Rear Spoiler, Manual Button not working
 

I was able to have a friend follow me and verify that the spoiler was going up at speed and down while decelerating back to 50mph. It was working perfectly. SO, it is not the spoiler mechanism itself and is most likely the manual switch or the wiring from that switch to the unit itself. Now to figure how to get the thing out of the dash to check the switch itself. If beyond that someday it will have to go to the dealer. As long as it works automatically when I'm driving it I can do without the manual operation for now. Raising it manually helps when washing and waxing the car for me. I did find through some searching on the web that the manual activation switch is part of an assembly ("combined switch", 997-613-133-00, cost approx. $100) that also houses the PSM button and; if equipped, the PASM and SPORT buttons, so it may not be terribly difficult to remove and check it. Anyone else experience this problem?

Yes, I had the "combined switch" stop working. It had shorted out. I fixed the circuit board by soldering a small piece of wire across where the trace was burnt, but as a result the unit didn't fit perfectly. So, although it functioned properly I replaced it anyway.

I'm assuming you have a 987?

It isn't hard to remove. Find an explanation of how to remove the center console. All you have to do is the parts to allow you to remove the cubby hole at the bottom of the center stack, once that's out you can remove the combined switch by pulling straight aft.

If you get the correct part, same number of buttons, it should work without any programming required by the dealer (PIWIS).

I believe I have an extra combined switch laying around with the 2 button configuration, spoiler and PSM. It's 987.1, so Volcano Gray, not black. If that's the one you need, and I can find it, it's yours for free. (I ended up with an extra after having the sport mode software installed).

Otherwise, search around a little, that price sounds slightly high.

Thank you very much swarf! Yes, mine is an '08 Cayman. I will take you up on the offer for the switch. Mine is gray also and I am almost certain the switch is bad. I'll send you a PM and we can go from there.

I'm happy to oblige if I can find the thing. My garage looks like a tornado went through it, but I'm pretty sure I can lay my hands on it. I'll look tomorrow.

Got it! PM sent. Thank you!!!

Not the switch
 

Finally replaced the manual activation switch and that is not the problem so I took it to my local Porsche indy shop. They checked the system out on their PIWIS. While the spoiler itself does function at speed as designed - goes up and down which I already knew - the manual switch circuitry itself and not the physical manual switch is the problem. Since I do have spoiler functionality when needed I'm just going to live with it for a while.