Daft 993 spoiler question.....

[Lurking Lawyer]

Even as complete techno-numpty and Porker n00b, I'm almost too embarassed to post this but here goes...

I've read a number of comments about how noisy 993 spoilers tend to be. Mine doesn't seem to be particularly noisy, and I can't say I've ever noticed the noise of it raising and lowering when on the move, so maybe I just got lucky.

However, it did prompt the paranoid baseless-worry part of me to ask - is the fact that you haven't heard it because it doesn't deploy at whatever speed it is that is supposed to trigger it popping up.....

I can't see it from inside the car so can't tell visually whether it is deploying. I'm not sure whether this is because the car has a "hoop" style spoiler in the way or whether you just can't see it. It deploys without problem when I use the switch in the car.

I keep intending to ask someone to follow me and have a look but haven't got around to it yet. Can someone reassure me that I'm worrying needlessly and it's normal not to be able to see or hear the spoiler when on the move.....?

[fidgits]

I know its a different model, but I cant hear my spoiler raise at all, though i do see the trailing edge just at the bottom of the window when its up...

I would guess if it goes up with the button it will raise at speed..

[MauriceC2S]

LL, the typical failure mode of 964/993 flip up spoilers is a horrible coffee grinder noise as it lowers. Thus occurs about 10 mph and still lowering when you are stopped ..

If its quiet you have no problem, but sooner or later, you will. Good fix detailed on PCGB forum and on p-car.com provided by good guy Richard Hamilton ...

cheers, Maurice

[david hype]

LL. Try sitting in the middle lane on the motorway at about 70 ish and have a look at the reflection in a passing cars paintwork (or ones that you are passing)

[Pickled Piper]

LL you can't see it from the driver's seat. Best to get someone verify from the outside as you blat past. IIRC one of the warning lights in the instrument binnacle confirms that spoiler operation is correct. I can't remember the detail. I'll have to read my manual.

pp

[Lurking Lawyer]

MauriceC2S said:

LL, the typical failure mode of 964/993 flip up spoilers is a horrible coffee grinder noise as it lowers. Thus occurs about 10 mph and still lowering when you are stopped ..

If its quiet you have no problem, but sooner or later, you will. Good fix detailed on PCGB forum and on p-car.com provided by good guy Richard Hamilton ...

cheers, Maurice

Thanks Maurice I'll check it out in readiness for when the inevitable happens!

PP, I'm not getting any warning lights. The spoiler light comes on when the engine is started and stays lit for a short while, as per the description in the manual, then goes out.

I'm sure it does extend when it's supposed to and it's just new owner anxiety

[sleep envy]

never had the hoop spoiler on my C2 so I could just see the leading edge of the spoiler in the rear view mirror when it was up

bloody noisy it was when moving and it failed once when the car was jet washed by the local eastern block boys

[giw12]

You should hear a faint click from the switch console when it starts and also when it stops.

Mine makes a grinding noise so I know it's working but I can also see the top edge in the rear view mirror.

[mikep1]

Have to say cant hear mine at all (and have checked it manually on the switch when stationery ..)

[a993lad]

I can just about see the leading edge of the spoiler in the rear view mirror. But if your uncertain, just get a passenger to sit in the back and watch it. I would have thought they would be able to view it for you.

Mine was coffee-grinding when it lowered, made very obvious by the fact that the car was at a stand still and therefore no engine noise. I did the p-car fix, and now all is silent. The instructions and photos are top-notch, and the bearing which you have to replace cost about £1.

[ED965]

In the manual it tells you how to decifer a failure. In other words a warning light persumably in the centre consul near the manual spoiler switch or maybe on the clock tells you.
The majority are noisy but you cannot hear them when travelling especially with RSR mufflers!

[giw12]

a993lad said:

I can just about see the leading edge of the spoiler in the rear view mirror. But if your uncertain, just get a passenger to sit in the back and watch it. I would have thought they would be able to view it for you.

Mine was coffee-grinding when it lowered, made very obvious by the fact that the car was at a stand still and therefore no engine noise. I did the p-car fix, and now all is silent. The instructions and photos are top-notch, and the bearing which you have to replace cost about £1.

Where did you get the bearing?

[Lurking Lawyer]

ED965 said:

The majority are noisy but you cannot hear them when travelling especially with RSR mufflers!

RSRs are the first thing on the to-do list when I next find myself with a bit of spare cash!

[giw12]

Lurking Lawyer said:

ED965 said:

The majority are noisy but you cannot hear them when travelling especially with RSR mufflers!

RSRs are the first thing on the to-do list when I next find myself with a bit of spare cash!

Do it...it's a joy

[a993lad]

giw12 said:

a993lad said:

I can just about see the leading edge of the spoiler in the rear view mirror. But if your uncertain, just get a passenger to sit in the back and watch it. I would have thought they would be able to view it for you.

Mine was coffee-grinding when it lowered, made very obvious by the fact that the car was at a stand still and therefore no engine noise. I did the p-car fix, and now all is silent. The instructions and photos are top-notch, and the bearing which you have to replace cost about £1.

Where did you get the bearing?

I got the bearing from these guys - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BALL-BEARING-62

or key 625 2rs into the search box on ebay

£1.15 plus 60p postage. Very quick delivery.

I just used super glue gel to re-attach the two halves of the plastic casing. You definitely need a couple of clamps to hold it together. Once the glue set I also went round the join with some silicone to be sure there are no gaps for the grease to escape.

I packed it out with standard grease first and also cleaned and greased the drive cable as well. It's a bit fiddly trying to get enough grease into the casing, whilst keeping it off the edges where the glue needs to be applied.

Cutting the case in half with a stanley knife is not easy either, and I have to confess mine didn't look half as neat and tidy as the pics on p-car. But it seems to have gone back together okay.

I'll try and get it bolted back in the car tomorrow and let you know if it's an improvement.

Edited by a993lad on Tuesday 20th March 21:39

[ED965]

Lurking Lawyer said:

ED965 said:

The majority are noisy but you cannot hear them when travelling especially with RSR mufflers!

RSRs are the first thing on the to-do list when I next find myself with a bit of spare cash!

[tobster]

You could always get someone to operate the spoiler button by the handbrake while you stand behind the car.

[Lurking Lawyer]

tobster said:

You could always get someone to operate the spoiler button by the handbrake while you stand behind the car.

As I said above, I know it works from the switch in the car. I just wondered whether it was automatically deploying when the car reached the speed that is supposed to trigger it.

[ian_uk]

Unfortunately it's just a characteristic of the Targa rear window that you can't see it deploy where as you can in a coupe. You'll have to get a passenger to stick their head out the window or follow you otherwise you know it'll just drive you mad for ever more :-)

Ian.

[softinthehead]

do you not have a friend who can sit in the back seat??