wildbilly32

2005 996 C4S manual with 54k miles. Yesterday after running errands with no problems I had the following issue while parking in the garage: After waiting in turn lane for traffic for a minute or so in neutral, put in 1st gear(normally), turned into circle into driveway everything normal. To get into garage I have to do a "Y" maneuver which is where problems start. Stop, pull out of 1st gear and try to put into reverse. Operative term..."TRY". It was every difficult. Did the double clutch routine...neutral-clutch out-clutch in-try reverse had to do this a couple of times to get reverse. Backed up and had to do the same thing for 1st gear. Got it in garage. Tried shifting to all positions with engine running 1-2&R very difficult to impossible. No gear grinding but felt like clutch was not fully disengaging. 3 thru 6 smooth as butter. Shut engine off and all gear positions work normally. Did notice a squeaking noise in transmission area when operating clutch pedal, both in and out, that I've never noticed before, however, hard to hear now with engine running so not sure this new. Tried again this morning same deal as above. No liquids on garage floor. Brake/clutch oil reservoir full.
First thought was shift cable popped out of holder on trans, but wouldn't it shift hard whether engine running or not? Didn't hit anything nor drop into any giant potholes near end of trip. Have not crawled underneath, yet.
Suggestions?

Edit: As far as I know everything is stock and original.

cds72911

Sounds clutch system related. I'd poke around in the system: slave cylinder, master cylinder, clutch pedal, make sure there are no leaks.

dporto

^^Good Place to start^^. If nothing obvious (like low fluid in brake reservoir - it's shared with the clutch) check the shift cables (both ends - but it makes sense to check tranny end first). Good luck

wildbilly32

Yeah thats my thoughts. My wondering out loud is why would it shift perfectly with engine off if it was a cable issue? Fluid is clean and right on full line. I will check for leaks at pedal and in frunk, however, skeptical that there will be a problem. I'm thinking clutch cylinder. Somebody help me with this: would a non-fully releasing clutch show up in the lower ratio gears including reverse more than the top end gears. I seem to remember a former VW Beetle acting like that when clutch started heading south.

5CHN3LL

The only indication I had that my clutch was on the way out was slipping in higher gears at freeway speeds.

Since the shift cables are so easy to check, start there.

wildbilly32

***FULL DISCLOSURE*** I have not ingested any legal or illegal mind altering drugs since 1970. Further I have not consumed any alcoholic beverages for over 9 years(long story). This afternoon I went to garage to start the troubleshooting process. While checking the clutch pedal I note the squeak referenced above was no longer present. HHHMMM...Went on the check associated stuff in the frunk. No defects found. Went back to exercise the pedal...still no squeaks! Tried gears engine off, clutch in and out all gears smooth! Start engine ALL GEARS SMOOTH LIKE BUTTER!!! Can't be a heat issue as I checked it this morning after sitting overnight.

Perhaps a flashback or I am losing my mind!!

I plan on checking the shift cables on the transmission, but is my car possessed or is it just me!!??

5CHN3LL

Congratulations! You're the lucky owner of an intermittent issue! Not only are these issues loads more fun to track down, they're guaranteed to cost at least 3x more than "traditional" issues.

Enjoy!

dporto

It's called Porsche-phobia(s), and it comes from reading the Rennlist forums. The 996 forum being the worst contributor. The symptoms go something like this;
"Oooo I can't wait to drive my P-car today... Get in turn key...car starts up...Oh no what's that noise? Is this going to be the day my engine blows up? Hmmm, sounds ok...(start to drive...) Oh no, what's that whining sound? Is it my pinion gear? Oh geezzz, I better pull the tranny out, and I'll have to get a 50 ton press, or maybe I can borrow or rent one...Oh no what's that smell...is it coolant? I better check the oil for intermix..." and on and on and on ad nauseum... It's comical I tell ya! Until it happens to you...

5CHN3LL

^ Exactly. Everyone here loves to laugh at the guy who flatbeds his car to the shop for some stupid thing...until you're the one watching them winch the car up onto the flatbed...

wildbilly32

Guys: Thanks for the explanations. I guess having "996 forum" irrational phobia is better than flashbacks and pure insanity! I've had the car since summer 2014 and shortly after I found this forum. I learned many things that kept me up at night. Only recently have I conquered my irrational fears about failures...and now this! Just kidding... kind of...

5CHN3LL: On intermittent issues; I was a RR locomotive electrician prior to being lured into management and agree those are the worst problems. So many "no defects found" reports entered into repair tracking system it was a joke. One old Southern guy had a saying "It was running when it came...right?"

I still love my car. Heck I put up with 1960's vintage English sports cars. 996 can't hold a candle to those sleds for quirky defects!

dporto

"Heck I put up with 1960's vintage English sports cars. 996 can't hold a candle to those sleds for quirky defects!"

My dad had a Trumph Spitfire (I think a MK III) from around 1970-'72...That car spent way more time in the shop (Dad wasn't a DIY guy) than on the road LOL

wildbilly32

1964 Triumph TR4 and a 1965 Sunbeam Tiger consumed a lot of my young car owner time. No internet back then to find info and parts. Lucky the Tiger came with the factory repair manual! Wished I still had that car based on market prices today.

Is your beauty running well now since the cam plug problem?

dporto

Yeah, I used to love riding in that car - it felt like you were sitting on the road! Unfortunately there wasn't much ride time
Yes, my car is back running great and it's more beautiful than ever since I had a bunch of little hail dings removed (PDR) !!! It wasn't cheap but it looks so much better. There was one on the top of the drivers side rear fender that I saw every time I looked in the side view mirror... There were close to 20 overall - and I knew where they all were - so they just kind of jumped out at me every time I washed the car or looked at it for any length of time. I would try to ignore them, but they were always there!!

wildbilly32

Semi update: Still haven't crawled under car, yet. Retirement is just so busy! Today after everything felt normal yesterday(with hand brake set). Went back out today doubting that it had really fixed itself. Started engine, let run until dropped out of high idle and SAP shut off and tried the gears seemed ok but the more I worked the gears the draggier they got. My garage floor is flat/ car will sit and idle out of gear with no hand brake applied forever without thinking of rolling. So today I released the hand brake put it in first and car moved slowly forward approx. 1 foot. Put in reverse car moved slowly backwards approx 1 foot. Back to first again approx one foot. 2nd no noticeable movement. 3-6 absolutely no movement period. I can get into the 1-2&R gears without too much effort. When trying the above test I did not notice any rpm drop. The movement is a slooow drift not like barely letting the clutch out when trying to creep forward. Normal or possessed?? Seems like clutch is not fully retracting??

Porschetech3

Sounds like you got a dragging clutch. Probably due to either a warped plate or a cracked diaphragm spring.