Short Shifter Install - Won't Go Into Gear(s) - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

thstone · 10-14-2018, 03:40 PM

I installed Ben's short shifter and a Function First linkage into a used 986 shifter chassis with new shift ends. The assembly went fine.

I marked the shifter cables before removing them from the 997 shifter that was in the car.

After installing the short shift assy, I can't get into any gears.

I spent 45 mins trying multiple adjustments of the shift cables to find a spot where they would work and still no joy. It won't go into any gears.

Any suggestions appreciated.

WillH · 10-15-2018, 02:43 AM

Did you remove the green coin guard from under the original shifter before installing the short shift kit? If not it might be the problem.

Oggie · 10-15-2018, 03:16 AM

You haven't accidentally swapped the left and right linkages?

jaykay · 10-15-2018, 09:13 AM

This is odd usually it's reverse that won't play ball as there is contact with the inside of the shifter console......requires some fine tuning.

I seemed to remember starting with marked cable positions and then adjusting step by step until I could get all gears......hot and cold.

Did you remove and install in neutral?

steved0x · 10-15-2018, 10:16 AM

Is your shifter up on a riser where you can get to it without having to take a lot of stuff on? What if you take the two ball ends off and manually move the cables to shift gears? Then put just one ball end on (the one that connects to the bottom of the shift lever for fore/aft), move the other cable to the middle (it should go there by itself if the ball end is off and you press the clutch) and then try that one to verify fore/aft (3/4) gear change and see what happens.

Does the shift arm hit anything?

If it all works, then add in the left/right cable. When I first bought my car it was misadjusted and the ball end rubbed heavily on the shifter body, the rubber got chewed off, which made it rub more, etc...