Transmission Shifting Issue

[insite]

last time out at the track, the 3rd to 2nd downshift got very difficult. occasionally, 2nd would feel like it was locked out. i called it a day & figured the plastic cable ends were bad or the linkage at the transmission came out of the clamps.

replaced the entire shifter w/ 997 assembly, including new cable ends. the transmission side of the linkage is fine & properly lined up. shifter itself was aligned using the porsche alignment tool.

still feels weird. when a shifter in a car centers itself, it tends to do so in the 3rd-4th gear channel. pushing the shifter foward or backward will snatch 3rd or 4th with NO lateral movement required. in my case, it's closer to the 5th-Reverse channel (5 spd).

i removed the shift linkage at the transmission and manually actuated the shift rod. sure enough, when i rotate it CCW toward the 1st-2nd channel, it twists FAR. when i rotate it CW toward the 5th-R channel, it just twists a tiny bit. the shift rod itself is not returning to its centered position; it's clocked CW a few degrees.

i know jack about the detailed workings of the transmission innards. my mind is thinking a spring w/ detent or something to that extent. anyone have any bright ideas? no other symptoms whatsoever. if i recalibrate my brain to the modified H pattern, the car is 100% normal. thx in advance.

kev

[Ahsai]

Sounds like your shifter/cable side is not aligned correctly. You put the gearbox in neutral, then connect the cables on the gearbox end first, then use the centering tool to lock the shifter, then connect the cables on the shifter end, right?

[insite]

that's all been done. as i stated, the issue is independent of the cables. it exists when MANUALLY actuating the shift rod (cables removed from transmission).

[insite]

i MAY have found the issue; need to check when i get home. anyone have spare trans parts? looking for the stop bolts (#4 & #8 below)

[insite]

they are accessible OUTSIDE the trans case; they are large torx fastners that go through the case. one is just aft of the slave cyl. the other is on the opposite side of the trans just below the reverse lockout mechanism. thx!

[insite]

update - part #4 in the diagram above had backed itself out of the case half an inch. i snugged it up & the problem is solved.

[Andrew McD]

By any chance do you have any photos of where that is on the box?

[insite]

there are some posted here: http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/boxster-and-boxster-s-986-forum/645573-help-sudden-shifter-issue-03-base-5spd-w-b-and-m-ss-2.html#post8748573

on my car, the one in the top photo backed out. BTW, the photos show aftermarket bolts. the OEM are black torx bolts.

[Andrew McD]

Thanks. :-)