for you when you did not have data on where the fill plug was. I think you are a trailbalzer here for a simple fix, hack. This is why we all try to help each other out here, and avoid the big debt of change the whole thing P-dealerships. i was not looking for a leak fix, but needed help on where to lubricate the moving top parts when i came across your post.

[@MassProject]

Thanks for watching.

[@Hydraulic.Online]

This is an informative video to get your roof working again well done guys, with that being said, If you are adding hydraulic oil to your pump's tank this means you have an oil leak somewhere. I did read in your comments that one of the cylinders is leaking a bit, we have found that the leaks are usually from the hydraulic seals on the two double-acting cylinders that do most of the roof lifting and dropping. These cylinders are located inside the roof cavity above the rear wheels, one on the left and one on the right. Some Porsche mechanics will tell you that they are factory-sealed replacement items and if you are in a hurry, or a Porsche purist and or cost is not a problem then new replacement items are the way to go. If however you are not in a hurry and can wait 2 to 4 weeks they can be dismantled and resealed, you just need to find someone who knows how.😉 If you are in the US there is a company in Oregon called Top Hydraulics that specialises in convertibles of all types, they may still do them. If you are in the Australasia region then please contact us.

[@MassProject]

Thanks, changed the car for a 997 coupe S.