"Almost stranded" snapped trans shifter cable
10-04-2015, 12:27 AM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
"Almost stranded" snapped trans shifter cable
Well she tried today, after three years on my watch. Took her out for a spin, such a perfect day, no real reason other than to just drive. I end up at some high end mall I never go to, but figure I need a wok (I like to cook). Mall was packed, took me a while to find a spot, and while sitting idling had a group of guys in their late teens walk by and got a load of stares and a "awesome car" from one. The 928 seems to get a lot of attention, especially from these young guys around here.
I finally pull into a spot, and shut it off, but notice some weirdness while doing so, a bit of lurching. Whatever, I need a wok. I go in and seal the deal, and hop back in and turn the key. Nothing. I immediately remember the weirdness and move the gear selector. It moves without any sort of resistance. I look underneath, and see some cable dangling. Damn! Stand back up, and fend off cars trying to take my space. Think about a tow for two seconds. No way, I have tow service and only 20 miles away but I just don't do that, there has to be a way. I reach underneath and grab the loose end, and move the selector to what I think is Park. Turn the key, BINGO. Starts. So now what? I need another set of hands. No way I am getting a tow.
I call my brother, he lives right close, and he is there in 10 minutes. I explain what I need him to do and he just rolls his eyes. Nothing new... so I have him start it up, I crawl quickly under and click it once into reverse, he pulls it out, I click it twice into drive, he sets the e brake and I hop in and go!
All the while people are commenting on the car, "nice Porsche, beautiful, hey, what year? I am embarrassed but it seems the spectacle of my antics are the most interesting thing happening for the mall rats. I like that this car has not been a terminal affair- every problem has a fix within my means. One of my Mom's favorite memories is seeing me in the parking lot of a Safeway circa 1983 with my legs sticking out from under my Roadrunner. I was dropping the oil pan and replacing a broken oil pump drive shaft.
Not much has changed, I guess.
I finally pull into a spot, and shut it off, but notice some weirdness while doing so, a bit of lurching. Whatever, I need a wok. I go in and seal the deal, and hop back in and turn the key. Nothing. I immediately remember the weirdness and move the gear selector. It moves without any sort of resistance. I look underneath, and see some cable dangling. Damn! Stand back up, and fend off cars trying to take my space. Think about a tow for two seconds. No way, I have tow service and only 20 miles away but I just don't do that, there has to be a way. I reach underneath and grab the loose end, and move the selector to what I think is Park. Turn the key, BINGO. Starts. So now what? I need another set of hands. No way I am getting a tow.
I call my brother, he lives right close, and he is there in 10 minutes. I explain what I need him to do and he just rolls his eyes. Nothing new... so I have him start it up, I crawl quickly under and click it once into reverse, he pulls it out, I click it twice into drive, he sets the e brake and I hop in and go!
All the while people are commenting on the car, "nice Porsche, beautiful, hey, what year? I am embarrassed but it seems the spectacle of my antics are the most interesting thing happening for the mall rats. I like that this car has not been a terminal affair- every problem has a fix within my means. One of my Mom's favorite memories is seeing me in the parking lot of a Safeway circa 1983 with my legs sticking out from under my Roadrunner. I was dropping the oil pan and replacing a broken oil pump drive shaft.
Not much has changed, I guess.
10-04-2015, 01:07 AM
#2
Ha. Been there, done that. Exit off I5 in Seattle..right at the end of the off ramp...shifter just plopped down no lower gears, so I just do the next thing and put it into park.... of course now I'm stuck idling at the end of the off ramp.
After what seems like an eternity, I get the AAA tow to shop in town, I've figured out the problem by then and the shop was cool enough to put it in gear for me and I drive the 30 miles home.
Replaced the cable myself and was good to go... seems the inner part of the cable works the down shift..and the housing of the cable does the upshift...
After what seems like an eternity, I get the AAA tow to shop in town, I've figured out the problem by then and the shop was cool enough to put it in gear for me and I drive the 30 miles home.
Replaced the cable myself and was good to go... seems the inner part of the cable works the down shift..and the housing of the cable does the upshift...