Manual Transmisson linkage issues?

[slaskowski]

I have a 1998 Carrera Manual Transmission Cabriolet with 22K miles that I have owned for the past year.   Been a fantastic car with no issues up until yesterday.  Just took it out for a two hour highway run on Sunday morning.   As I was reversing the car into my parking spot, I heard a metallic noise (not unusually loud, as the transmission does have a mechanical sound to it - in which I do love).   

 

From that moment on, it felt as if there was no connection to the transmission (cannot feel the H pattern).   The car is stuck in Neutral and I am not able to put it into or find any gears.   I turned it off and started it - but the same problem.   The transmission feels the same with the car off as it does when it is on.   The clutch feels the same as it always has.

 

Any ideas of what I am dealing with here?

 

 

[JFP in PA]

1 hour ago, slaskowski said:

I have a 1998 Carrera Manual Transmission Cabriolet with 22K miles that I have owned for the past year.   Been a fantastic car with no issues up until yesterday.  Just took it out for a two hour highway run on Sunday morning.   As I was reversing the car into my parking spot, I heard a metallic noise (not unusually loud, as the transmission does have a mechanical sound to it - in which I do love).   

 

From that moment on, it felt as if there was no connection to the transmission (cannot feel the H pattern).   The car is stuck in Neutral and I am not able to put it into or find any gears.   I turned it off and started it - but the same problem.   The transmission feels the same with the car off as it does when it is on.   The clutch feels the same as it always has.

 

Any ideas of what I am dealing with here?

 

 

 

Probably one of the cable connections at the transmission have popped off.  A common problem that in many cases can be rectified by popping it back on.

 

[slaskowski]

Hi JFP - Thanks for the reply, that makes sense based on how the transmission feels.   However, upon further investigation,  I thought that the 993s had shift rods, not cables?    It is a 1998 993 if that helps?

[JFP in PA]

7 hours ago, slaskowski said:

Hi JFP - Thanks for the reply, that makes sense based on how the transmission feels.   However, upon further investigation,  I thought that the 993s had shift rods, not cables?    It is a 1998 993 if that helps?

 

You are correct that the 993 has rods, but they still used the snap on ball joint ends, just like the cables on the 996/997 cars, which can pop off, and they added a rubber isolator that could also come loose:

 

[slaskowski]

Thanks JFP - A couple of quick additional questions:

 

1. Is there a way to look under the car to see if indeed this is the problem, or do I need to pull/drop something?
2. Is installing the new snap on ball joint a minor job or would you recommend taking to my local mechanic
3. Is this the part that I would most likely need?

   1. 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera Convertible - Shift Linkage - Page 2

      WWW.PELICANPARTS.COM

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      Shift Linkage - 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera Convertible

[JFP in PA]

10 hours ago, slaskowski said:

Thanks JFP - A couple of quick additional questions:

 

1. Is there a way to look under the car to see if indeed this is the problem, or do I need to pull/drop something?
2. Is installing the new snap on ball joint a minor job or would you recommend taking to my local mechanic
3. Is this the part that I would most likely need?

   1. 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera Convertible - Shift Linkage - Page 2

      WWW.PELICANPARTS.COM

      ---

      Shift Linkage - 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera Convertible

 

Most likely, most of the linkage will be under the bottom body panels, but you should still be able to see it.  Usually, the ball and socket do not need to be replaced unless they have become damaged.  The components simply snap together.

 

I wouldn't be buying anything until I knew what needed to be replaced, if anything.

[slaskowski]

Thanks for the heads up.,   I will let you know how it all turns out.

 

 

[slaskowski]

I decided to send the car to my mechanic to fix the ball & Socket issue as I live in a condo I don't have garage space to do the repairs.   

 

Thank goodness for AAA as is no cost to send the car to the mechanic via flatbed.

 

Does anyone want to hazard a guess what the mechanic bill will be?

[slaskowski]

Well they had to replace the shifter rod as one end had disintegrated (hence the disconnection of the linkage), the other end was in bad shape.  Total repair was $800.