Decided to start a new thread as this is an often discussed topic.
So my shifter cable broke on Friday so I towed my car into my dealer. I already have the ssk on my car and shifting has always been notchy. Hard to get into first when it's cold etc.
just got back from the dealer and I will tell you that unless they are magic it is a completely different shifting feeling. Slides right in first like nothing. 2nd and 3rd are perfect. Not sure if its perfect adjustment on their part or what but the concept of "they are all that way", "it's better when it's cold" is just not factual. It's 20 degrees outside. There was frost on my windshield. Car was totally cold from sitting outside all day.
It really feels like a different car altogether as it pertains to shifting.
Maybe we have to figure out the adjustment or maybe the dealer should adjust it but it's altogether a different experience
Caesar

 

Thanks for sharing this encouraging story. I'm still in the "it goes away after it's warm" category. Mine isn't too bad, so I figure I'll address it if/when my shifter cable retires. Btw, how many miles did you have when your cable broke?

 

Just 34k. $991 all in. Could have probably done it myself Saturday but it was 17 degrees outside. Cannot believe the difference

 

Interesting. I am so used to the intermittent trouble going into first that I barely notice it. More troubling to me is that mine is very notchy going into second when cold.

 

New cables, perfectly adjusted. Not a big surprise. Porsche isn't known for Honda levels of shift goodness, but they weren't total crap when new either. Serious shifting issues are just that, an issue.

 

The reason I didn't go with Porsche Cup or Cup style cables on my recent repair was due to 'increased shifting resistance.' Stock shifter is good, not the best I've tried, but there's no mistaken that it requires a bit of effort to work.

I've noticed that my stock shifter is less 'notchy' after having my cables replaced but the effort is still there when cold.

 

There is clearly adjustability built into the cables themselves. As they stretch over thousands of miles we should figure out how to adjust that difficulty out of them. My feeling is that if every 10-15k miles we adjusted them they would maybe not be as notchy. It's like a bicycle or motorcycle chain. Stretches over time requiring adjustment.

 

There is no adjustment that would change the shift performance. Just none.

Read more here:
https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...-of-5-a-3.html

As I noted in the my post above, the shifter is a floppy lever with no guides, springs etc. The notches, spring to neutral, clicks etc are all in the transmission. You can adjust the length of the cable where is attaches to the shifter, but that does nothing. It merely changes the angle of the shifter but has nothing to do with how it shifts. The lever both pushes and pulls the two cables... there is no tension on the cables as all. Even when in gear, the cables and the shifter have no tension in them as the position is held in the transmission.

I didn't believe this until I took it all apart and saw for myself.

My shift performance improved, particularly the jamming when I go into first, when I installed the Numeric shifter, but I think the reason for this is that it altered my shift behavior. Make sharp, defined moves either forward/backward or left/right and your performance should improve as those moves will move only a single cable. Move at an angle or and arch, and both cables will be moving.

I believe you when you say the shifts are better..... maybe they adjusted something at the transmission side, but it didn't come from "adjusting the cables".

Peace
Bruce in Philly

 

Bruce, the cable ends are threaded and adjustable at the shifter. If you get them too far out of whack it can keep you from engaging gears. Last time I installed a shifter I played with them a little bit. I believe the connection at the transmission are just a ball cup that snaps on.

 

The connection at the trans is basically a ball and cap.
Bruce,
I get what you are saying about adjustability but it is like night and day with new unstretched cables. I love the look of the numeric and may have to move on that this spring I just hate to have to cover it up. I wish someone would make a cover that allows the cables and the forward part near the console to be covered but the major part of the shifter mechanism to remain uncovered. I would also love a stainless shifter gate but no one makes that.