Shifting Into 2nd

I have put about 1500 miles on my 04' C2 that I bought with 22k miles on it and wanted to ask a question. I am competent with a manual trans. but I am having trouble shifting from 1st to 2nd quickly & smoothly. All the other gears I can whip it right in with a quick depression of the clutch but into 2nd I have to feather it in a bit when releasing the clutch or it lurches. I have been shifting at 3500-4000 rpm 1st to 2nd. I have experimented with a few things that seem to help. If I push the clutch down just enough to slip it in I can avoid the lurch or if I shift at lower rpm I can avoid it. There is no grinding. Is it the gear ratio perhaps? I was wondering if anybody has any thoughts or comments on the matter. I appreciate It.

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Couple of things: 1) With engine/drivetrain up to temp with car level engine idling with clutch pedal depressed fully you should be able to shift into any gear with no difficulty. If you can't do this there is a mechanical problem, linkage might just be out of adjustment or..., see (2) below. 2) If brake fluid/clutch slave cylinder fluid has not been flushed and bled recently I'd do that then do (1) again. If there is still a problem at (1) then see (3). 3) Before I threw any big money at the tranny I'd throw a little money at it and have the transmission/diff fluid changed. I would use Porsche fluid based on my experience. 4) I would not advise shifting with clutch pedal partially depressed. The gears are under load and when you move the shift lever out of one gear into another the gear dogs are being slid against one another under pressure. The corners will round off and the transmission will start popping out of gear. 5) Related to (4) above the extra force to shift gears will cause increased wear on the shifter forks and this ain't good. Sincerely, Macster.

I am under the impression that it's more of the way I am shifting, wrong RPM or poor clutch management, than mechanical. I could be wrong. It's my first Porsche. All the other gears have no problem. Perhaps shifting at 4000 rpm is to high for 1st to 2nd? Do you really need to fully depress the clutch on every shift? I am hoping it's not mechanical.

Yes it is best to fully depress the clutch shifting. Maybe move your seat up forward till you have better control on the clutch. Adjust the seat for pedals and wheel contact with hands straight out which means adjusting both the bottom of the seat and angle of the backrest. It sounds like you just have a problem with clutch release in the lower more responsive gears. Just takes time to be smooth and maybe a little more throttle control and getting to know by ear the rpms you have to match for speed.

I had the exact same problem when I bought my first Porsche last summer - took about a month to get the 1-2 shift smooth. The Porsche clutch/engine certainly has a different feel to it than all the other standards I've driven. I let my father-in-law drive it and the first thing he did was stall it. You'll get it.

BTW my biggest problem now is shifting from 2-3 and missing the gate - the shifter frequently wants to go between 1-3 especially if I'm shifting quickly - irritates the heck outta me.

Best thing to do is sit in the car practicing with the engine off. Worked for me a long long time ago. OK maybe long long long long time ago. Shift through the gears till all the gates are open to smoothly shift into a gear. Then sit there practicing going through your motions. Practice aim or how ever yo have to figure it to get it right. Feel for how the shifter is loaded and how much force is needed when shifting.

Don't forget to make the engine Vroooooommmmm sounds.

The difference between 1st and 2nd gear is the closest ratio of the 6. Because if this, it will be more abrupt shifting into second than any other gear. Howver, you shoud be able t eventually get the hang of this shift and be able to complete it smoothly assuming there is no mechanical problem. I would suggest that you drive the car without even thinking about shifting smoothly. Often, if you are focused on something all the time, you create more problems. Try focusing on how you walk and let me know how often you stumble. Relax and it will correct itself.

Thanks guys and..........girls??

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I have the same problem. This is my 1st 996 but have had a Boxster and 944. Did you find a way to avoid the missed gate? I think I'm going to install a 997 shifter. The stock throw is way too long for my tastes.

1 to 2 is tough. Try 4500 rpm. Try 1st to 3rd.

try a 915..... took me quite a while to figure out the timing, but once learned its a beautiful thing

I had the same problem. The key is to give it a little more throttle than you are used to with the release of the clutch. That and getting the timing make a big difference. That said, I still give my self whiplash on the 1-2 shift from time tot time.

a short shift kit definitly helps

" I can whip it right in with a quick depression of the clutch" BEAT THAT MULE!! It is not a drag car don't try to slap shift it. Practice matching the RPM with the gear ratio/road speed. Hold the shifter with three fingers don't palm it or strangle it. Use more wrist less arm. Feel, don't force, it into gear.

maybe you shifter need to be adjust... the end of the shifter might be hitting something inside the console.

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I went from an 02 Boxster (5-speed) to an 03 Turbo (6-speed) and the shifting differences are well different. The Boxster has one very sweet shifter which I can move from gear to gear at any rpm at about any speed I want to shift at. I don't speed shift or bang the shifter from gear to gear but I can shift quite quickly and the Boxster shifter never fails to reward me with a fast, smooth shift. And it has beeng doing this now, for <ahem> over 241K miles. (Original shifter, tranny, and clutch.) Now my 03 Turbo (bought used in 09) originally was a bit more of a problem. Not quite as fast to shift and it didn't feel good trying to hurry the shifting. Also, the shifting was a bit notchier than I liked. Jump ahead and the transmission was replaced, due a seal leak (under CPO warranty thank goodness). Afterwards the shifting was much improved. While still not as good as the Boxster it was better than it was. Now skip ahead some more and the Turbo's shifter broke. I had a 997 shifter installed and the replacement transmission's shifting, which is significantly improved over that of the original transmission was made even better. I do *not* think your 996 has a bad shifter, I'm just giving you the full story. Now the Turbo's shifting is still not as good as that of the Boxster's but it is close. The differences I think are simply the Turbo has a heavier transmission (to handle the HP/torque of course) and it is not going to shift as fast as a lighter transmission. The Turbo requires a bit more attention to my shifting, a bit more deliberation and a mild kind of brain/foot/arm reset to erase the settings for the shifting the Boxster and loading settings for account for the difference in shifting the Turbo. Not a big deal, but the cars do have different shifting characteristics and one can't shift the Turbo (or the 996 in your case) like he shifts the Boxster. That Boxster is one sweet shifting car. Frankly because it shifts so well, it feels sometimes faster than more powerful cars (like my 03 Turbo and the 06 GTO before the Turbo) because under any type of acceleration from easy to hard each higher gear can be selected much quicker and the lag in acceleration from shifting from one gear to the next is less than in the other cars which require more time to shift without forcing anything and during which time that neck breaking acceleration is attenuated some so the overall impact of having 400+ horses shoving one forward is less than it would be were these cars shift as quickly as the Boxster. Sincerely, Macster.

so i am new and have some observations. these cars are deliberate and require firm but gentle inputs. agree with shifter - it goes into all gears all the time but feels best when not hurried. best i can explain it.

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That's a really good description. These cars aren't subtle. It is very different from any car I have owned, but when you get it right, you are rewarded with an incredible experience.

^ +1

New motor mounts help with shifting as well. I used to struggle with shifting but since the new mounts its been much better.

My Turbo has just 15k miles on it and it's hard to make the 1st to 2nd shift clean and crisp. I had a '99 6 speed 996 for 7 years and it shifted a lot better. It's not just me, my brother who currently owns his 3rd 996 (a tip though) drove my car a few days ago and I could see him struggle with the low to 2nd shift. I have found the throttle by wire to be a big reason for the poor shifting. Problem is the rpms hang a bit when instantly letting off the gas at the top of first and depressing the clutch. You can't make a smooth shift until the revs drop and allow somewhat matching the engine to trans speed. With the mechanical cable throttle on the '99, the instant the accel pedal was lifted, the revs immediately fell and a quick shift to 2nd could be made. I'd love to get this feel in the Turbo.

If I could offer my opinion this late in the game: 1) Yes you need to depress the cllutch, not sure why you would think or attempt otherwise. 2) Unless I am drag racing (and ok that needs to be done once in a while) first gear only gets me rolling, I get into secong almost right away and only then jump on it. As has been stated, the gear ratios are close so, no need to wind it out in 1st. Ive never had any trouble with the feel of the G96 but then again I spent 11 years with a 915 and as Ed Ivangene said....that is a box that punishes the guys who get it wrong and rewards the guys that get it right. It's not a Mustang, no speed shifting, no banging the gears. Nice and easy and smooth will get the job done fastest.

I have had my 911 for a week and a day, first Porsche for me too. I have experienced the same thing a few times myself. I have not driven a stick regularly for about 2 1/2 years. Am always a bit worried I will stall it when moving off a traffic light. One time I accidentally stuck it in reverse but caught myself just in time. I think it will take getting used to with driving it more and more. I am planning on doing some 60k service to it as it has not been complete;y done, oil change just the other day and serpentine belt was done by PO. Need to do the plugs and the brake flush too. Congrats on your ride and good luck.

The problem is that you aren't taking 1st all the way to 7000 rpm. How come no one else caught that?

Here's another tip. Turn the A/C OFF, it makes the revs much easier to match because the motor tends to keep the revs higher with the compressor off. See if that makes a difference.

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You're not wrong. It's much, much easier to shift at high rpm.

Mine is a little sticky, but once up to temp, it smooths right out. Is yours at all temps?