Teething Troubles 997S

[critch]

I took delivery of a new 997S cabriolet (with powerkit) in November (on 9/11 by pure coincidence)) and am just running it in having done 1400 miles to date. The car is superb except for the following:

1. Stiff and obstructive 1st and 2nd gears - worse when cold - sometimes can't get 1st at all or I'm worried I might break something if I force it in!
2. Rattling or creaking from area of driver's rear quarter window, or could be hood mechanism.

Question is, are these known issues and are they easily fixable? Car is booked into OPC on 2nd January.

Cheers and best wishes to you all for Chritmas and New Year.

critch

 

[Jimberland]

Hi Critch,

Stiff and obstructive 1st and 2nd gears - a common complaint. There are a lots of threads on here discussing it in detail if you search.
I have the same problem and usual shift 1st to 3rd when cold and only engage 1st when completely stationary. I don't think there is a known fix, other than perseverance, but I could be wrong.

Some say the clutch can play some part in it, as it wears the problem eases but I am on my second clutch (I drive my car pretty hard at the weekend and it sits in a lot of traffic in the week) and it has made little difference.

Rattling or creaking from area of driver's rear quarter window - no idea.

Best of luck.

Jim

 

[snarf]

Great car.

1. I have a C2S with a short shifter and first/second is very "uncomfortable" when cold, I was warned to expect this when specifying this option. I have learned to live with this because after 15 miles or so the shift is so good but I believe that a relatively simple cable adjustment can sometimes ease excessively stiff shifts.

2. A few cars do suffer from rattles but some OPCs have been able to isolate and stop these. Rattles are not covered under the extended warranty so if you are unhappy try and get them sorted sooner rather than later.

 

[critch]

Thanks chaps,

It seems a common complaint then. But should we accept this in a car which costs nearly 90k? My 06 Boxster S had a lovely gear change. I await the OPC comments with interest.

I'm not sure if my new car has the short shifter as it was a pre-specced car already in the showroom. How would I know? What is the Porsche part number for this option?

critch

 

[garyw]

The sports shifter is option XCZ

As others have said, the selection of 1st and 2nd when new and cold is a little difficult to start with, however mine is alot better with the few miles on it []
however in this cold weather it does feel a little stiffer than normal......

garyw

 

[MarcBC]

The tip about going into 1st only when stationary is valuable.

I too have the stiff 1st and 2nd gear problem, although after 8,000 miles when the car is warm the gears are a beauty

 

[okellyt]

ORIGINAL: critch

Thanks chaps,

It seems a common complaint then. But should we accept this in a car which costs nearly 90k? My 06 Boxster S had a lovely gear change. I await the OPC comments with interest.

I'm not sure if my new car has the short shifter as it was a pre-specced car already in the showroom. How would I know? What is the Porsche part number for this option?

critch

My two Boxters had stiff 1st and second gear in cold weather until they warmed up. the 987 (newer one) was worse than the 986

My short shift gearbox on the 997 is very tricky when cold in 1st or 2nd but fankly I only want 1st when staitonary in cold wheather. Once the oil is warm 7.5k miles in its a fabulous box. if memory serves the standard 997 box baulks a bit on first gear when cold

I also have an occasional rattel from the drivers rear side window area

Basically its waether related for the gearbox. the oil has to warm up first for any car for a slick gearshift. All by BM's had the same problem but far worse in icy weather ie you had tos tart in 2nd gear. first wasn't an option.

 

[marlin]

ORIGINAL: garyw

The sports shifter is option XCZ

t []
however in this cold weather it does feel a little stiffer than normal......

garyw

In cold weather I can't even find mine mine, never mind it being stiffer[]

 

[critch]

Thanks for comments.

It seems that my car doesn't have the sports shifter (no XCZ option listed in the maintenance logbook anyway).

And I agree with the observations that the problem is weather dependent as I took the car out yesterday in the milder weather and it was OK. Still a bit notchy but at least I could get the lower gears.

A new problem cropped up today though - the airbag warning light has come on!

On a positive note though, now the engine has loosened up the power is awsome, especially when the engine comes 'on the cam' at about 3000 rpm. And the exhaust note from the PSE (with the sport button pressed) from 4000 rpm, is absolutely gorgeous.

critch

PS. about options. Where can I find a list of options and their codes? Mine has a few which I can't identify from the normal Porsche option list.

 

[snarf]

ORIGINAL: critch

PS. about options. Where can I find a list of options and their codes? Mine has a few which I can't identify from the normal Porsche option list.

Most options are listed on the Porsche configurator http://cc.porsche.com/icc_euro/ui/pva/fs_global.jsp?RT=1198757186669&PARAM=parameter_internet_en&LANG=en&USER=EN&BOS=win&BV=7&BF=ie4&BORG=microsoft but there are a few additional items listed in the Tequipment and exclusive brochures.

 

[davidcross]

YOU ARE PROBABLY BORED OF ALL THE REPLIES BY NOW BUT I HAVE A 3YR OLD 997S WITH 15K MILES AND WHEN COLD 2ND GEAR IS "HORRIBLE"! ONCE WARM ITS FINE BUT I HAD AN OPC STRIP THE GEAR BOX AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.......ENJOY!

 

[Adam2S]

Do you have a keyboard with a stuck CAPS key too?
[8D]

 

[channella]

You might find double-declutching helps.

 

[critch]

on codes again.

The Porsche configurator gives the options but not the 3-digit code. I found this useful decoder http://www.kindel.com/porsche/options.asp

which unlocked most of the listed options on my car but it doesn't identify the following:

XLF
610
672

anyone know what these are?

critch

 

[Rodney Naghar]

XLF - Sports exhaust system
Not sure about 610 or 672

 

[garyw]

672 is extended Navigation, now standard on certain models.

610...[&:] I'll take a look for

garyw

 

[critch]

found it myself - but thanks anyway! Code i610 = 'european maps'

I know its now a bit 'off-topic' but my full code list now reads as follows:

C16 = UK spec
404 = turbo wheels
567 = windscreen top tint
640 = sport chrono +
342 = heated seats
XSC = Porsche crest on seats
X51 = powerkit
XLF = sports exhaust
026 = activated charcoad canister??
610 = euro maps
672 = navigation module
692 = cd changer
936 = leather seats rear
981 = all leather lining
983 = leather seats front

and I had parking sensors retrofitted.

critch

 

[kitchens]

ORIGINAL: marlin

ORIGINAL: garyw

The sports shifter is option XCZ

t []
however in this cold weather it does feel a little stiffer than normal......

garyw

In cold weather I can't even find mine mine, never mind it being stiffer[]

It get's worse when you reach 60 beleive me [][]