2nd gear issues with 986S (6 speed)

[mjw930]

First off, I did a search and didn't come up with much so I'm posting this to get a feel for how many people here have had problems.

I'm having a persistent problem engaging 2nd gear, primarily on the 1st to 2nd gear shift. I'll pull it into 2nd and it feels like it's engaged but when I let out the clutch it's not in gear. If I'm holding the shifter it will grind (not a pleasant sound). If I go up into neutral then back down it will go into gear.

It doesn't do it all the time, rarely (almost never) has it done this in the 3rd to 2nd down shift and it does seem to be worse when it's cold but not always.

I've read a lot on other forums about 2003 and early 2004 996 gearboxes having a chronic issue, so much so that dealerships had pallets of 996 gearboxes in their parts department used as warranty replacements for people who experienced exactly what I do. I even notice that PowerHaus II sells a retrofit gear set that claims to "fix" this problem.



Of course I'll be getting the dealer's opinion but I want to know how many of you have had this problem and what you or your dealers have done to fix it.

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

First thought which comes to mind is proper shift cable adjustment. These can stretch over time and it wouldn't take too much and you're out of spec, These are adjusted at the Shifter, except for early '97's...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[mjw930]

Thanks Jim but the cable is perfectly adjusted, the tranny has done this with the stock shifter, the Schnell short shifter and with the EVO swift Shift kit. It's not the shifter, linkage or my clutch work (it does it for me and my wife, two completely different techniques).

[mnavarro]

I'm experiencing this problem too with my 2003 boxster s.... I'm going to the dealership monday.

[David N.]

Same with my 2000 S. It's only popped to neutral once, but it always seems to resist a lot more than every other shift, I always figured it was just me not rev-matching really well yet.

Please report back what they say!

-David
2000 Ocean Blue S

[aBsOlUt]

If I understood correctly then I am having the same problem in my 2004 BoxsterS. I really dont like the change from 1st to 2nd gear. It is not smooth at all unless I make it smooth.

When I am 1st gear and I go about 3k rpm and want to switch to 2nd I press the clutch and I can hear the clutch "hitting" or a sound. My explanation is really bad I know but I was wondering what I could do to fix it...

[sypher]

I know this is an old thread, but I am having the same issues. Its to the point that it wont even engage in 2nd gear. Does anyone know how this is fixed?

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by sypher

I know this is an old thread, but I am having the same issues. Its to the point that it wont even engage in 2nd gear. Does anyone know how this is fixed?

If it is the transmission and not the engine mount, Porsche replaces the transmission. There are shops that will fix the syncro like these guys:

http://www.wizardtransmission.com/index.html?make=Porsche

http://www.gboxweb.com/index.html

[Spinnaker]

My 2000 S does the same thing. Shifts really hard going into 2nd when it is cold, gets better after it warms up. Occasionally I get the "false" shift into 2nd, when it seems like it shifts but isn't in gear when you let out the clutch. Everthing seems fine after the tranny warms up.
BTW, it doesn't always rain here in Seattle.
Somewhere under there is a midnight blue S.

[blinkwatt]

Look under the 996 section on Rennlist,lots of people have had their transmissions replaced cause of 2nd gear issues.