Lost My Shifter in My CS While Driving.

I was driving along in traffic Thursday when all of a sudden my shifter felt funny. I soon realized I couldn't shift into any of my gears at all, and here I was on the highway. Luckily I was near my exit to my house. I got off, had to stop at least four or five times. After the first stop, I was able to get moving carefully from a complete stop w/o stalling, so I figured that I was in 2nd, so that made it easier, and so carefully I made it all the way home. I immediately called the Porsche Road Service, it was 6:00 PM, and they sent a wrecker, a flat bed, a couple of hours later, and brought it to my local dealer. It was after hours. Oh, and I loaded and unloaded my CS on the truck, and followed him to the dealer in my other vehicle. I called the dealer today, and while they hadn't got to it yet, they're guessing that the shifter cable might of snapped. I asked if they've seen this before, and they said yes. This has got me worried, of a key part, in a German performance car, failing, w/only 18K miles on it. Here I am being worried of driving w/no spare tire, now having to worry of a simple part failing in the middle of nowhere? I drive my CS everyday. Has anyone had this happen to their 6 spd Cayman S or Boxster? Is this common? If so, is there a fix by Porsche, or a better aftermarket product. Since they will have everything disassembled, I'm thinking of having the Porsche Short Shifter installed. Should I request all new cables in either case? .

I think there have been two previous reports similar to yours. You should search them out.

Yes I have had the same problem on my Boxster. I found it rather easily when crawling under the car. Omn left side of the gearbox - at the rear of it - one of the two cabels are fitted to a ball joint leaver. I just pushed the cabel end back on the leaver and drove home. After holliday I will see if Porsche any replacement parts. regards anders

When replacing the shifter on my Boxster I noticed the cable rod-ends were plastic. (From the post above it sounds like the ones on the gearbox end of the cables may have some issues as well). I noticed at least one of the short-shifter mfrs also offers metal rod-ends for the cables. I didn't and don't really think they're necessary - but if they would help you sleep better at night, they may be worth it to you. If the shifter has been changed to a short-shift one, there is also the possibility that the cable rod-ends were damaged during that change-over. Good luck.

Everything is bone stock at the moment. .

We've heard of a few members - less than 10, I'd say - having a problem like this. It's usually the end of the cable back at the transmission that comes off of the lever back there - it's fixed quickly and easily under warranty. I've heard of a few where the cable has snapped, but coming loose is usually the problem. brad

Last April at Lime Rock, my CS(only 17k mi) was popping into neutral from 3rd gear going around Big Bend. Bear in mind, end of straight- deep braking- heel toe to third- then when I accelerate I realize the gear has jumped to neutral. Spoke to will de giovanni at track who told me he's heard of several Crocs having problems with loose trans cables. I thought my syncros were already worn! Being a die-hard I still continued to track my car in one gear- 4th! It was still a blast. The following week I took my car to Paul Miller Porsche (NJ) who told me exactly what Will advised. They've seen issaues from time to time and fixed under warranty. The tech actually tested by simulating shift over 6K rpm (hopefully in a private road) and found the gear was not engaging right. Disappointing really to have this type of issue with a Porsche. Also a bit disgusted with the whole steering pump and oil sump issues. If I had known about these problems, I would have gotten a different P-car for the track. Live and learn.

Don't even think about doing this until you've tried it. Opinions on the short-shifter vary wildly, from "must-have" (seen on here) to "it ruined the car" (my wife!). I didn't like it either I must admit.

It looks like one of the cables broke, so they are replacing them both. I've decided to have the short shifter installed while everything is disassembled, and save a little money. What was it that you didn't like about it? I'll see if I can find a car at the dealer that has one installed and check it out. The cables won't be in until Tuesday. .

I ordered the sport shifter from the factory when I ordered my car - more than three years later, never a problem, including lots of track track days. One of the best options I put on the car. Still love it. YMMV. brad

What do you actually get from the short shifter that is so good though? I don't get quite get it. Supposedly you could gain some microfractions of a second while shifting. Is that all?

I love the short shifter. While the force (at your hand) required to shift is higher, by aprox the same percentage that the throw distance is decreased, and therefore the perceived 'notchiness' is increased - I found that as the (6 spd) gearbox got several thousand miles on it the shifts became much smoother and gratifying. It does perhaps slightly increase the speed with which shifts can be accomplished, but for me it is more about the feel and just not having to move your hand so far for every shift. The B&M shifter I installed on my Boxster was also a nicer-made part - better materials (bushings, etc) and tighter clearances (bushings, etc) - so it felt more precise. I suspect all quality aftermarket ones, and probably the Porsche OEM one, share this feature. Force on the cables should not be appreciably higher - just at the knob end - as the pivot is simply moved to change the ratio. As Beez said 'YMMV'. Good luck.

Like Jeff says above, it's all in the feel - some people like it, others don't. I do. There's less effort to shift in terms of how much you are moving your entire arm to accomplish a shift... that adds up in terms of effort, especially on the track. Over time, the shifter as gotten smoother, but at the same time, has retained it's "notchy-ness" which I like. On the track (and on the road, when I do drive it on the road), I can tell immediately when it's in gear (or out), and which gear it's in. And, maybe it does save micro-seconds per shift, but that all adds up, too. On one of the tracks I run, Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, there are 18 turns in 3.2 miles, and I make more or less 24 up and down shifts per lap - that can add up, both in reduced effort and movement, and time. brad

balpo, there are numerous previous threads and posts that should help answer your question. But it seems to boil down to individual preference and feel so even answers from those that love one or another brand and those that hate them probably will make choosing using others advice risky.

I used search and found a number of previous threads, but couldn't find a back to back comparison re: feel.

Well I finally got the CS back today, and driving it home, that Sport Shifter works great. No complaints on my part w/it. Again the Sport Shifter is shorter, shifting wise, and noticeably tighter as well. As mentioned, I went and had a pair of front GT3 Brake Duck Spoilers installed as well. I watched as they were installed, and it appears to be a piece a cake. You remove the stock ones, using a screw driver to unsnap them, and simply snap the GT3's on. My CS was the first one that they have installed them on. They have installed them on 997's. They are supposed provide better cooling to the front brakes. Again, they were only $20 a piece, so what the heck. It's nice to have my CS home again. .

Could've been worse... You could've been like me, and had it happen to you right before the Oak Tree at VIR. Mine failed on a track day, and like others, it was just a case of a component coming free, nothing actually broke.

Re: Could've been worse... Probably been well covered elsewhere (and not the exact issue described by the OP), but, for future reference, the billet rod ends that I mentioned above, where the cables attach to the shifter, can be found here: Untitled EVO Shift Link $119 6061 billet aluminum with machined black delrin bushing. Aluminum design - 10 times stronger than OEM. Add this when you add B&M Short Shifter!

When I picked up my car with the factory SS I went back over the options list with a fine-toothed comb to make sure it was actually installed. It was only when I stepped into another one when I realized how long the throws are in a stock vehicle. I highly urge everyone to try the shifter in a Honda S2000 sometime - that's the way all shifters should feel.

Update: I've had my Sport Shifter for some two weeks now, and it works great. I've had no issues what so ever w/it. .

Any photos of the brake Ducts?

My 06 CS came with the short shifter and I loved it. The shift felt sure and precise. This was my first Porcshe and I felt this is the way it's supposed to shift, perfect. My 09 CS doesn't have a short shifter(it's on order) and it feels mushy, like I'm moving cables which of course I am and the throws are way too long. For some reason reverse is hard to find. Personally, once you short shift, you can never go back..

I put a short/sport shifter into my Cayman S...vast improvement over stock....in how it operates....on the other hand having seen the new short shift in the box and the old std one after removed from the car.....looks like cheap plastic junk to me....not surprising that they fail....versus some of my prior sports cars a real rip off....cost me about $800 parts and labor....and its still just cheap plastic....not what I expected from Porsche...I hope it keeps working...but does vastly improve shifting experience