Let my boss drive my 83 911 SC (now having an issue with the 915)...

[Jim Mallory]

I let my boss drive my 83 SC (225,000 miles / original engine/tranny - neither ever apart) the other day during lunch hour (he has a 98 Z3). I slowly walked him through the 915's personality ("make sure you're just about stopped before shifting into first, 2nd is stiff when cold", etc etc). He listens attentively and then we were off. He trys to shift into first at 15 mph (!), misses lining up 3rd properly (the tranny violently kicked back the shifter) and lugs the engine (driving 5 mph in 2nd while in our parking deck). I was disgusted but tried to remain calm. I'm sure my face was bright red. That was Thursday. Ever since that drive, the tranny is very difficult to get into reverse. It'll go...but not easily. I never had this issue until a couple of days ago. I'm upset at myself for letting him drive the car. I bought a gallon of Swepco at my Indie this am...I'll try draining/refilling tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed that it'll help.

Live and learn. Sigh.

Jim

[klaucke]

I'd check your clutch free play if it is only reverse giving you trouble.

[Emission]

About a week after I got my 930, I let my brother-in-law drive it. He's never driven a Porsche (hell, as a Chrysler guy, I don't think he's ever driven anything European).

With me in the passenger seat, he proceeds to RAIL on my poor car until I finally decide to be rude and tell him the fun is over. It was one of those moments I knew I'd made the wrong decision the second I handed over the key. After the drive, his only comment is "huh, it's not nearly as fast as my Hemi."

Sigh.

I never let anyone drive my car - I'll take them for rides instead.

Oh, back to your issue... try the Swepco, it can work minor miracles. Good luck!

[Paulporsche]

I hope your boss isn't head of brain surgery@ Atlanta General.

[wcc]

My brother and all my friends etc always ask to drive my car. They all are used to American made automatics and very little sticks. They claim to "know" how to drive a stick shift and they say "how different can it be". But my car has over 200000 miles on the clock now and I know the tranny hasn't been apart.............. yet............... I always say NO WAY!!

That's too bad that happened to you. It sounds like he was trying to drive it like his 15 year newer BMW.

I've always read good stuff about that Swepco stuff but haven't tried it myself. When I change the tranny fluid I'm going to try it. I hope you aren't looking at a rebuild.

[mkimber]

I let my brother drive my Carrera when he asked during a family function at my house. That was the first and last time I will let any one get behind the wheel. What a bonehead! The only vehicle with manual transmission he ever drove was a UPS truck, but he decides to start to live out some "Walter Mitty" fantasy about being a race car driver at Le Mans. Like Emissions, I had to become rude and told him to pull over and give me the keys.

[Shuie]

Hope you didnt miss your chance to look at your boss and say something like.....

[Fishcop]

Don't negate the fact that your gearbox is probably tired anyway...

[wcc]

Well sure the gearbox is probably tired. But that doesn't excuse that fact that his boss basically had ZERO respect for his things. I mean it's a car 15 years older and has a lot more miles than his 50000 mile 98 BMW. I know if it isn't my car I don't beat up on it unless it's a rental....

[JBO]

It's a catch22 - my neighbor has asked to drive mine, and luckily I have always been going somewhere with a deadline. He hasn't even driven a stick in 20 years. But if you outright say no you look like an ass, who is to attached to his car.

[wcc]

You should so NO... Tomorrow you should go to your neighbors house and ask to drive his car early in the morning. When he looks at you like you are crazy tell him that's why you don't want him driving your car. Just kidding on all of that but you should just say no. That's what I did that way there isn't any beating around the bush and no awkard moments. Plus they will stop asking.

[Hugh R]

Clutch adjust and shifter adjust before you spend any money.

[ischmitz]

I guess the shift coupler got pushed/twisted out of alignment when the tranny bucked and kicked back the shifter. That's a real easy fix. A missaligned shift coupler can make the nicest 915 feel like a piece of sh:t. I would also check the bushings in the tunnel while you are at it. They are old and brittle and cheap to replace.

Mechanical damage to the inards would manifest itself in other ways: Poping out of gear, not going into gear, no syncro action, etc). I don't think these are your problems, right.

In general I would not let anyone drive my car unless he/she has driven Porsches before, I get to drive his Porsche in return or he/she has the funds or skills to fix the car. Simple as that. You won't believe the arguments I had with valet parking guys.....

Good luck,
Ingo

[Emission]

I don't let others drive my car for their own protection.

The way I see it, my 930 has 130,000 mile on the clock and anything could go "boom" (or "poof") at any moment. I'd hate to have my friend, boss, or neighbor behind the wheel when the 930 does decide it's time for a $10,000 re-build...

I explain this to them up front - most all understand!

[zotman72]

One of the most charitable and dumbest things I ever have done was this past August when let my two brothers drive my '72 in a PCA/RMR DE at the now defunct Second Creek Raceway. It was brutal to for me to experience, as I attempted to be their instructor too. That only lasted the first day. Neither could shift a long throw, but well-adjusted 915 tranny to save their lives. 1st -->4th, 2d--->5th etc. They had a blast but my car did not. Recently I let my girlfriend drive my cars at DEs and she is by far a better driver than either of my brothers (combined!).
Live and learn. Incidently, both brothers are now expecting to do again next year, NOT!

Sidebar, one brother is looking for his own SC and the other is content to drive his Prius.

YMMV

[Evans, Marv]

I agree with Ingo. You should first look at the shift coupler. If your car has a lot of miles on it, the bushings might have been on the verge of needing replacement & that experience might have pushed them over the edge. As they deteriorate more, it will be harder to shift into other gears too.

[rcecale]

My older brother was visiting while I lived in Tahoe. He began to pressure me into letting him drive my Targa. He was relentless, trying every angle he could think of. I was able to squeeze out of every request....until he hit me with the big one..."C'mon, man, I know how to drive...I watch NASCAR!!!"

By the time I stopped laughing, he had long since returned to Michigan! I still get a chuckle out of that one.

Oh, btw, he still hasn't driven it!

Randy

[ChrisBennet]

I let pretty much all my friends drive my 911. Heck my car would go to the track without me sometimes! They never hurt it (ok, there was that guard rail at the Glen once). You guys just need friends that are better drivers.
-Chris

[87924gt]

I don't have any brothers or sisters, and I'm very selfish.... so there!
Steve E

[Jim Mallory]

Wow, good reading. I appreciate the suggestions and entertainment.

I will definitely do the following:

1. Check clutch freeplay
2. Inspect coupler/bushings
3. Drain/refill with with Swepco (haven't done it yet).

I did remove the metal squarish cover behind the front seats for the tranny tunnel yesterday to take a precursory look at the shift coupler and saw a thin layer of oil (tranny fluid?) coating the base of the shift tunnel! I assume that's tranny oil???

Shift coupler/bushings look good to my untrained eye, but I will inspect them again tonight.

regards,
Jim