986S 6 speed trans issue

[jekelleyjr]

My shifter is slow to return to the 3 to 4 alignment center when moved into either side alignment 1 to 2 or 5 to 6. It acts like it has something sticky in the shifter. Had Porsche tech disconnect the shifter at the trans and it flops around easy, so it is in the transmission. Any idea what could cause this? Tech had never seen or heard of this issue before. I am trying to decide whether to buy a used transmission or take the chance and have mine opened up to repair, which can be a black hole $$$$.
I also had a local independent shop look at it, both cannot tell me what is causing it in the transmission. I guess this is a really odd failure and they dont know enough about the transmission internals to know exactly how they work inside.

[itsnotanova]

I'm no Porsche transmission expert but some manual transmissions get hard to shift and act strange as the fluid in them gets old.

[edc]

My current Boxster would not self centre readily. I cleaned up the cable ends at the selector which improved things but ultimately a new cable set fixed things.

[jekelleyjr]

Thanks for the input guys! I changed the cables and disconnected the cables from the trans and the shifter flops around freely, so something in the trans appears to be the issue. I am going to search my records to see when the last time the fluid was changed and try that. It couldn't hurt to change it anyway.

[woodsman]

It may be a bushing going bad. You could send personal message to TIMCO as he has recently had his tranny apart.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by jekelleyjr

Thanks for the input guys! I changed the cables and disconnected the cables from the trans and the shifter flops around freely, so something in the trans appears to be the issue. I am going to search my records to see when the last time the fluid was changed and try that. It couldn't hurt to change it anyway.

I believe it will hurt when you realize how much time & money you have wasted changing the fluid before repairing the problem. If it's Porsche lube it's not the problem.

[thstone]

The transmission creates the self-centering forces through the cables to the shifter. If the shifter/cables are free and not binding, then the problem is likely in the transmission.

Here is another post regarding same problem: http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/32756-boxster-shifter-does-not-stop-neutral.html

Also, be sure that what you think is "non-centering" isn't simply a shifter worn to the extent that the shift lever flops around even though the transmission has pushed the shifter back to center. In other words, it is worth checking the shifter and cables extensively before you go to the point of pulling the transmission (you'd hate to do that only to find it was a shifter problem).

[Erik Johnson]

Well there is one other thing that I can think of here that might be causing this.

You might want to check the detent in your gearbox. Sometimes the spring that pushes this down inside the gearbox can get worn out, or I have seen at time where the detent itself can become sticky in its housing.

You would not think that this would be much of deal either way, but it could be something worth looking at. If you have not already done the upgrade on this part let me know I have a couple of them sitting in front of me.

It could also be a bad or sticking shift shaft seal, these do tend to need replacement during a rebuild, but when they go the issue is usually too much play more often then not.

Feel free to give me a call if you want to talk more about this.

Erik Johnson
(970) 344-7761 phone

[Smallblock454]

Some thoughts on that problem.

1. The shifter mechanism is worn.

2. The shifter mechanism has 2 cables. One is the gear selector (blue cable), the other is the shift cable (black cable). The lenght of the cables has to be adjusted correctly and the cables should be free. It's difficult to adjust the cables correct without the Porsche special tool (9619).

3. The 2.5 Litre 5 gear transmission has an adjutable linkage between the two cables on the otside of the transmission. If this linkage isn't adjusted correctly you have a higher shiftig friction in general, or 1nd, 2nd, 5th and reverse cannot be enganged, or cannot be engaged easily. To adjust the linkage you'll also need a special tool.

4. The later 6 speed transmssions don't have that linkage. But there is also a need that selector and shifter work perfectly togehter.

5. The shifter mechanims reacts if cables are not lined correctly. Some mm tolerance can lead to good or bad. So also a bad rear engine mount can lead to a bad shifting mechanism.

I would say number 4 is your problem. Maybe in combination with another problem. So if you think of 3 and translate it to / combine it with 4 i would say this is an adjustment problem and check that first. But the adjustment will be complicated without the special tool.

Added 2 photos.
5 gear transmission with linkage:


6 gear transmission without external linkage: