Transmission and shifting problems!!
 

I went for a joyride today and the car was driving fine and when I pulled to a stop sign and tried to put the shifter into first gear it would not engage into the gear. The shifter felt all sloppy and you could not feel the engagement of any of the top gears (Reverse, 1st, 3rd, and 5th gear are all not working.) I had to sit at the stop sign for a minute or two before I was able to get the gear to engage. I drove the car home 2 miles like this. Do you think I could have caused any damage? Reverse gear doesnt work at all and the shifter pops out when I try to move backwards. I have no idea what this could be other than something wrong with the transmission? I just recently put a new clutch in 1,000 miles ago, so I dont think its the clutch. The engine also still felt fine and there was no clutch slipping.

I am so bummed out. I was planning to go track the car in 2 weeks. I got new tires and everything ughh!
BTW it is a 6 speed from a 2000 boxster S

If anyone knows what this might be could you please let me know. Thank you

Pull the shifter boot and check the linkages. I'd bet one either broke or has slack.

It is very common for the shifter cables to pop out of the bracket at the transmission end. It is fairly easy to see them under the rear of the car on the right side of the transmission. A lot of guys who have had them come out put a zip tie around them to keep them from coming off. Take a look under the car and see if this is what has happened.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1373878585.jpg

The end of the linkage, no 17 can brake, tie back on with a zip tie, or pay $200.00 for a new one.
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1373886792.jpg

Isn't it great to have all this knowledge just an email away.

Probably saved folks hundreds of thousands of dollars already for the DIY crowd.

You should be back online in no time and ready for your race weekend.

Thanks guys for your help. I will lift the car up tomorrow and see if that is the problem. If the cables are the problem I should be able to have the car ready for the track day!

Hey guys, jacked up the car today and fixed the problem. The linkage popped out of place and I had to put it back in. I did not use a zip tie because I didn't see anyway that it would help. If a zip tie would help how would I put it? The problem was the #12 linkage in the diagram. Thanks guys for the helphttp://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1374038967.jpg

I had the same problem at #12. You just take the zip tie and put it around the bracket and the cable to hold it in place and rank down on it.

This diagram is for a 5-speed, 6-speed is different design.

I broke one of the LITTLE arm-lock pieces at NO. 12 on the cable so I ground up a replacement (since I lost the original ) with a angle grinder and file and crazy glued it in place and zip tied it to' boot.

Hi Yellow986S
I know this question of yours is from back in 2013 but i just had similar problem on my 2001
boxster , out of nowhere shifter became flimsy and just able to do 3rd and 4th , reverse ok.
i ws wondering if you were able to figure it out. I'm going to try to drive to mechanic in a week from
now he's a porsche guy. anyway take care

Check the cables at the trans shiftier levers.
I had a similar problem and the cable housing was loose from the clamp.
A wire tie was a temp fix and then a screw clamp made it more permanent.
No problems since the fix.

It was not a problem with the retaining clip on the cable

I just want to echo the exact same as JayG

Same problem, same fix.