Gear Linkage Gone - 987.2 Cayman S

[Swine Enthusiast]

Less than three weeks into ownership, gear linkage gone as I changed from third to fourth on a slow paced b-road. Managed to limp home in third but gear lever feels completely detached from the box.

Very frustrating! Anyone else had this happen or is this a well known and common fault?

[Gio G]

Yes, happened on our 2.9, which had very low miles.. Very common weakness on the car..

G

[johnconners]

Yeah it's a super common problem unfortunately. When you get a replacement cable Porsche also supply an upgrade kit that slightly changes the routing of the linkage cable that breaks which theoretically should stop it from happening again. That said I don't know how many people who've had the upgrade kit fitted have subsequently had them snap again.

[gsewell]

I had this last year. The upgraded cable was fitted but I'm struggling to find the lever and bracket. I've got the part numbers from Suncoast but still trying to find UK equivalent.

[Swine Enthusiast]

gsewell said:

I had this last year. The upgraded cable was fitted but I'm struggling to find the lever and bracket. I've got the part numbers from Suncoast but still trying to find UK equivalent.

Ahh that sucks, sorry to hear. Can you ship it in?

[cd1957]

Hi all, Porsche show the modified cable holding bracket, and the aluminium bracket for the gear selector.

I have just replaced cable and holding bracket, previously,with no issues.

Chris

[Ultrafunkula]

Would investing in a short shift kit eliminate this problem?

I'm getting a bit paranoid!

[JohnnyD1999]

No it won’t make any difference to the likelihood of it occurring, may even make it more likely if anything depending on certain circumstances such as poorly adjusted cables.

[cd1957]

Hi the reason the cables break is the angle from the support bracket,bolted to the box,to the box connection is not straight.
The modified support corrects this angle.

Chris

[Swine Enthusiast]

Ultrafunkula said:

Would investing in a short shift kit eliminate this problem?

I'm getting a bit paranoid!

Mine has the factory optioned short shift kit, so no!

[Swine Enthusiast]

cd1957 said:

Hi the reason the cables break is the angle from the support bracket,bolted to the box,to the box connection is not straight.
The modified support corrects this angle.

Chris

Perfect, I shall confirm with the dealer this was done, thanks!

[gsewell]

cd1957 said:

Hi all, Porsche show the modified cable holding bracket, and the aluminium bracket for the gear selector.

I have just replaced cable and holding bracket, previously,with no issues.

Chris

Can I just ask if the part numbers were:
981.424.023.00. For the lever
987.424.065.01 for the bracket

Cheers
Graham

[cd1957]

Hi Graham,yes that's the modified parts.

Chris

[Swine Enthusiast]

UPDATE:

Received the car back from the independent dealer after a few delays, so glad to have it back. Frustratingly he drove the vehicle back rather than putting it onto a truck and delivering it back (sorry to be a pedant).

All seems fine after a quick blast last night and apparently new, updated OEM gear linkage cables/parts installed. I have asked for an invoice/record of the work and invoice from Porsche for the part (he confirmed to me the part was ordered direct through OPC Tonbridge but they've yet to give him an invoice) but he has yet to be forth coming with the info...

Given the work has been done under warranty and a repalcement/key part has been added to my car, am I correct in pushing quite hard for a record of the work and part so I don't end up a) in this situation again and b) driving a car with a refurb/scrap 'n spares gear linkage?

[frayz]

FYI,

Found these retainers at Stuttgart Classica.
These are available to help get you out of trouble should the cable ends ever fail.

https://www.stuttgart-classica.co.uk/cayman-parts/...

[Slippydiff]

frayz said:

FYI,

Found these retainers at Stuttgart Classica.
These are available to help get you out of trouble should the cable ends ever fail.

https://www.stuttgart-classica.co.uk/cayman-parts/...

Nice to see Porsche tax is alive and well ....

[frayz]

Slippydiff said:

Nice to see Porsche tax is alive and well ....

Isnt it just! haha!

[Ultrafunkula]

frayz said:

FYI,

Found these retainers at Stuttgart Classica.
These are available to help get you out of trouble should the cable ends ever fail.

https://www.stuttgart-classica.co.uk/cayman-parts/...

Is this a preventative solution? It looks like better value than replacement cables if so.

[frayz]

Ultrafunkula said:

Is this a preventative solution? It looks like better value than replacement cables if so.

No I believe theyre there to keep the cables on to enable you to still get a gear even if the ball cup fails.
This "should" enable you to limp the car home or to somewhere safe.

[Ultrafunkula]

frayz said:

Ultrafunkula said:

Is this a preventative solution? It looks like better value than replacement cables if so.

No I believe theyre there to keep the cables on to enable you to still get a gear even if the ball cup fails.
This "should" enable you to limp the car home or to somewhere safe.

Ah OK, I'll play it safe and get the replacements then, thanks.