shifting

[jstarr]

Sometimes i get a grind when i shift from first to second it just doesnt go in smooth all the others gears are fine.I know its not me all the time. i have 106,000 miles on my 986 its a great car but is the clutch starting to go.What do you guys think.

[pk2]

2nd gear is always the first to go. Weird though your getting a grind first on an upshift not on a downshift.

Regards, PK

[White987S]

What do you guys think.

A 106,000 miles on the original clutch? If so, I think you did great! Go buy a new one, celebrate, you deserve it. :)

[1schoir]

2nd gear is always the first to go. Weird though your getting a grind first on an upshift not on a downshift.

Regards, PK

PK:

Could you explain the deterioration of smooth engagement of the gears on a downshift before it manifests itself on an upshift?

A friend is experiencing trouble downshifting into second from either third, fourth or fifth and doesn't (yet?) have the same difficulty on the upshift from first to second.

Regards, Maurice.

[Ross1]

Sometimes i get a grind when i shift from first to second it just doesnt go in smooth all the others gears are fine.I know its not me all the time. i have 106,000 miles on my 986 its a great car but is the clutch starting to go.What do you guys think.

This topic has been discussed quite a bit in the forums. Do a search. Some solutions have been, changing the tranny fluid, replacing the front motor mount, or replacing the synchros in the tranny. It's not your clutch!

[boxsterdriver]

Sometimes i get a grind when i shift from first to second it just doesnt go in smooth all the others gears are fine.I know its not me all the time. i have 106,000 miles on my 986 its a great car but is the clutch starting to go.What do you guys think.

Most likely the problem is in the second gear synchro ring (a Porshce invention), particularly if it grinds most when the engine is cold. If it never grinds when shifting into first while not moving, then it is probably not the clutch, or hydraulic clutch linkage. If its the synchro, your transmission needs rebuilding or replacing, a costly proposition. You can avoid the grind by learning to match gear speeds and a of double clutching. When you shift to second leave the trans in neutral, let the engine speed drop 30 to 50 % of the speed when you first depressed the clutch, then depress the clutch again and shift to second.

If it continues to grind a lot, you could eventual lose one or more gears, entirely.

,Good luck

BoxsterDriver

[usaf-lt-g]

Just an FYI. I had the same issue when I first got the car. The issue was a combination of a synchro and a bent fork. I contacted vertexauto out of Florida (i'm in Illinois mind you), and I removed the trans myself and drained it. I put it on a palatte, and Vertex shipped it freight free of charge to their shop. $1000 later and I literally, all new parts installed in my trans, and a new clutch, and a seal. That was probably the best money I ever spent. Drives and shifts like it's brand new. Never had an issue since.

[soopster]

Is the grinding coming from the transmission (behind you) or from the base of the shifter? Does it always grind or just sometimes.

An earlier post suggested looking at the engine mount. If it's heavily worn or blown out, it can cause the engine to sometimes shift slightly and make it so that shifting is not smooth.

On mine, I suspect my engine mount needs replacing. Shifting is occaisionally smooth as silk but most often notchy, especially upshift between 1st and 2nd. I get a slight grinding feeling/sound when I try to shift fast between first and second but it comes from the base of the shifter not from the transmission. That will be my September expense on the car (my wife is still recovering from new tires in the spring).

Just another possibility to look at (and less scary).