Q: Clutch & 1st Gear Issues

This is a question directed to all of the folks who have experienced clutch problems. As you may or may not know, two weeks ago my clutch failed on the first day of my tourist delivery. My pedal went down and didn't come back up. I was towed back to Zuffenhausen where the next day they replaced my slave cylinder and sent me on my way. The stuck pedal hasn't repeated itself, and for the remainder of my two weeks the car definitely shifted much better than it did when I first picked it up. However, it's still very difficult to get the car into 1st gear if the car is rolling more than say 5 mph. It goes in OK when stopped, and I have no problem with Reverse. But if I'm rolling, it doesn't want to go and it requires more force than I am comfortable applying. (I do have the sport shifter, which does increase effort a bit, but it's still really heavy.) I've read stories about a lot of folks here having a problem getting into 1st that ended up being an indicator of a loosening pressure plate, so I am worried that my clutch problems are not over. But at the same time, knowing what I know about cars, this could also be caused by a slight amount of air in the hydraulic line, which is highly probable after a slave cylinder replacement and can be easily corrected with a good bleeding. OK, so my question is for you guys who had a hard time shifting into 1st gear. Can you describe exactly what happened to your car? Was it hard to put into 1st when you were stopped? How did Porsche correct your problem? Should I expect to be able to shift into 1st at 20 mph like every other manual shift car I've ever owned? The dual mass flywheel and triple syncro 1st say I should.

Gator Bite, When I picked my new CS up 17 months ago, I noticed that it was very resistant to going into first gear. However, with use, It became much easier, and now after 13,000 miles of driving, it easily downshifts into first at 20 mph. Perhaps it needed a little breaking in. I don't know if you are experiencing the same issue, but it's something to consider. Tony

You just made my day. I hope this is just a break in issue. Thanks....!

Gator, I too have the exact same thing going on with my MT; very difficult to get it into first gear if I am traveling over 5mph. With 3000 miles on the clock, I am still having difficulty and I have never had any pressure plate or slave cylinder problems. Hopefully after a little breaking in, as LA Boy suggests, will fix the issue, but I was wondering if I had a problem.

Gator, every Porsche I ever owned was not easy to get into first gear when rolling at anything above 5mph...it always seemed easier to do it once the shifter was moved into second before moving it into first...only while rolling, understand, once stopped there never was a problem...this was experienced over ten Porsches since 1974, with different gear boxes...might be a synchro thing...it has made me develop the technique of not bothering to shift into first if I'm coming to a stop, just move the lever into neutral and brake...I've noticed that second gear on any of my Porsches was always good to use way down in the speed range, without lugging the engine...someone once told me that Porsche gearboxes were set up so that first was only used to get you rolling from a dead stop; like exiting the pits...

Gator Bite - first, thanks for sharing your trip. While you had a couple of issues, it surely had to be the best vacation ever and I think I can say, we're all envious!!!!!!!!! The 1st gear engagement was quite pronounced in my car when new, compounded by the fact that it was November when I got it. Not like GA is MN, but it can be cold here too which affects all things mechanical. Throughout the miles, and as we moved into warm weather, 1st gear has become much easier to engage at low speeds, although not quite seamless, it is very seldom apparent to any great degree these days. As you build up some miles on your car once you get it home, you'll find it becomes better and better every mile. I really hadn't seen such a definitive change through the early miles on a car like I have seen on the CS, other than my CooperS that I sacrificed for the Porsche. Regards, and I guess one more round of patience until you get the car home.

Gator---Welcome to "wait-for-it-mode-again"! And those German bugs are a bitch, aren't they? Guess I never drive agressively enough to need 1st gear at 5mph and, with 5,800 mi on her, have not tried to get 1st at that speed for 5,700 mi because it didn't feel as though it liked it. With rolling start second gear is fine with small throttle openings until across the intersection. Believe you have cause for concern only if first difficult at 0 mph and shift to 2nd affected as well.

Just another "me too" post to say that at 4500 miles, it is still quite notchy selecting 1st when the car is rolling. For me personally, this was quite disconcerting at my first AX in the car earlier this season. I had a very bad experience (READ: Expensive) with my 911 (964) when I first got it, and under similar circumstances. I am therefore loath to select 1st while in motion. I look forward to it loosening up as the miles pile on. Brian

I haven’t had any shifting problems with the Cayman since I never got into the habit of downshifting to first. On other cars I've had a hard time getting into first from a stop and would have to get going in second. I never had the problem again when I changed to a Redline synthetic transmission fluid.

Wow. Cool. Thanks for all the replies. I guess I'm being a little paranoid. You guys have put me at ease.

Just to add my two cents! My pressure plate gave up after 5000 miles. Before that it was tough to get first but the worse was that I kept stalling the engine. I thought too many years with automatics, but while on vacation in Europe I drove sticks exclusively and no problems. When the PP finally gave up; the pedal stuck to the floor and wouldn't come back. After it was repaired no more stalling and the other change I had done was a short shift kit. I never stall, almost never, and the shifts are night and day more positive.

Question for you. Can you now enter 1st gear easily when rolling at a good speed, say 10-15 mph? Or does your shifter resist?

I just crossed 3500 miles & it's like a knife through butter. Try double clutching into 1st.

Hi Gator - first of all I am very happy to report that my baby has been flawless since I picked her up. However, it would be interesting to see the population of data, if you can gather it, which correlates the owners who DO have (or had) this problem to production dates. Good luck, and I hope you start to enjoy the car much more soon!

Same trouble with clutch pedal on the floor on my 07 with just 150 miles on it. Dealer took it in on a flat bed and concluded the pedal assembly hadn't been lubed at the factory. They said it could be manully pullled up off the floor, but they did thoroughly lube it and test drove it. Their experts I guess but the explanation sounded odd since even though the clutch was on the floor, it still seemed to be engaged. Because of this, I had guessed it was an hydraulic problem like your slave cylinder problem. I get the car back next week and we'll see. I didn't notice any problem shifting into first incidentally.

My new found friend Jim was told something similar by a dealership during his tourist delivery of his Boxster. They didn't change his slave cylinder. The problem was back within 1 day.

Hey, just like my Dad's 1964 VW Bus! I learned straight stick on that thing, and still to this day shift into second before down into first to help synchronize the gears (that probably no longer need it).

Ditto, Mike. I learned and drove for years in a '65 Triumph Spitfire, no synchros on 1st gear, so the only time you shifted into 1st was at a dead stop. I've driven every car I've owned since then that same way, entering 1st only when stopped. Occassionaly it's tough to get into gear, solved by either letting the clutch out breifly or letting the car roll abit. Sorry I can't help! Greg

I must be losing it. I have been driving nothing but a manual transmission car for at least 40 years and thinking about shifting into 1st gear as the car is rolling has never entered my mind. I know that I shift into first gear before I start the car moving. Sometimes I am in neutral first at a light. Sometimes the clutch is down. I think that I just listen to the engine and the feel of the car to decide when to shift (at low speeds and higher speeds) and don't think that I downshift into first too often. I do look at the tach often. I will sometimes shift into neutral prior to stopping- I think. I actually don't think that I shift into 1st very often while rolling, especially at 20 mph. You all have me thinking now- I will pay attentione to when I shift into 1st while rolling. DoobyDarby

Very stiff and notchy early on. Much, much better at 4600 mi. 20 mph or less- no problem.

I had a BMW Z4 before my CS and it also had to wait to reduce speed in order to engage 1st gear.

Now just shy of 4000 miles. Haven't had the clutch problem - yet. (Knock on wood!) But I've had a few moments where I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get into 1st gear while at a COMPLETE stop. Ran through 2nd->3rd->2nd then into first and it went in. Kinda like the synchros were stuck. It's much easier now, haven't had the problem since about 2800 miles, but it's still sometimes notchy going into first but it still happens every now and then. And now, every so often, when creeping along in traffic I get a hint of what in previous, older cars (and a pickup) was sometimes described ad clutch chatter where it felt like the clutch as it starts to engage skips along before fully engagin. Hard to pin down, happens randomly and never when accelerating normally. What gives? Is the pressure plate loose and should I get it looked at now rather than at 5,000 when I've planned an oil change?

pointnshoot, I think I might be having a similar problem. Have you had your car diagnosed yet? PM me if you can.

Naybor - not yet but I will soon. I'll let you know what the dealer finds - if anything.

I was just going to search about this today. Mine is very similar in that its hard to get into first at low speeds. I have been going into second until I have the dealer have a look at it, but its frustrating because sometimes.

pointnshoot, I've experienced the same thing... It only happens occasionally and only when starting slowly... I was hoping is was my imagination but your post describes it exactly... The first time it happened, it felt as if the tires were stick-slipping on ice... a strange sensation... I will not get a chance to see a dealer the next couple weeks, but will be reading the board to see what you or others learn... Regards JJCOhio P.S. I have an 07 CS with about 1300 very enjoyable miles so far.

It will be much easier to shift into first gear if the synchros are rpm matched. To match the synchros, you must double declutch. Means, Clutch out, blip engine, clutch in (depressed) enter 1st gear. Without double declutching I find it impossible to enter 1st gear at any speed more than 10km/h. If you force it you break it too.

I have the 1st gear engagement problem as well. I'll try double clutching tonight and see how it goes. Like George, my Z4 was like this too. I did go for a test drive with the service guy and he told me that you're really not supposed to engage first while rolling.

I have the problem when I'm at a COMPLETE stop, as in NOT MOVING, as in 0 MPH. That's not engaging while rolling. And if I'm not moving at all, why would synchro RPM matching have any bearing whatsoever? I'm stopped when this happens! Idling!

This problem is ironic. The modern syncromesh design was actually invented by Porsche iirc.

I feel I need to repost here. I got my car back from Germany a couple of days ago and have been driving the heck out of it. I have to say, the shifter and clutch action feel flawless. It actually leave me wondering if something was done to my car between Germany and the USA or if this was all in my head (which is very possible). When I was in Germany, I was second guessing my decision to take the sport shifter. Now, I am very glad I did. It's slick and very sporty. Love it. Oh, and it seems to be going into first easier too. This can't be my imagination.

Turns out my problems were power steering pump related. Makes all kinds of odd noised when it is cavitating after losing fluid. I was sure it was gears or clutch. Dealer fixed it under warranty.