Help - I just have 3rd gear

2011, 987.2 with manual. About 56k miles. Just drove 40 miles home with 3rd gear only. Clutch engages and disengages, and thank God not a lot of stop-and-go. Will schedule an inspection, but wanted to hear if anyone knew what this is likely to be? Cable snapped? Thanks in advance!

Sounds like a cable -- particularly as shifting cables are separate from the clutch cable. If you are replacing them, a lot of people are moving up to Numeric cables - pricey but apparently amazing and you can feel a difference. Numerics are on my want list.

Thank you for the reply. Reading this Board in the past, it seems they get replaced (so common malady). Will have those Numerics quoted. Thanks again!

Ya common go bad item… at least yours didn’t break into pieces leaving stranded

Thanks for the reply Getting quotes now. And yes, lucky to be able to limp home with 3rd gear only.

FWIW, if you're mechanically inclined, this should be a DIY project if you'd like to save on labor.

Somewhat, so will look online to see what kind of DIY videos I can find. Thanks again!

After getting stranded in my 2 year old Cayman due to a cable break, I let the dealer fix it under warranty. This was before Porsche supposedly improved the cable and attachment hardware. Anyway, A year later I pre-emptively replaced the OEM cables with Numeric . It was a fun weekend project and I'm happy to never need to worry about another break.

I would highly recommend viewing this thread: Outstanding Tech Contribution! - FYI helpful pointers... During Christmas break I replaced the heavily worn, original shift cables in my recently acquired 2011 Cayman Base with 70K miles. How the OEM cables lasted this long is a mystery, but shift feel was terrible and the shifter wobbled around even after I adjusted the cables and installed metal... www.planet-9.com

I wish that option was available back in 2013 when my cable broke at 47K miles. BTW, I seem to recall that Porsche wasn't even using the new parts to do free warranty repairs after the redesign. They wanted the owner to pay extra due to the increase in $$ and labor. They probably had a lot of inventory of the old (defective) design to get rid of. IMO, Porsche should of recalled all the mid-engine cars (at least those still under warranty) to fix this problem. They had about a decade to figure it out.

For those interested, parts price quote: OEM $475 Numeric $511

Is that just for the cables? If so which? The Discontinued or the new? If these are the current cable, the mounts must be changed. From suncoast : That means the Shift Cable Upgrade Kit $388 BTW, if you can find a source for the original (discontinued) cable, realize you'll probably need several of them over the next few years. My original 2010 cables lasted about 2.5 yrs. That's why I junked the nearly new warranty replacement (old design) cables and pre-emptively installed Numeric.

Get the numeric proprietary wrench. When I did mine I couldn't have done it without it. They also sell insulated covers. I don't recommend those. They are not installed on the cables so you have to spiral cut them to put them on and they are made of some powdery insulation fiberglass or something and it gets all over the place. I ended up throwing mine out. It looks cooler without them.

Thanks, I have asked the repair shop about the wrench.

I got the Numeric cables and shifter got my ‘07S and haven’t been disappointed. Fairly straightforward installation with YouTube videos.

With the Numeric cables , just be prepared for more noise, vibration, and harshness compared to the original cables. Numerics also have some history of creating shifting issues in certain gears. The Numerics also don't replace the pivot lever on the transmission which is a HUGE source of disconnected feeling with the OEM cables. The original pivot lever is three pieces with rubber bushings inside that wear and great vagueness and looseness in the shifter. Porsche updated the pivot lever to a solid piece of metal and got rid of the rubber bushings. Porsche updated the cables and cable support as well. The revised support addresses the primary reason why the cable would break; the support basically changing the angle of the cable routing a bit. The cost for all of these parts was a whopping $690 but it fits perfectly as it's Porsche parts. The shifting is way more mechanical feeling now because the pivot is solid metal. Outstanding Tech Contribution! - FYI helpful pointers... During Christmas break I replaced the heavily worn, original shift cables in my recently acquired 2011 Cayman Base with 70K miles. How the OEM cables lasted this long is a mystery, but shift feel was terrible and the shifter wobbled around even after I adjusted the cables and installed metal... www.planet-9.com

My 09 Cayman base had the cables break in 2019 while out to dinner. Had to tow the car to the shop he next day. This was before I was reading this forum, and I did not know about the whole cable issue. This was an independent shop and I just assumed I got OEM cables. Does anyone know if the new OEM cables…the updated ones, were being used at this time?

The new parts and mounting kit was available, but back then - so were the old cables. If they just replaced, like-for-like, then you don't have the upgrade. You should see itemized parts on your invoice. If it has a part number(s) you can check it out. If it just said "cables", it is likely you got the old design. The new design has two components - the new cables and the mount kit. You would need both.

Numeric Racing first impression Took a while for the parts to arrive at my mechanic. Slighty (marginally) harder to shift gears, but a lot less slop while in the gate. A little stiction going into and out of reverse, but likely to improve with use. Need to check the alignment if straight-up shift while in neutral is 3rd gear, but just drove back from the shop, and first drive in 7 weeks. Can't wait to put some miles on her again. Carmel/Monterey and Napa is calling...