GBox 2nd gear detent - opinions?

This is a device that purports to prevent the problem of the transmission popping out of second gear (into neutral). In 1.5 years and several thousand miles of driving, my transmission has done this twice. Should I install one of these? What are the pros and cons?

I installed one when mine started to pop out and it stopped it from doing it. I bought my 996 in Sept 2017 and the first time it popped out was in February 2018. I ordered it in February 2018 but didn't install it right away. During the summer it popped out a couple more times. In Oct it popped out two times, so I installed it in Oct 2018. It's not the most fun repair to do, but it wasn't horrible. https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...h-a-g-box.html

My car had the issue from day 1 of my ownership, May 2016. Had the fix installed in August 2016, with zero issues since!

I used to have problems where 2nd gear wouldn't stick. Upgraded to the Gbox detent and haven't had the problem since. That was more than 5 years ago. It works.

My car started experiencing first gear pop out at around 120k miles. I had first gear pop-out issues maybe five times over about 2 months. I was afraid I was looking at major transmission work.I installed the GBox detent a few weeks back and zero issues since. Same detent for first and second gear, although second gear pop-out is more prevalent than first. Porsche should've designed this in the first place.

I agree with all previous posts. The detent absolutely works as advertised. Do it.

When you say it pops out of second into neutral, does it do that when you first shift into the gear or does it do it randomly while driving? My recently purchased 1999 with 89,000 miles on it has an issue where it sometimes won't go into second without popping back out. If I get the car into second gear successfully, I don't have any further issues with it (until I shift back into second again, of course). It's getting it in there in the first place that's my only issue. I'm not sure if something like this will help in my case or if it would just be a waste of time.

Purchased the detent for my '99 C4 and no more pop-outs. Period.

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Same here for my 99 C2. 5 years running great so far!

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And, again, this issue was happening exactly how for both of you? Going into second or randomly after the car was already in gear?

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For me, after the car was in gear (very shortly after shifting)

+1 for me, works great, no problems after install 1000m. ago. Was not sticking in 2nd when shifting, sometimes resulting in a bit of grinding. Worth every penny.

I bought the detent and I'm installing it now. We're stuck at the part where we are removing the existing detent . Our magnet is only pulling it out a small amount. Any suggestions?

Use a stronger neodymium magnet.

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We checked around all the auto parts stores near us and couldn't find anything (particularly at a half inch or smaller diameter). At this point, I'm assuming we're going to have to order something online.

We attached one of these to our exsting magnet. That improved our magnet's strength. However, it still feels like the detent can move up and down but won't come all the way out. As if there's something holding it in or obstructing it from being removed from the hole. However, if you look in the hole with a mirror, it doesn't look like there's anything in the way at all. It's just an empty hole with some threads in it. kWS0LaD.jpg We're at a loss for what to do at this point to get it out. Short of removing the transmission from the car and grabbing the existing detent from the inside with a pair of pliers.

I spoke too soon! While I was making this post, my dad / mechanic tried spraying some carb cleaner into the hole and then working the detent up and down. That loosened it up and he got it out. However, in looking at the old one versus the new one, I don't really see the difference. Which makes me wonder if perhaps a prior owner had already tried this fix. ZYxeGnk.jpg

Well, I'll be. Don't think I can see any significant difference from here. Maybe I should take a look at mine before I go out and buy one.

The difference is tiny. But it resolved my 2nd gear pop out.

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Fingers crossed that it helps with mine. We spent basically all day working on this thing (though, granted, some of it was running around trying to find a powerful enough magnet--a step we could have skipped if we had tried the carb cleaner earlier), so we'll be installing it (probably) tomorrow. We weren't comfortable with how much effort was required to try to force the new one in. If that doesn't work, I guess the only thing I have left is the transmission rebuild. 🙁 It's funny that this thing never gives me any issue when downshifting from third to second--I'm fairly sure it's only ever first to second where it's a problem. I had the car out for a roughly 60 mile drive through back roads yesterday, and second gear never gave me an issue except when I was pulling away from a stop.

I was not able to see a difference until someone told me where to measure. It's there, but the tolerances are so close it's hard to see. Mine would pop out every month or two when cold with me driving 1000 miles per month. Afterinstalling the GBox detent, I haven't had it pop out in about 19K miles.

Now that it's installed, it's fantastic. I can't get second gear to give me issues even if I wanted to. Granted, I haven't had a chance to drive it that much yet, but it seems great so far.

Excellent! I have had mine in for 8 or 9 years, and no popping since. It is one of those 996 "things" you just do.