First to Second Shift
06-02-2010, 11:41 AM
#16
Rennlist Member
I've recently acquired a 2006 997 C2 Coupe, 6 speed manual with approx. 17,800 miles on it. It's certified pre owned and while I've had it for 2 weeks now, I've been out of town and only had the chance to really drive it this past long weekend and 2 other days over the past 2 weeks.
plus, downshift at 4K rpm at least, going to second gear when 1st is at 3K rpm is pretty early.
06-02-2010, 12:13 PM
#17
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I've been driving standards since 1970 and always pause in neutral just for a beat when going from low to second. I haven't found a car yet that can go straight through without feeling some resistance. On BMWs I've had, and the Porsche, it's more pronounced, maybe because the synchros are beefier (just a guess). And it's worse the colder the transmission fluid is. When I lived up north and in the winter when it was below 20F none of my BMWs wanted to go into second without stopping for a second or two in neutral, and the shifter felt like rowing an oar through molasses.
06-02-2010, 04:02 PM
#18
Racer
Thread Starter
this is a totally basic explanation and you obviously have more driving exp than I if you had a 996 prior to the 997. i have only been driving my 06 4S 997 for 3 years and a stick for that matter. on balance i noticed problems when i shift from 1st to 2nd. 2nd was and still now is extremely stiff to get the shifter into. (this is the first car i have ever owned in which i had to shift, so i did not know if historically if its common for 1st to 2nd to be difficult). in fact after a year of driving, i snapped the shifting cable (likely user error) and the car had to be towed to the dealership i was lucky i was on a side street and not somewhere that was busy. this happened when i was going from 1st to 2nd. they gave me a 987 as a loaner and that shifted like knife thru butter (i dont know if the 2 cars have different shifting set ups as i know they may share parts). to get back to your question: to this day i still feel a "catching" - not smooth feeling when going from 1st to 2nd. my solution was to move my seat up and make certain i smash that clutch down to the floor so its completely down. but overall i would say from 1st to 2nd it does catch and its not the easiest thing to do. the shifting does sometimes get smoother from 1st to 2nd, but it was nothing like the 987 shifting. as i said i really havent shifted a lot of other cars so i dont know if its common for 1st to 2nd to be difficult. not to highjack this thread, but i find it nearly impossible to go into 1st gear at 4, 5, 6mph for instance in the 997, where i would think 2nd is too high of a gear for that speed. anyone have difficulty going into 1st at that speed? i would think 3 years 911 w 25k miles i wouldnt have difficulty shifting, but sometimes i do - maybe user error, but i was able to easily shift the 987 loaner, shifted like a dream, my 997 does not. did your 996 shift smoothly?
06-02-2010, 04:15 PM
#19
Racer
Thread Starter
Update: Took the lead tech for a spin and he was able to replicate the issue. Yes, it does only occur when short shifting. It's not a crunch, but more of a rumble and can be avoided with a pause in N or slow shifting. They want me to bring the car back for a tweak of the shift linkage, but said it might be the second gear syncro and a remanufactured transmission may be in my future. I'm digging the CPO warranty.
06-02-2010, 04:25 PM
#20
Nordschleife Master
Update: Took the lead tech for a spin and he was able to replicate the issue. Yes, it does only occur when short shifting. It's not a crunch, but more of a rumble and can be avoided with a pause in N or slow shifting. They want me to bring the car back for a tweak of the shift linkage, but said it might be the second gear syncro and a remanufactured transmission may be in my future. I'm digging the CPO warranty.
If you do not pause in N, a new tranny may be in your future, but the cause of the problem will still be there, and more trannies still.
06-02-2010, 05:12 PM
#21
Drifting
1st gear is there for one purpose only, to get the car rolling from standstill and get you to 2nd. Driving is done in 2nd through top gear. So the transition to 2nd from 1st isn't as important as making sure the 2nd through 6th are properly aligned and smooth.
With the heavy clutch on these cars, that are there to handle the power put down by the engine, gently getting into first from a stand-still without almost stalling still gets dicey on occasion... and the shift to 2nd isn't as smooth as I'd want for slow driving. But thats not the thing the car is designed for.. for smooth town driving at low speeds. So I deal with it.
06-02-2010, 06:01 PM
#22
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I guess Wills is talking a slight catch, or clip, or grind or scrape which is easily imagined as a couple of gear teeth chipping away at each other? I get that too; it's very slight, like a lump in oatmeal. Barely perceptible but there nevertheless. I avoid second gear when the car is cold. I just take it easy until everything warms up. First to second gets much better the hotter things get.
06-02-2010, 08:52 PM
#23
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after reading a lot of the responses i see others are experiencing problems with cold weather. i too have had problems shifting in winter, specifically in the midwest. i know Stuttgart as well as Germany is a cold weather climate. why then is porsche still having shifting problems in cold weather? they've made this car for close to 50 years. how does porsche they still get away with this?? you would think the car would shift fine in as cold or even colder than Germany since the carrera is driven all over the world. its almost like a german 911 owner says "hey mate its too cold to drive the carrera today... instead lets walk to the local pub!" this should be a non-issue but overwhelmingly it seems people are having problems with cold weather and shifting. i dont get it, where am i wrong?
06-02-2010, 08:55 PM
#24
Nordschleife Master
after reading a lot of the responses i see others are experiencing problems with cold weather. i too have had problems shifting in winter, specifically in the midwest. i know Stuttgart as well as Germany is a cold weather climate. why then is porsche still having shifting problems in cold weather? they've made this car for close to 50 years. how does porsche they still get away with this?? you would think the car would shift fine in as cold or even colder than Germany since the carrera is driven all over the world. its almost like a german 911 owner says "hey mate its too cold to drive the carrera today... instead lets walk to the local pub!" this should be a non-issue but overwhelmingly it seems people are having problems with cold weather and shifting. i dont get it, where am i wrong?
06-02-2010, 09:19 PM
#25
Pro
after reading a lot of the responses i see others are experiencing problems with cold weather. i too have had problems shifting in winter, specifically in the midwest. i know Stuttgart as well as Germany is a cold weather climate. why then is porsche still having shifting problems in cold weather? they've made this car for close to 50 years. how does porsche they still get away with this?? you would think the car would shift fine in as cold or even colder than Germany since the carrera is driven all over the world. its almost like a german 911 owner says "hey mate its too cold to drive the carrera today... instead lets walk to the local pub!" this should be a non-issue but overwhelmingly it seems people are having problems with cold weather and shifting. i dont get it, where am i wrong?
06-02-2010, 09:23 PM
#26
1st to 2nd gear has the widest spread of the gears ratios and the largest change in engine rpm. Takes a fraction longer for this to happen and syncros have to work a little harder. Up in the higher gears you hardly need the clutch as engine rpms are closer. On a slow 1-2 shift this is noticeable as the gears engage. For me, the faster I shift the less I notice. Suggestion: go faster 
06-03-2010, 05:30 PM
#27
Drifting
To have it work silky smooth in cold weather shifting from 1st to 2nd, one would compromise on the hot-engine-upper-gear end, or have to make the tranny way more complex and heavy.
06-03-2010, 09:50 PM
#28
To have it work silky smooth in cold weather shifting from 1st to 2nd, one would compromise on the
hot-engine-upper-gear end, or have to make the tranny way more complex and heavy.
hot-engine-upper-gear end, or have to make the tranny way more complex and heavy.
06-04-2010, 03:30 PM
#29
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after reading a lot of the responses i see others are experiencing problems with cold weather. i too have had problems shifting in winter, specifically in the midwest. i know Stuttgart as well as Germany is a cold weather climate. why then is porsche still having shifting problems in cold weather? they've made this car for close to 50 years. how does porsche they still get away with this?? you would think the car would shift fine in as cold or even colder than Germany since the carrera is driven all over the world. its almost like a german 911 owner says "hey mate its too cold to drive the carrera today... instead lets walk to the local pub!" this should be a non-issue but overwhelmingly it seems people are having problems with cold weather and shifting. i dont get it, where am i wrong?
If you can a new transmission, it might help or be just the same... worth a shot. but time will tell with mine. its not smooth, but acceptable.
A poster earlier in the thread said that its to be expected since its a high speed racecar. I disagree, 2010 bmw m3 is smooth and its a 400 HP beast. Same goes for an M5 stick I drove once. 500 horses and smooth clutch and engagement.
Porsche is stuck with a their japanese transmissions in a german car? What gives?
06-04-2010, 03:36 PM
#30
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yea, if you do run out and get a 987, might as well get automatic....