Q – My 98 Boxster has a problem with the tonneau cover sitting crooked. I took it in to a local shop and they informed me that the convertible top transmissions needed to be upgraded with a newer design. I had them do it but when I went to pick the car up, I discovered that the tonneau cover was now sitting even MORE crooked. Then I was told that the car had to go to a body shop since they do not do body work. I am very unhappy about this and I am out quite a bit of money too. What is your take on this? Phillip
A – Who wouldn’t be frustrated!. When you spend a lot of money on a service, you want it done, not half done. Over the years, Porsche has tried many different convertible top transmissions and the original Boxster units were not only noisy, they also had a problem with getting out of “sync” and bending the top frame components. Without a doubt, you were wise to upgrade them. The newer ones are bullet proof. It makes sense that they would have suggested replacement. However, I find it puzzling that you were not warned that replacing the transmissions alone would not cure a twisted tonneau cover. Oops.
Before going to the body shop, check the levers and arms to be sure that they are not bent. I would compare them to new arms. Simply looking at them tells you nothing since they have a very artistic geometric curve even when they are brand new. I take the old arms, align them with new arms, use a rod through the pivot points, put a carpenter square on the flat surfaces, take measurements and verify that they are identical in every dimension, plane, and pivot angle. I wish I had the factory measuring jig, but I don’t.
The tonneau might, indeed, need to be straightened at a body shop. Sometimes, it can merely be “tweaked” back into shape. If the shop is uncomfortable with the process, one of the finer shops in the P4 will cheerfully accommodate you. In some cases I have seen the body pivot bracket, which is spot welded to the inner fender, so badly twisted that the body shop is the only place that can fix it. MC