Lost third gear!

[iborguk]

6 hours ago, Happy Days said:

Ok, good to know!

Maybe speak to an OPC parts dept , with your vin and ask what the part number and cost is re exchange/new boxes (there are variable part numbers re differential).

If you post the part numbers on the thread the hive mind can help source one , if that’s what it comes down to…

Good luck getting it sorted. 

Edited March 13 by iborguk

[Toddie]

@Happy Days  There must be parts available for manual Boxster/Cayman gearboxes as someone I know has had gear ratios in his GT4 changed for better race/track ratios. Try speaking to Strasse in Leeds as they prepare/service his car. Not sure if it is a 918 or a 718 GT4.

[ATM]

The GT cars may be different. The GT3 996 and 997 use a different gearbox altogether. No idea about the 991 etc. I think the GT4 981 just uses the 991 road car engine. But don't know anything about the Gearbox in it. These cars may offer more parts packages because they are used in motorsport. But that's all guess work from Me.

 

I do know you can change the final drive on most Porsche gearboxes even the PDK because its part of the diff which is not in the gearbox it's bolted onto the side. But that would change all ratios not just some.

[Menoporsche]

I'd love to have a longer 6th gear to save a bit of fuel on motorway journeys. Not prepared to pay a thousand quid for it though, that's a lot of fuel, and I'm only doing 2k a year...

[Happy Days]

Ok update.

 

Car with Belfast for 5 weeks. No communications. I rang, got the message that nobody was available and they would call back. That didn't happen. Rang again yesterday and eventually the call was returned. New gearbox required - £8,500. Out of warranty so down to me. I asked about Goodwill from Porsche and the lady advised that as the car is older than 6, that's not an option. She said something about having to apply about special circumstances and would I like them to do that. Really? Of course I would like them to. So still none the wiser. Also, unsure if it is an exchange replacement, whether the £8,500 is the cost of the 'box or a fitted price. The saga rumbles on...

[moonshine]

Ouch 😟

[iborguk]

45 minutes ago, Happy Days said:

Ok update.

 

Car with Belfast for 5 weeks. No communications. I rang, got the message that nobody was available and they would call back. That didn't happen. Rang again yesterday and eventually the call was returned. New gearbox required - £8,500. Out of warranty so down to me. I asked about Goodwill from Porsche and the lady advised that as the car is older than 6, that's not an option. She said something about having to apply about special circumstances and would I like them to do that. Really? Of course I would like them to. So still none the wiser. Also, unsure if it is an exchange replacement, whether the £8,500 is the cost of the 'box or a fitted price. The saga rumbles on...

I'd suggest get written/emailed quotes for clarity, you then know what you are dealing with. If you get the box part numbers on those conversations you can then get clarity on exchange vs new box.

If it were mine and out of warranty I'd also be looking for a gearbox specialist to see if a repair is an option.

 

[iborguk]

Other options are available....there are part number variations around so do the homework to ensure they will work with your car.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275949222705?fits=Car+Make%3APorsche|Model%3A718+Cayman&itmmeta=01HVTSR7M099KMH2YBYQRBE0KR&hash=item403fdafb31:g:f-cAAOSw5UtksSnH&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HUp7xT5FeHZuwxPML3YnTBU9d%2BzHb%2BXCDb9aww5wUi29XoXhAJ1%2FwRXUn6jatNxj%2B9FzPeFJ%2FgGLVd3s7MHfytDDFVMJKBv%2BCYFyfdBBTFbrt3evlconTeA3O0TOjbHu9%2F53AUPYRktzM%2BZc5KHlSPvD3J%2FT2dQ9S5ihd1b4AHG7XIhKPAi%2BSjmPduWTbclGV3E3Dp2%2BjEh5JFIzZX4EKHai%2FnC8dbC1sTr7gwfVRFqK50KUtNpHTGfiJ8YHBSTY8H9RUMSzdkeAMGZmTHxwQyUFD73ApPp%2FQGHWGZW%2BpAKt3bG2xjg3h8rjb2TlFXhcg%3D%3D|tkp%3ABFBMjPrg2d5j

 

[Ninesomething]

If you fit another used gearbox how do you know you won't end up in the same boat down the line. Do Porsche say that they have cured the issue (which they created by cheaping out on build costs)?

[moonshine]

I called a small well respected specialist gearbox repair firm in Glasgow that i have used before to rebuild a BMW mini gearbox a good few years ago to see if this was something he could do .

I had a really good chat with him and In short, the answer is no.  He wouldn’t take the job on - it is too much of a hassle.

by means of experience, he hasn’t taken a 981 or 718 manual gearbox apart, but he said he owned a 987 boxter S with the 3.2L and 6sp manual ans he took it apart as he lost 2nd gear and it was a royal PITA - he managed to get it apart, but it was exceptionally hard to work on and he was at hte point of breaking it / tools taking it apart.

he said depending on what damage there is internally to your Gearbox (stripped teeth etc, you could be £2-4k in parts alone from Porsche parts dept plus 10+ hours at £100/hr to break apart and rebuild - a whole heap of pain.  

His recommendation was source a second hand gearbox or speak to someone with experience of opening these up - perhaps one of the firms that changes ratios? They are more familiar with the time and process of repair, and likely costs.

and find out what your £8500 repair bill from Porsche includes … is that supplied and fitted? Or is it a pallet gearbox that still needs fitted? (Plus obviously factor in a clutch change when it is out.

hope that helps

Good luck

[Happy Days]

Another update - and thanks for all the responses.

My sales guy rang. The SA had given the worst-case scenario - probably in hindsight it's the best thing to do. Belfast have rasied a ticket with Porsche UK initially stating how thoroughly decent a chap I am (ahem....!) having bought three Porsches from them etc etc and given the known fault in this type of gearbox would they contribute. I will update when I know more. I have no issue with contributing - it's over 7 years old, no warranty and hasn't been serviced by the dealer in a while.

The known issue is that instead of the gears being located by keys and slots, they get welded on - the weld breaks, the gear spins freely etc. Well documented on GT4 models - this has the same 6-speed box. Just that there aren't that many manual 718s.

For going down the 2nd hand route - who knows whether the replacement box would be just about to do the same thing. Cheaper to wait for claims than to issue a recall, I suppose.

Edited April 19 by Happy Days

[iborguk]

Fingers crossed for you they “do the right thing”. 👍

[bandit_287]

You’ll get a result, just badger Porsche UK and the dealer principal, be polite but firm. They’ll um and ah but wilL give a concession eventually. 

[iborguk]

This thread refers to a recall re the issue on GT4 cars 

https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/threads/gt4-gearbox-recall.162216/#:~:text=This is a recall for,to qualify for the recall.

[Ninesomething]

23 hours ago, Happy Days said:

Another update - and thanks for all the responses.

My sales guy rang. The SA had given the worst-case scenario - probably in hindsight it's the best thing to do. Belfast have rasied a ticket with Porsche UK initially stating how thoroughly decent a chap I am (ahem....!) having bought three Porsches from them etc etc and given the known fault in this type of gearbox would they contribute. I will update when I know more. I have no issue with contributing - it's over 7 years old, no warranty and hasn't been serviced by the dealer in a while.

The known issue is that instead of the gears being located by keys and slots, they get welded on - the weld breaks, the gear spins freely etc. Well documented on GT4 models - this has the same 6-speed box. Just that there aren't that many manual 718s.

For going down the 2nd hand route - who knows whether the replacement box would be just about to do the same thing. Cheaper to wait for claims than to issue a recall, I suppose.

Ought not to matter whether you're a decent chap or a miserable tw*t - car gearboxes last more that 44k and they admit themselves there's a known issue plus you're suffering loss of amenity by not having your car. Not good enough Porsche. I don't think I've ever had a broken manual gearbox in a car of any mileage. I have broken 2 automatics though.

[ATM]

I broke the gearbox in my 996. It was more cost effective to replace with a used box. In 996 land the more thick skinned owner operators understand they are a known weak point. A couple of specialists have popped up who now work on these. But I went into ownership assuming the same, a manual is basically robust enough to just forget about it and found out the hard way that's just not the case.

 

Then we come on to the PDK. I had the same problem with mine where no business would even want to talk to me about fixing it because Porsche don't sell the parts. So even if you did get it apart and then find the problem what do you do next if you can't source the parts. So again that situation is now changing with one or two places willing to open up a PDK to fix something as a known issue.

 

As this is a manual box the PDK discussion is basically irrelevant. I mentioned it because I know for a fact that Porsche do not sell parts for the PDK so if they do for the manual then this is a different ball game.

 

I might be able to find some gearbox specialists which are better known for their skills with 996 manuals so if you go down the repair route then give me a shout. This is only possible if Porsche sell the parts. With my 996 gearbox the cost of 1 new gear was more than the cost of a used replacement box. So again it depends on the availability of parts and the cost of these and then compare that to the cost and availability of a used replacement box whole. If there isn't much demand for such things then they may not be too expensive. 

 

Good luck 

[M12MTR]

On 3/12/2024 at 9:58 AM, Happy Days said:

Had my 718S since new, 44.5k on the clock. Yesterday, I lost all drive in 3rd gear. Everything else is fine, all gears selecting as normal, no noise, no leaks, just no drive in 3rd.

 

Any gearbox specialists in here?

What year is your manual 718S?

[Happy Days]

On 4/21/2024 at 8:52 PM, M12MTR said:

What year is your manual 718S?

One of the first - delivered in November 2016.

[M12MTR]

8 hours ago, Happy Days said:

One of the first - delivered in November 2016.

Cheers. I've read they changed the manual gearbox from spring 2017...... so this welded 3rd gear issue has been eradicated?? Do you know if this is true?

Also, how is your progress? Any joy?

[Menoporsche]

36 minutes ago, M12MTR said:

I've read they changed the manual gearbox from spring 2017..

where did you read that, how reliable is the info?

Could be crucial news that they knew about the problem and fixed it. Or could be internet rumour?!

[M12MTR]

10 minutes ago, Menoporsche said:

where did you read that, how reliable is the info?

Could be crucial news that they knew about the problem and fixed it. Or could be internet rumour?!

Other 718 forums.

I'll try to find it.

I was hoping to confirm / deny it tbh.

[Paul P]

Big clue would be a part number update.  Maybe the latest pet diagrams for the car would give an insight. 

[iborguk]

1 hour ago, Paul P said:

Big clue would be a part number update.  Maybe the latest pet diagrams for the car would give an insight. 

-G or -GX (for exchange)

Assuming a start at A, that's a few revs.

[Happy Days]

I haven't heard yet. It's one of the first questions I will be asking when the box comes to being replaced.

[Ninesomething]

On 4/21/2024 at 12:56 AM, ATM said:

I broke the gearbox in my 996. It was more cost effective to replace with a used box. In 996 land the more thick skinned owner operators understand they are a known weak point. A couple of specialists have popped up who now work on these. But I went into ownership assuming the same, a manual is basically robust enough to just forget about it and found out the hard way that's just not the case.

 

Then we come on to the PDK. I had the same problem with mine where no business would even want to talk to me about fixing it because Porsche don't sell the parts. So even if you did get it apart and then find the problem what do you do next if you can't source the parts. So again that situation is now changing with one or two places willing to open up a PDK to fix something as a known issue.

 

As this is a manual box the PDK discussion is basically irrelevant. I mentioned it because I know for a fact that Porsche do not sell parts for the PDK so if they do for the manual then this is a different ball game.

 

I might be able to find some gearbox specialists which are better known for their skills with 996 manuals so if you go down the repair route then give me a shout. This is only possible if Porsche sell the parts. With my 996 gearbox the cost of 1 new gear was more than the cost of a used replacement box. So again it depends on the availability of parts and the cost of these and then compare that to the cost and availability of a used replacement box whole. If there isn't much demand for such things then they may not be too expensive. 

 

Good luck 

Risk of wandering off topic it's said that the parts that cause probs in the PDK are usually servos and sensors which are generic parts made by Bosch or ZF and fitted to a lot of boxes. They are cheap and available. Just needs someone with the nads to pull it apart and test it. There's a big thread about it somewhere - poss rennlist.