draxa

Driving home this evening, tootling through a small village I changed into 3rd and felt a small 'click' through the gear-lever. Then it (THE LEVER, THE LEVER!!!) became flaccid in my hand.

The car was stuck in 3rd, clutch was working fine. Fortunately I was about 3km from a Porsche specialist and could get there without reversing.

So the mechanic there jacked it up, removed the rear bottom plate and checked the cable which looked OK. Also removed the gear-lever boot and that seemed OK so he reckons the cable has snapped somewhere between the lever and the 'box.

Left the car there and ought to hear the news tomorrow.

Anyone else suffer such a thing (after 25,000 miles)?

OCBen

Sorry to hear that, Nick.

Never had it go flaccid in my hand when I needed it the most.

Sounds like the cable snapped as your tech surmises. But something else may have caused that as these cables are strong enough to tow your car and should outlast everything else in the car. Never heard of this problem before. Ask him what could have caused it. If there is anything out of adjustment that is now in the way and rubbing against the cable as it moves causing it to fray and eventually come apart, now is the time to correct it so it doesn't destroy your new cable. Ask him to determine the cause of failure. And ask him to save the broken cable for you so you can examine it and maybe photograph it for us - at least to see for yourself why it failed. Either way let us know the outcome.

Too bad you had to be inconvenienced.

Restless

There is a small plastic piece connecting the gear shift to the cables. There is a replacement metal piece sold by several companies, and I had mine installed with the B&M short shifter.

This is an example of the part:
http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/a...7-p-15560.html

Usually, this part is added while you have the short shift installed by most after market shops. I had heard that the plastic part could break, and leave you stuck somewhere, but I honestly thought it was a fable. Sorry to hear that it was a reality for you.

You might want to check, your cables may be fine, and only the plastic connector broken.

Good luck,
John

draxa

Thanks, Restless; I'll speak to the guys in the morning and have them check it.

OCBen

If the mechanic actually checked and verified that there is still a connection between the shifter and the cable - a simple visual inspection would confirm this - then it sounds like there is a break in the cable as he suspects.

See here for more visuals on the connection:

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-forum/180906-shift-kits-b-and-b-vs-oem.html

draxa

The cable has broken, under the armrest tunnel. Apparently, Porsche (AG) told them they knew this sometimes happened and are sending a 'modified' replacement part which is better.

I'll post more when I collect the car on Monday.

Minok

The cable occasionally just breaks? Sounds like a design issue. I'd rather proactively get the 'improved' design solution in my car rather than waiting for the cable to snap and leave me stranded.

I'm curious to see the broken cable bits and more details about what changed on the new cable/solution they will be installing.

Take pictures and keep us all informed.

kauai_diver

You forgot the magic word!

Please

JimG

This happened to me one week after they replaced the clutch and transmission. I did some searching and found it is fairly common.

Tanin

Entering the freeway a few miles from home the lever went to second position and car remained in first. Didn't have time for roadside assistance so limped home in first (not enjoyable on the freeway )

Sounds like I share the same issue.

Will be at the dealer tomorrow

I'm at 20,500 miles .

draxa

I'm collecting my car tomorrow. I'll take pictures of the cable and give a more detailed account vis-a-vis the Porsche 'replacement' part and what it's supposed to fix.

I haven't seen bills yet but was told it was a pretty cheap fix; cables cost $30 and the 'part' about $10.

I think the huge problem would be getting stranded in 1st or 6th or reverse! As it was, I was lucky and didn't have far to go.

This happened at 25,000miles.

surfingbuddhist

This happened to me around roughly the same milage as yours. I was stuck in first, but luckily very close to home. Was an easy fix but the dealer made me feel like it was my fault, said something like "it only takes two fingers to shift." WTH?

iLLM3

LOL just happened to me in my GT2 today, except I can use all 6 gears and reverse still, BUT the gear lever feels sloppy and limp in 1/3/5 not 2/4/6, very weird... This was a hard shift into 3rd?

ATL-Porsche

I hear the older it gets, the more likely your stick will go limp on you when you need it the most...

draxa

My car has been repaired and is back, running fine. In the words 9well, almost) of Neil Young; "This is a really long post, folks, and tonight we're gonna write it all out reaaaal slow..."

Attached is a photograph of the parts which have been removed. Essentially, these are the two cables which connect from the gearstick (the RHS on the picture) to the gearbox (the LHS). In all, this measures slightly more than 1 metre.

(A point to note here which I shall return to; believe me this is quite a complex part. Far more 'engineered' than a regular bicycle or motorcycle clutch or brake cable. There are various springs and clips and sleeves and rubber bushes in addition to the cables and their rose-jointed ends. Try and imagine, if you will, how much such a unit costs from Porsche.)

You can clearly see the (removed) cable which has failed, marked "A". Also attached to the LHS is the fixture which bolts on to the gearbox. This is marked "B".

I have attached the red cable to that unit as it would be in situ. The other cable is not attached or it would block the view.

The cables are about 1 metre long; however, at each end, the final 10cm is solid - ie; not pliant - as it needs to be in order to accept and transmit the initial and final gearstick 'force' to the selectors on the gearbox. So far so good.

What the photo does not illustrate, however, is that when the whole unit is installed, the red cable makes a bend where I've marked "C". This alone is no big deal as the cable is flexible and operates quite happily at a curve. However......

When the car is put into reverse, the red cables' final solid section is pushed into the sleeve to its maximum and it is there that the problem arises because the solid section tries to remain straight and all the moment across the curve "C" is borne by the solid/pliant cable join. Doubtless it is this repetitive strain which eventually brings about the failure.

Porsche obviously are aware of this as they immediately offered a 'modified' fixture to replace "B". This modification re-routes the red cable in such a way that the bend no longer occurs and the stress on the solid/pliant cable disappears. Quite simple, really.

Now I said I'd return to the matter of cost; well, the 'modified' fixture to replace "B" cost.....£5! That's just $8. And if you think that's a surprise, the cost of the ENTIRE dual cable arrangement - everything you see in the photo - was just £18!!!! That's less than $30.

The mechanic (not an official dealer but a Porsche specialist) was bowled over. He said he though they'd made a mistake. "Nothing from Porsche costs £18......." he said, picking up a small jubilee clip and then, "Even this cost £30".

Which leads me to one conclusion; Porsche are obviously aware of this small problem. I guess it happens seldom enough not to warrant a recall but they've obviously decided to eat the cost in the event of this happening and just make a nominal charge. Perhaps some of you guys here who work with these cars can enlighten us?

Finally, it may well be that this problem beset early 997 cars only (mine is an early '05). Nontheless, I would exhort all of you to at least call your dealer and check it out. It's an easy and cheap fix, far, far better than suddenly finding yourself stuck on a freeway in 1st or in a public car-park in reverse.

Olé