Can't shift into reverse/5th - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

ChefCarnivore · 08-16-2009, 04:07 AM

I have a new problem with my boxster 97. On the way to the supermarket I found that I could not shift into 5th gear. Then when I left I could not get into reverse and had to push the car along with a volunteer backwards into the parking lot.

What should I be looking for and is this something best left to a dealer or porsche mechanic?

In the meantime I'll be looking at the Bentley service manual.

Boxtaboy · 08-16-2009, 04:42 AM

My guess is that it can be one of two things: either your shifter cables in the center console became loose from the shifter and needs adjustment, or the shift cables that run underneath the car and connect to the transmission came loose from their clamps and need to be re-secured.

Both not really a big deal to fix.

JAAY · 08-16-2009, 07:23 AM

Sounds like the the set screw came loose that connects the cables to the tranny. Easy fix if it is that. Take off the the little access panel on the passenger side of of the car (in the rear) it is 2 10mm bolts and then the set screw is also a 10mm bolt. It just lines back up with with a small hole in the input shaft on the tranny. Good luck.

ChefCarnivore · 08-16-2009, 08:00 AM

Jaay,

It is not clear to me where the access panel is located on the passenger side. Is this on the consul or the back panel by the firewall?

JAAY · 08-16-2009, 09:35 AM

Sorry about that. It is under the car in the rear on the passanger side. You have to Jack up the rear passanger side and then look fo a triangular shaped piece of aluminum. That is the panel I am talking about. Your linkage hides just beyond that. If I were home I would Jack up my car and take a photo for you. You can email me your number if you want me to walk you through it. Djmanjay@yahoo.com

clickman · 08-17-2009, 07:52 AM

Was the shifter really floppy after it happened? I had that happen in my '01 after a few too many hard pushes into reverse.

I found the left shift cable had come off right at the shifter. The cheesy little black retainer had broken allowing the end assembly to slip off. See pics. You may be able to see this just by pulling up the shifter boot.

At the time I took off the console (using the great B&M shifter installation instructions) and pushed the female piece back on. I assumed there was a retainer but couldn't find it. I didn't find it until a couple weeks ago when I replaced the shifter with the 9x7 short shifter.

If this has happened to you, here are your options:
1. Push it back on like I did without the retainer and shift carefully (normally) into reverse. Mine worked that way for years.
2. You may be able to replace the retainer, if you can get one from Porsche, but the shifter would have to be disassembled to do it.
2. Replace the shifter, likely very sloppy anyways, with the 9x7 normal shifter or short shifter. The normal one is pretty cheap, and I got my short shifter for under $300.