Bad connection on the Tiptronic shifter (located between the seats)

[steveltx]

Hi,

My car is a 1999 Boxster with Tiptronic transmission. Sometimes, when I moved the shifter to "D" position (i.e. automatic), the tiptronic shift indicator on the instrumental panel started blinking and I got the shifting problem. The shift indicator shoud be a solid green not blinking.

If I pushed very hard on the shifter, then the blinking disappeard and the shift indicator returned to normal which is a solid green. Then there is no shifting problem.

I think the tiptronic shifter has bad contact somewhere.

Do I need to replace the whole tiptronic shifter? What should I do to fix the problem?

I appreciate your help. Thanks.

Steve

[ronbonner]

Hi Steve,

I had a 98 Tip Boxster a few years ago and you have reminded me of an issue I had which sounds very similar. In my case, occasionally from a stand still I would select drive and nothing would happen. I lost drive. I had to rock the car slightly and don't aske me how I found that rocking the car would cure the problem but it did. I told the OPC when the car went in for a service and they diagnosed a dirty component which if replaced was in-expensive. They cleaned the part and I never had a moments trouble thereafter. Because of the fullness of time I simply can't rember exactly what the part did or what it looked like but I seem to recall the OPC mentioning a small disc. (could be way off here) I suppose what I am trying to do is tell you that it may not be an expesive reason for this trouble.

RB

Hi,

My car is a 1999 Boxster with Tiptronic transmission. Sometimes, when I moved the shifter to "D" position (i.e. automatic), the tiptronic shift indicator on the instrumental panel started blinking and I got the shifting problem. The shift indicator shoud be a solid green not blinking.

If I pushed very hard on the shifter, then the blinking disappeard and the shift indicator returned to normal which is a solid green. Then there is no shifting problem.

I think the tiptronic shifter has bad contact somewhere.

Do I need to replace the whole tiptronic shifter? What should I do to fix the problem?

I appreciate your help. Thanks.

Steve

[joshm]

Hi, this appears to be quite a common problem with tiptronic Boxsters - I have had similar issues. When placed in park, sometimes the inidicator lamp would flash on R instead of going to P. A shove on the gear selector lever would sort it out, but it was slightly irritating.

I took my car to an independent specialist and asked him to clean up the multifunction switch and the cables around the selector. Afterwards (for a good few months) it worked faultlessly. It's now starting to reappear although not nearly as badly.

I'm also pretty sure this is a grime problem rather than a mechanical or electronic failure, so tread carefully if your dealer recommends a completely new (and expensive!) multifunction switch. It's a last resort in my opinion.

I'm not 100% sure whether the problem lies at the front of the car (perhaps some sensors or switches around the selector lever in the centre console) or the switch and cables at the back that interface to the tip box. I originally suspected the latter but when I looked under the car the other week it all seemed quite clear and clean. I'm going to give it another going over soon to see if I can improve matters.

If anyone else has any advice it's be gratefully received!

Edited January 16, 2007 by joshm

[Jinster]

The function of the tiptronic transmission is selected by a multi-positional plate-like switch at the bottom of the car on the transmission. The position of this switch, in turn, is selected by pulling or pushing the cable that connects it and the lever selector in the cabin. I doubt there are any electronics around the shifter lever that comes into this.

The length of this cable is adjustable by twisting a horizontal screw type of connection. It's possible that over time, the length of the cable has changed due to various reasons so that when you select your gear position via the shifter, the cable doesn't pull the multi-positional switch on the transmission just the right amount to get it to select the next function within the transmission. That final shove you give your shifter when things sit in between or in the wrong mode would then bump the switch into the correct position.

So it's possible that you would need that cable length adjusted.

Edited January 23, 2007 by Jinster