Car Clinic: What is the grating sound when I change from first to second gear in my Porsche Cayman S?

Q. Sometimes when it’s cold there is a grating sound when I change from first to second gear in my Porsche Cayman S. Any ideas?

SS, London

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A. The synchromesh hub (which aids smooth changes) sometimes wears in first and second gear in the Cayman, making second hard to select, especially when the oil is cold and thick. The ideal solution is a gearbox repair, but there is a temporary fix.

First, check the gearbox oil level is correct. Changing to a fully synthetic oil might help as it thickens less when cold. (It must be viscosity grade 75W-90.)

Before you set off, circulate oil around the gearbox by selecting each gear in turn and releasing the clutch each time you return to neutral.

TIM’LL FIX IT
Tim Shallcross used to train AA patrols to fix cars. Now he advises the Institute of Advanced Motoring — read more from Tim here.

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