Notices
997 Forum 2005-2012
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Suddenly can't shift, what happened??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-14-2012, 06:57 AM
  #1  
McCulla
Pro
Thread Starter
 
McCulla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Florida
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default 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!
Old 06-14-2012, 07:56 AM
  #2  
gota911
Newbies Hospitality Director
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
 
gota911's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Posts: 18,084
Likes: 0
Received 32 Likes on 32 Posts
Default

Either a broken cable or one of the cable ends came off the bottom of the shift lever.
Old 06-14-2012, 07:57 AM
  #3  
ecostellodo
Rennlist Member
 
ecostellodo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: edmond, oklahoma
Posts: 512
Received 25 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

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.
Old 06-14-2012, 10:18 AM
  #4  
Spiffyjiff
Rennlist Member
 
Spiffyjiff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

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.
Old 06-14-2012, 10:32 AM
  #5  
McCulla
Pro
Thread Starter
 
McCulla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Florida
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

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.
Old 06-14-2012, 05:51 PM
  #6  
Palmbeacher
Banned
 
Palmbeacher's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

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.
Old 06-14-2012, 05:58 PM
  #7  
nicoff
Racer
 
nicoff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Broken cable. Happened to me too. not a big deal but will cost you $$$
Old 06-14-2012, 06:09 PM
  #8  
McCulla
Pro
Thread Starter
 
McCulla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Florida
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

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?
Old 06-14-2012, 10:48 PM
  #9  
jgoga
Rennlist Member
 
jgoga's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 300
Received 35 Likes on 19 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by McCulla
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
Old 06-15-2012, 01:32 AM
  #10  
holden997
Advanced
 
holden997's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by jgoga
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
Old 06-15-2012, 07:33 AM
  #11  
McCulla
Pro
Thread Starter
 
McCulla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Florida
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

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.
Old 06-15-2012, 12:18 PM
  #12  
Spiffyjiff
Rennlist Member
 
Spiffyjiff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by holden997
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
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.
Old 06-28-2012, 03:57 PM
  #13  
6speedken
Intermediate
 
6speedken's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Oakville ontario
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

it happen to me yesterday too , I was on 1st gear and KAPUT . CPO should cover that ? or am I wrong ?
Old 08-07-2012, 08:42 PM
  #14  
duke92
Advanced
 
duke92's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Just happened to me... Stuck in 1st. Hey 6spedken, did CPO cover it?
Old 08-07-2012, 09:40 PM
  #15  
Macster
Race Director
 
Macster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Centerton, AR
Posts: 19,034
Likes: 0
Received 249 Likes on 220 Posts
Default

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.


Quick Reply: Suddenly can't shift, what happened??



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 06:57 PM.