718 Cayman - Electric folding mirrors issue.

[ed987s]

Morning all,

This is a strange one – I have a Cayman with electric folding mirrors, and as you’re probably aware when the car is locked the mirrors retract, (if that option has been ticked in the settings) and when the ignition is turned on they swivel down into the normal position.

However, recently I’ve noticed that when turning the ignition on, only the driver’s side mirror swivels down, and the only way to activate the passenger side is to press the mirror button on the drives side door. Once they are both down if I then lock the car and repeat the process both mirrors work..?? It’s only if I have left the car for a substantial amount of time, that the passenger side mirror fails to activate..??

It's obviously not a faulty mirror as it can be rectified by manually pressing the mirror button.. It is very strange..

Any advice or tips would be most appreciated..

 

[Twinfan]

Does the passenger mirror come down if you start the car rather than just turning on the electrics?

I wonder if it's a low battery thing...

 

[ed987s]

Does the passenger mirror come down if you start the car rather than just turning on the electrics?

I wonder if it's a low battery thing...

I did wonder whether is possibly a low battery issue? I may pop it on charge and see if that helps, at least it eliminates it as a potential issue..

No, if I start the engine, it doesn't make any difference..??

Thanks for the suggestion..

 

[Twinfan]

No worries. I just wondered if starting the car would trigger it to check and drop the other mirror.

Definitely try charging the car, or going for a run, and trying it again. I believe the electrics do close certain things down to conserve power if the battery is running low.

 

[ed987s]

Yep, it was the battery, I had it on trickle charge yesterday and today, and have tried it this morning, and both mirrors worked as normal. Interestingly, I had to charge directly to the battery terminals, as the 12-volt port wouldn't work via the trickle charge, so I assume that was shut down as well.?

thanks again..

Ed

 

[Twinfan]

Nice one, glad it's sorted and that I wasn't talking rubbish!

I found that the cigarette lighter 12v in my 718 (I have the smoking pack option but don't smoke, it was to tidy the centre console...) doesn't charge the car and shuts down. I think I also tried the glovebox socket too which did the same. I used clips on the battery like you did []

 

[ed987s]

Nice one, glad it's sorted and that I wasn't talking rubbish!

I found that the cigarette lighter 12v in my 718 (I have the smoking pack option but don't smoke, it was to tidy the centre console...) doesn't charge the car and shuts down. I think I also tried the glovebox socket too which did the same. I used clips on the battery like you did []

No, certainly not talking rubbish, and I was thinking the same thing. It's just nice to bounce it off other people on forums like this..[]

Yes, same as mine - the smoking package just finishes the centre console off cleanly, and for Porsche, a relatively cheap option @ £38..Cheap is not a word that is mentioned too often in anything relating to Porsche..! []

 

[Twinfan]

It's not as cheap as it used to be - the Smokers Pack was free on my 981!

It would be good if more people used this forum for questions and to share ideas etc, it can be a bit quiet at times...

 

[ed987s]

Indeed, it would, the forum is really useful for many things..

Haha..I'm sure Porsche would have given with one hand and then taken something else away with the other..(i.e.charged for something they never used to)

What 718 do you have now? Do you miss the 981 at all.?

 

[Twinfan]

I have a 718 GT4, had a 981 GTS (both from new and to my spec). The GT4 has got me into track days, which I'm starting to enjoy for fun - I don't take them too seriously and I'm not bothered about recording them or improving lap times etc. They're quite a social thing for me, I never was nor ever will be a racer!

The only thing I sometimes miss is the exhaust sound of the 981 GTS with the cracks and burbles - I loved it. Plus the interior air vents and chrono clock arrangement is much nicer on the 981. I wouldn't swap back though, I absolutely adore my tart's handbag of a GT4

 

[ed987s]

Oh wow - I would love a GT4, such a lovely looking car, alas I've never driven one, although I was a passenger in a 981 GT4 at the Porsche Experience centre with an ex carrera cup champion no less. The most humbling driving experience I've ever had, and the GT4 was just amazing..[]

Do you daily it, or is a weekend car..?

I've got the 718 GTS 2.5 - fantastic car, but I do miss the sound of the flat 6..That's not to say the flat 4's don't sound good, they do, just not as nice as the 6..

 

[Twinfan]

I work at home, but the GT4 is my only car and I use it just for fun. Athough it does do some more mundane jobs as required - I've done shopping trips and taken cats to the vets in it in the past I have two sets of wheels and tyres - it's currently on my winter set of PS4Ss with Cup2s saved for Spring to Autumn.

They're very capable cars and a fabulous balance of power and handling. It's a keeper for me, and probably the last car I'll buy as I'm not into milk floats ( [] ), so I'm enjoying exploring what it can do on track, getting driving tuition, modifying it etc.

Much to some friend's disgust, and against the Porsche grain, it has no PPF or ceramic coatings and gets cleaned less than frequently. It has a few minor stone chips and marks here and there and I've also had the audacity to put over 12k miles on it!

 

[ed987s]

Haha..Good for you, I'm glad that it's used..

Totally agree on the milk float front - I despair at the thought of the Cayman/Boxster going fully electric..and, as yourself, for me that's the end. I will be going backwards and not forwards in terms of time and driver appeal..

Where abouts are you located? It would good to arrange/catchup with similar folk and cars and have a drive destination in mind. The only issue is geo location of what's practical or not..? I've been meaning for some time to post something on the forum for a more spontaneous meet & drive, rather than the weeks in advance of organised events etc..I suppose the only caveat for it to work though is that people are located within a reasonable distance of each other..?

 

[Motorhead]

Just to cut in here chaps regarding procedures for battery maintenance via the power sockets, but I seem to recall that there’s been quite a lot of chatter on the subject over on the 911 forums … 991, etc. Maybe you can try the (useless!) SEARCH tool on the forum to locate the threads?

Jeff

 

[ed987s]

Just to cut in here chaps regarding procedures for battery maintenance via the power sockets, but I seem to recall that there’s been quite a lot of chatter on the subject over on the 911 forums … 991, etc. Maybe you can try the (useless!) SEARCH tool on the forum to locate the threads?

Jeff

Hahah... Thanks Jeff - you're not wrong there in regards to (useless!) search. I did try that initially and couldn't find anything relating to my issue..

Thanks again..

 

[Twinfan]

I'm in the North West, Ed. I think John was saying on the last Zoom call that ad-hoc meets would be good, but like you say it's all down to location and who's free on the suggested date...

-Dave

 

[ralphmusic]

Just to cut in here chaps regarding procedures for battery maintenance via the power sockets, but I seem to recall that there’s been quite a lot of chatter on the subject over on the 911 forums … 991, etc. Maybe you can try the (useless!) SEARCH tool on the forum to locate the threads?

Jeff

Hahah... Thanks Jeff - you're not wrong there in regards to (useless!) search. I did try that initially and couldn't find anything relating to my issue..

Thanks again..

Tried searching Pistonheads or Rennlist? Forum site owners don't put much effort into meta tags or search terms and rely on conversations to drive traffic. If Registers wanted to be helpful they would create a Tips and Tricks as Clive did for 991 (& 992). Of course members often just post questions rather than go to an archive because that is easier.

 

[ed987s]

I'm in the North West, Ed. I think John was saying on the last Zoom call that ad-hoc meets would be good, but like you say it's all down to location and who's free on the suggested date...

-Dave

Yeah, that's the problem I suppose being a national club, people are dotted all over the place..I'm in the midlands, Leicestershire, so a fair few miles away from you..

 

[Twinfan]

Well if you pop along to the club's track days at Donington or Silverstone feel free to come over and say hello []

 

[ed987s]

Well if you pop along to the club's track days at Donington or Silverstone feel free to come over and say hello []

Thanks Dave..Will do..