2nd Gen R59 Roadster Most liked posts in thread: Spoiler Problem

I join with others in asking that you let us know how the problem was resolved. My Roadster better not start such shenanigans.

 

On my US car if I put the spoiler up when stationary then it stays up until I go above 50MPH then drop back down below 30-something, then it goes down (at least that's what I remember it doing, but I am getting old...).

 

Thanks for the latest info.

 

Man that is a pretty poor design if a bit of ice & snow makes it go all wonkie. Didn't they test the coupester & roadster in winter conditions?

Glad you got is sorted....

 

Actually, they probably didn't test in the right conditions as mine was definitely caught out by a 'British winter' - wet snowfall at maybe 31F, then a slight melt to 33-34F and a re-freeze to 29-31F. In most countries that would be a complete thaw in the middle or it would have been dry snow to start with - it's only hovering around freezing that seems to do it.

 

Don't tell anyone, but it also is a walnut burner.

 

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Jim

 

I think the problem only occurs in snow/thaw/freeze cycles where the thaw is only just long enough to let a soggy mass of half-thawed snow freeze up underneath the spoiler.

Those sort of conditions are pretty rare and while I've had one this winter, I wouldn't be surprised if I don't ever have another.

 

I realize this thread is a tad old, but I just wanted to share a similar experience for anyone else who might be having this problem. I'm also experiencing a stuck spoiler, and this is the second time around. It happened exactly a year ago after driving from Florida to Canada. This year it happened after driving from Toronto to Florida, and it was also accompanied by a complete malfunction of all sound in the vehicle. The stereo, all audible warnings, even the door gong and rear sensor alert were completely inaudible. The spoiler itself would not come up at any speed, causing alarms to go off. The only workaround was to pull the car over, pry up the spoiler with my fingers (about an inch or two) then lift it manually with the switch. Once that happened, the spoiler would go up and down as normal. Having said that, if I turned off the ignition with the spoiler down, then the problem would start all over again the next time I started up. I soon realized that if I actually left the spoiler up before turning off the car, then it didn't stick when I started up again later. I simply had to turn on the car, lower the spoiler, then raise it again. It's tedious and unnecessary and something is clearly wrong. I can't keep having the spoiler "fixed" every time the seasons change. I'm inclined to think that it does have something to do with moisture or road salt getting inside, as someone stated, but it is clearly not an ice issue because the problem occurred in Florida this time around, where it was sweltering hot. I imagine the salt and moisture may have accumulated during snowstorms on the way down, and Floridian humidity might have played a role in eating away at something... but I know very little about this issue, so I'm just guessing.

I believe the first "fix" was attributed to wires that were corroded, or a wire that came loose, though I can't be absolutely sure until I have them go over the case history with me again. The sound issue would resolve itself after a few hours of use, turning the car on and off a few time as I ran errands. It was also prevented by keeping the car out of the sun. Either way, not good. Not good at all. I'm going to look into retrofitting a fixed spoiler. Anyone know if that can be done?

 

More than a tad late to respond to this but 2.5yrs so far an no issues with the spoiler. i would be inclined to think it's entirely an issue of pivot joints there are so many and unlike a trunk these are quite exposed.
I think rather than retrofitting a fixed spoiler, I would have tried to dismantle it and redo the joints. Than again I'm not shy about doing this kind of work...

 

OK...this thread is a little old...but the problem isn't. Was in San Diego last night driving from point A to point B when all of a sudden spoiler malfunction alert. Spoiler was up but wouldn't go down below 30 mph. Damn beeper wouldn't stop until I shut off the car. This definitely wasn't a cold weather issue. This car (2013 Roadster) has never been in freezing weather. Parked the car and spent the night in a motel since I live 100 miles east of San Diego. In the morning I started the car and drove it around the parking lot and hit the manual lowering switch. Spoiler went down. Got out and checked it. It was about a half inch off the deck and I pushed it down the rest of the way. Continued to manually operate the spoiler. No real problem. Got on the freeway, spoiler raised automatically and went down automatically. Sometimes it goes all the way down and sometimes it stops a little short. Goes up all the way every time. Of course this happened one month to the day after the expiration of my warranty! I'm going to pull the cover off the the underside of the trunk lid and take a look...also going to WD40 all joints and see what happens.
I forgot to mention that in the morning when I started the car and got it moving the malfunction indicator did not come back on. Also the indicator light on the manual switch showed the spoiler was up...which it was. Once I hit the switch to lower the spoiler no malfunction problems after that other than the spoiler not lowering all the way to the deck occasionally.

 

I would recommend white lithium grease in a spray can rather than WD40. Sticks to the joints better and doesn't get shellacked over time.

 

Also lithium grease has much better hydrophobic properties than WD40.

 

O.K., He is something to chew on. My spoiler got stuck but not in the cold. I was getting on the freeway in 100 degree heat. When it cooled down a few hours later everything went back to normal. Could extreme temps be affecting the sensor?

 

everything worked just fine, just the fault on the dash and the warning bong going off