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will an 03 top interchange onto an 02? complete top swap?

nickg
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1schoir Member

1schoir

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When the 2003s came out I was told that it would. But I do not know anyone who has actually done the swap due to the cost.

the top is gonna run 800...so it is worth doing i think

Are you talking about the entire top WITH the frame and mechanisms included or are you talking about the canvas top part with the glass window only?

If it's the former, it sounds like a great deal and, if you search for a recent post by "rsfeller" you will find his explanation of how easy it was to remove and replace his complete top and frame. Just a few bolts on each side.

Regards, Maurice.

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azzar0 Member

azzar0

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Posted
When you said "complete" top I assumed the frame was included. So forget what I said until you clarify.

yup..whole kit and kaboodle...

How did you get this deal? Any links available for the rest of us to look / get one?

Thanks!

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nickg Member

nickg

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When you said "complete" top I assumed the frame was included. So forget what I said until you clarify.

yup..whole kit and kaboodle...

How did you get this deal? Any links available for the rest of us to look / get one?

Thanks!

car-part.com

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Tool Pants Member

Tool Pants

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Take pictures. I have never seen this actually done. When the glass window top came out in 2003 everyone wanted one. But when you price the 4 bow frame and glass window used on the 2003-2004 it was in the $8,500 range. Then Peter thought you could just buy just the 4th bow and add it to the 3 bow pre-2003 frame, but that was also a lot of money.

Then a few years ago the owner of a local independent Porsche shop said he was thinking of doing the retrofit on his daughter's Boxster. But I have never asked him if he did it or not.

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litomonkie Member

litomonkie

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Hey i know this thread has been a while but im in the process of doing this top swap on my car but there is a switch on the plastic window top thats not on the 03 glass window. It is a switch with a metal lever so when the clamshell closes one rod sits on it i guess to trigger the light and how the motor runs but the 03 one seems to be lacking that piece. Can anybody help me?

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1schoir Member

1schoir

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Hey i know this thread has been a while but im in the process of doing this top swap on my car but there is a switch on the plastic window top thats not on the 03 glass window. It is a switch with a metal lever so when the clamshell closes one rod sits on it i guess to trigger the light and how the motor runs but the 03 one seems to be lacking that piece. Can anybody help me?

Are you referring to the microswitch that is operated by the small metal lever arm that sits on top of the electric motor?

If so, that switch is not attached to the top, per se, but rather it remains mounted on the car itself and therefore can be reused wheter you install a regular plastic windowed top, a replacement glass windowed top, or a glass windowed top from a 2003 or 2004 Boxster.

What am I missing?

Regards, Maurice.

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litomonkie Member

litomonkie

Posted
Posted
Hey i know this thread has been a while but im in the process of doing this top swap on my car but there is a switch on the plastic window top thats not on the 03 glass window. It is a switch with a metal lever so when the clamshell closes one rod sits on it i guess to trigger the light and how the motor runs but the 03 one seems to be lacking that piece. Can anybody help me?

Are you referring to the microswitch that is operated by the small metal lever arm that sits on top of the electric motor?

If so, that switch is not attached to the top, per se, but rather it remains mounted on the car itself and therefore can be reused wheter you install a regular plastic windowed top, a replacement glass windowed top, or a glass windowed top from a 2003 or 2004 Boxster.

What am I missing?

Regards, Maurice.

Thank you for your response. I am referring to that switch but it seems to have much to do with the way the top functions. I installed the 03 top but that microswitch needs to be tapped together in order to turn the motor the opposite way. Ex. When the top is completely shut The wires would need to be tapped together then when the top open switch is pressed it will function as it should, however if it is not then the top continues to go in the "closing" direction until the plastic red ball would pop off and need to be reconnected. If you are saying the switch would stay in the original spot to have the top operate normally, it would really be helpful to point out where that would be as I would have no idea. Thank you for your help!

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1schoir Member

1schoir

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Posted
Thank you for your response. I am referring to that switch but it seems to have much to do with the way the top functions. I installed the 03 top but that microswitch needs to be tapped together in order to turn the motor the opposite way. Ex. When the top is completely shut The wires would need to be tapped together then when the top open switch is pressed it will function as it should, however if it is not then the top continues to go in the "closing" direction until the plastic red ball would pop off and need to be reconnected. If you are saying the switch would stay in the original spot to have the top operate normally, it would really be helpful to point out where that would be as I would have no idea. Thank you for your help!

The switch is part of a metal frame assembly that surrounds the electric motor. When the top is almost completely open, the clamshell presses on the switch as it completes its cycle and the convertible top control module (double relay in the footwell) then sends a time-delayed signal that turns off the light on the dashboard and simultaneously cuts power to the electric motor.

Here is a photo that I borrowed from Tool Pants that shows where the switch is located and what it looks like:

post-6627-1216311305_thumb.jpg

The issue is that the early Boxsters had this switch, but the later ones did not. I am not sure which year was the cutoff year for that switch.

Regards, Maurice.

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litomonkie Member

litomonkie

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Posted

actually i was talking about a switch thats activated by a metal lever on the frame itself. The switch would be located at immediately behind the drivers seatbelt area. Its present on the earlier tops but cant seem to be found on the newer top. It functions as you say it does but the picture didnt match up. Is there some way to disable this and still have the top function well?

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1schoir Member

1schoir

Posted
Posted (edited)
actually i was talking about a switch thats activated by a metal lever on the frame itself. The switch would be located at immediately behind the drivers seatbelt area. Its present on the earlier tops but cant seem to be found on the newer top. It functions as you say it does but the picture didnt match up. Is there some way to disable this and still have the top function well?

litomonkie:

Sorry, I misunderstood.

The switch that you are referring to is known as the "B-Pillar Microswitch" and it was installed on early 986 Boxsters that had the "Version A" transmissions (the half-moon type transmissions).

On any Boxsters that had the "Version B" transmissions (should be after late 1999), that microswitch was moved to the vicinity of the passenger side (right side) transmission.

So, if your car came with Version A transmissions and therefore had the B-Pillar Microswitch located behind the tubular carpeted panel behind the driver's left shoulder, then you should be able to operate your new top with that microswitch set-up.

Note that if the small metal (silver) lever of the B-Pillar Microswitch is defective, or if it is bent at too great an angle so that it contacts the convertible top frame too early it can sometimes cause the top to just cycle back and forth in a short arc near the completely closed position.

One further note. That B-Pillar microswitch can only be installed in one position because there is only one small phillips screw attaching it once its tiny plastic tab fits into the tiny hole in the metal frame. Nonetheless, if the small metal lever is bent too far one way or the other it will cause problems, such as the one I described above. The key is to have it bent so that it just presses on the frame (and thereby trips the switch) at the moment the top has reached its forwardmost (closed) position.

I have a photograph of that microswitch, but it's on my other computer. When I get back there, I will send you a photo if you still need it.

Regards, Maurice.

Edited by 1schoir
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atta Member

atta

Posted
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litomonkie:

Did you get this figured out? I changed my 99 over to a 03. Moved the microswitch as the new frame has the mounting holes for it, but since found out that nothing moves ut to press it in on the 03 frame.

A.

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litomonkie Member

litomonkie

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Posted
litomonkie:

Did you get this figured out? I changed my 99 over to a 03. Moved the microswitch as the new frame has the mounting holes for it, but since found out that nothing moves ut to press it in on the 03 frame.

A.

hey sorry i didn't really get a chance to work on the car since i've been tied up working. That was one of my concerns as well. i dont think the microswitch will make any contact on the 03 frame where it sits but ill try it out when I get the replacement microswitch from porsche. did you get it figured out? -jackson

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