Porsche Repair: 95 Porsche 968, porsche 968, individual cars

Question
Hello Dave,

I have a problem with the Tiptronic transmission. When the car is put in "D" (Drive) it starts in 2nd gear, only when I manually drop it to 1st gear will it start in 1st, even when I come to a stop it will drop only back to 2nd gear and start from there. Any ideas? I'm baffled! Thank you,  Rick

Answer
Hi Rick.  Is this a new condition?  Or did you just notice this is how the Tiptronic works?  I don't have any specific knowledge of the Tiptronic, but it wouldn't surprise me if the 'problem' you cite is actually designed in.

This trick is similar to the one on a Mercedes, where Drive means that the car will start from a stop in the 2nd of 4 gears every time, rather than shifting all the way down to 1st.  1st gear is always manually applied through the shift lever.  I assume this has to do with improving the gas mileage quotes the manufacturers make on their individual cars, and as part of thei fleet mileage quotas.

I can't think of any linkage issues or valving problems that would actually "cause" this condition.  So...if the car used to get to 1st every time...and now it doesn't...well...I wish I had an answer, but I don't.

One other place you could go for another opinion is one of the 944 forums on the internet.  If you search on '944 forum' you'll find a ready source of willing owners who love to answer questions and talk about their cars.  At least if you get their opinions, you'd know if you were the only 968 in the country with this BAFFLING problem.

Good Luck

Dave