Suddenly can't shift, what happened??
 

I was coasting to a stop this morning, depressed the clutch pedal, and tried to shift out of 5th gear. The shifter is "loosely stuck" over to the right side of it's travel and won't shift . It just flops around like the cable broke, but interestingly I can't pull it over to the left...Any ideas before I have it towed? By the way, the clutch is operational, I just can't get out of 5th gear. Thanks!

Either a broken cable or one of the cable ends came off the bottom of the shift lever.

Sounds like you have diagnosed the problem.

A broken shift cable. I was in 3rd gear when mine broke. Mine wouldn't shift out of gear either.

yep, you broke the "front and back" cable (i.e. the one that attaches to the tranny lever which moves forward and aft and actually puts it in a gear. as opposed to the one that attaches to the tranny lever that moves side to side when moving thru all gears, etc). you cant get it out of 5th because, if you think about a fulcrum, when pulling back on the lever, the cable will be moving forward toward driver, pulling that tranny lever, but since it's broken...well, there ya go.

not to bad of a DIY with $250 cable set from porsche + alignment tool from suncoast. i did it in about 2hrs. FYI if you go to an indy, they prob charge you an add'l 300-500 in labor.

Thanks for the quick replies everyone!! It is being flat bedded around noon. The sad part of the story (so far, crossed fingers) is that my trusted tech has retired from the shop I go to.

Same thing happened to me, except I was in low. Flat bedded to dealer, they fixed the broken cable. $500 job, my extended warranty paid for all but $50.

Broken cable. Happened to me too. not a big deal but will cost you $$$

Just got a call from the shop, telling me they have to go into the center console, inside the car... before they know exactly what's up. More news tomorrow. Is the console the access point for the cable?

Yes sir.

John

It is a lot easier from the transmission side. Most broken cables occur at this end. Only takes a few minutes to spot the broken cable once it is on a lift.

Holden

Thanks! As I mentioned, the main Porsche tech at my shop has retired, so I'm happy to have any info I can get to sort of follow the process armed with some
information.

not only that, but it could be (altho rarer and unfortunately not in keeping with "murphy's law") that one of the cable ends came off the tranny lever. it's only held on there by a plastic ball/cup type connection that is attached to the cable itself. so of COURSE theyre going to go into the console first which requires more time = more $, rather than simply removing one of the under panels first just to make sure it's broken. typical.

it happen to me yesterday too , I was on 1st gear and KAPUT . CPO should cover that ? or am I wrong ?

Just happened to me... Stuck in 1st. Hey 6spedken, did CPO cover it?

The ball/cup connector/fastener on the shifter failed in my 03 Turbo and the shifter had to be replaced.

The car's CPO warrant covered the tow and the repair.

Sincerely,

Macster.