Porsche Boxster 986 Transmission Removal and Installation (Project 37)

Project 37: from the 101 Projects for your Porsche Boxster book
This video shows you how to remove and reinstall the transmission in a 1997 Porsche Boxster base 986. Complete step-by-step guide!
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Clutch Replacement VIdeo: • Porsche Boxster 986 Cl...
RMS Replacement Video: • Porsche Boxster 986 RM...
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986 Service Manual:
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I am a Do It Yourself, also known as DIY, mechanic. I am NOT a professional mechanic. I do not have any formal training in the automotive field.
Help Me DIY assumes no liability for anything you choose to do to your car, before, or after watching one of my videos or utilizing the content from this web site.
All DIY repairs or modifications you perform to your car are made at your own risk. Sometimes, even if you've done everything the right way, you can destroy or damage one or more things on your car. You must understand this, but by leveraging knowledge and patience, the probability of encountering one or more problems can be reduced.
Also, if for some unfortunate reason, I do give incorrect instructions and something breaks because you followed my instructions, I will NOT reimburse or pay in any way for whatever cost that may be incurred due to following my wrong instructions.
Lastly, please don't do anything to your car unless you yourself feel comfortable and confident in doing so.

[@tressindar]

This video is amazing. You guys are doing great work. Now I have myself a Porsche transmission to remove...

[@HelpMeDIY]

+@tressindar thank you! Come back and let us know how it goes 🍻

[@stefanshapiro1245]

Great work, always impressed by the good camera work. Having done this job many times, here are some notes: - You can disconnect the exhaust anywhere. I find it by far easiest to disconnect at the flange between the headers and the cat. - You need a stubby triple square tool. In a pinch you can cut your tool in half but to get proper torque on reassembly you will need the stubby. - It's good practice to remove the transmission fill plug before removing the drain plug. - The cable ball joints pop right off if you put the pry tools (screwdrivers in this case) on exact opposite sides. - The proper procedure for filling the 5-speed transmission is to fill it until 11 mm below opening, not overflowing as with the 6-speed. - It's best to get the transmission completely aligned and chunked into place before starting the bolts to avoid possible cross-threading. You can screw 2 or more studs (bolts with heads cut off) to get perfect alignment. - It's easier to wiggle off and on the transmission with the car lower, not over your head. Cheers.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Stefan Shapiro thanks man, and great tips! Having now done this exactly one time I have learned a lot 😁

[@KeithBickford]

Good notes. On lowering the car, also safer.

[@lifeasusual]

These notes have helped me a lot. Thank you for that.

[@lifeasusual]

An extremely helpful video for me. Thank you for that.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+@lifeasusual glad to help! 🍻

[@cs_yt]

NIce to see all the details. Tip to make any tranny install easier. Get 4 bolts specs, that connects the tranny to the engine, buy them longer(2 longer than the other 2), cut the heads, cut a slot(so you can use a screwdriver to remove them later). Put them by hand(longer ones on the bottom. When you approach the tranny to the engine, support the tranny on the bottom 2, then push up to match the top 2. When all 4 are in, the tranny will slide in easily. Add the real bolts and remove the guide ones. Your back will thank you later.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+cs_yt ahhh… like wheel studs. Brilliant! 🍻

[@jasonmx5]

I feel super accomplished having done this job completely by myself in my buddie's garage while the car was only on jack-stands. Watching this reminds me how intricate this job is. I just brought home another project and will have to do this again so the video is a great refresher - at least I have a quickjack now, so that should make things a little easier. Re-aligning everything to get the trans re-attached was definitely the hardest part of the job.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+jasonmx5 I did too! It’s the most “car” thing I’ve done it feels like 😂

[@gabemaurer6892]

Great video, operation successful!

[@HelpMeDIY]

+@gabemaurer6892 thanks and congrats! 🍻

[@custodioespinal4995]

You guys were so lucky that transmission didn't fall on your head I can't believe no one was holding it😂

[@HelpMeDIY]

+@custodioespinal4995 I know! 😆

[@TheEddysGarage]

I’m so glad I didn’t tackle this one myself. Recovering from a shoulder injury would have made it impossible, probably dangerous and I’m hurt enough 😆

[@HelpMeDIY]

+The Eddys Garage lessons learned and shared! Transmission jack highly recommended 😬

[@helmhurst]

great vids guys

[@HelpMeDIY]

+@helmhurst appreciate it! 🍻

[@maximusadramadus1385]

Nice Catch!

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Maximus Adramadus haha thanks!

[@KeithBickford]

Great video. A few observations if I may. 1. Remove end link bolts before sway bar bolts to avoid having to hold the sway bar while loosening end links 2. Use boxed end wrench on the double square tool on the transmission bolt. Like you tried with the ratchet wrench. Just slide it forward to the bolt head to turn it. 3. Undo the transmission bolts before removing the mounts to the mounts will hold the transmission. 4. Remove the bottom bolts first so the transmission isn’t hanging from the bottom bolt which is dangerous.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Keith thanks! 🍻

[@gumpster66]

PB Blaster is some great stuff.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Scott Shrader 👍👍

[@Sky123music]

This is one person job , I just did one today. Job like this, more people more problems

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Sky music 😂 too many cooks?

[@alldersonjames3806]

I LOVE YOU man!

[@HelpMeDIY]

+AllDerSon James 😂 thank you? Consider becoming a channel member? 😉🍻

[@dumpsterfire6351]

I felt that 😅

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Dumpsterfire oh me too 😂

[@gumpster66]

Great information. Thanks for sharing. I’m looking at a 2006 Boxster S manual transmission 😊

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Scott Shrader you’re welcome, good luck! 👍

[@georgewcamp]

Good work team. It looked like the top shifting cable was not seated in the bracket fully, but looks like a success!

[@HelpMeDIY]

+George Camp thanks! Definitely a hard earned success 😁

[@gumpster66]

Definitely helps to have a buddy to assist.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Scott Shrader for sure!

[@19lol19]

I love how they worked as a team to problem solve...

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Peanut Man there were many to solve 😆

[@mikedx2706]

CV JOINTS should only be greased with cv grease, never multi-purpose grease. They have different wear additive packages in the greases.

[@spyderborg]

30:50 This bolt was such a huge headache when I did this job. Had to go out and get the special bit for it and I still ended up stripping the bolt head pretty bad. Still managed to get it out though. I replaced it with a much more sensible standard 6-point head bolt. I have never for the life of me been able to figure out why the engineers decided to used that abominable piece of hardware only in that one specific spot

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Bryan agree 💯!

[@hobbyaddictnbroke7678]

I'm currently fighting to get my transmission back in my 08 boxster s. I've spent way too much time laying on cement doing heavy lifting. Seems getting the shaft to nest with the clutch is nearly impossible. When it's aligned will the transmission house mate up completely with the motor or will there still be a gap

[@HelpMeDIY]

+hobbyaddict nbroke do you have the alignment tool? We used it if I recall.

[@hobbyaddictnbroke7678]

Yes, I used an alignment tool but I'm still fighting it!

[@bendunn7122]

Is there any tips for putting the clutch slave cylinder back in?

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Ben Dunn I don’t sorry, but maybe someone else can chime in. Or ask on my Facebook page

[@gumpster66]

“We’re in the bolt hole.” … That’s what she said 😅

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Scott Shrader 😂

[@brucewayne2773]

That transmission falling onto your shoulder was not a good experience, lol...having a lift makes life so much better.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+bruce wayne usually… 😆

[@mikedx2706]

It was stupid to remove it so far up in the air. What idiotic amateurs.

[@HelpMeDIY]

@@mikedx2706 well if your smart professional ass would have made a video on this we would have known how to do it. But you didn’t. Now people know. Thanks for your valuable contribution. 😂

[@gabemaurer6892]

My 2002 Boxster S has the original muffler on it, Just one big muffler across the whole back end. It was impossible to get out without taking the rear bumper off. Once I did that, everything else was way more accessible as I'm doing this with the car jacked up, no lift. :(

[@HelpMeDIY]

+@gabemaurer6892 yeah those 2 top bolts are brutal with the bumper on!

[@gumpster66]

That star looking socket is called a Torque bit/socket

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Scott Shrader “torx”

[@williamaxenfield3742]

Are you planning on doing a video for an automatic transmission?

[@HelpMeDIY]

+William Axenfield no, no plans since I don’t have one. But if someone wants to come do theirs while I film….

[@audioinstigator821]

1999 Porsche boxster. Car wont move in gear, Flashes from P and 4th gear ?!?!? Had it parked for 6 months now when put into any gears it does not move 🙁 Any suggestions?

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Audio Instigator assume that’s an automatic then? Never heard of that one, sorry

[@audioinstigator821]

@@HelpMeDIY yes it is

[@gumpster66]

Are all the bolts on a Boxster metric?

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Scott Shrader yes

[@peterwonaprize]

Holy crap dude…👀 where is the transmission jack?

[@HelpMeDIY]

+mcnuggs I should really look into getting one shouldn’t I? 😂

[@marcgalloway1926]

Any plans on doing this with a Automatic transmission? Seems like there are tons of videos with everyone removing the manual transmission but nothing for the automatic.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Marc Galloway no plans. There are a few incomplete ones on the manual transmission you mean… until now 😁

[@marcgalloway1926]

@@HelpMeDIY lol very true. All your videos are top notch and the camera work is excellent!

[@HelpMeDIY]

@@marcgalloway1926 thanks 🍻

[@Juan-VargasJV]

Is this the 5 speed? How much power can these handle?

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Thesheepdog yes it is. Not sure on the power 🤷‍♂️

[@johnmorgan7262]

Someone -- read the dealer -- did not remove the axles from the wheels when doing this job. They ended up bending the aluminum cover near the cv joint. Of course they did not tell me. The rubber bellows lasted about five years - but then failed disclosing their handiwork. Bottom line - if you leave the axles attached to the hubs - be very careful

[@HelpMeDIY]

+John Morgan wow. After just doing this job it would be really hard to damage those! Another reason not to let anyone else work on your car

[@johnmorgan7262]

@@HelpMeDIY you left the exhaust attached there. I bet they did not.

[@RuslanVideoFilms]

This video helped me remove my 987 transmission! The big differences on the 987: * Slave cylinder is impossible to remove without draining because the clutch linkage is in the way * Reverse sensor is on the other side kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGLJn3l8m7Kdlbs

[@HelpMeDIY]

Thanks for the additional info!

[@19lol19]

Where does everyone with porsche hangout here in NC? I see tons, but not seeing everyone meeting up...

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Peanut Man join your local PCA chapter! Where are you?

[@19lol19]

@@HelpMeDIY I'm in matthews, nc

[@HelpMeDIY]

@@19lol19 not that far, just under 2 hours I think

[@tomaszs5954]

Wow! It looked very hard to remove and putting it back was even harder. It doesn't look like a job for one person. I didn't get why you were changing gears and shaking the gearbox back and forth though.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Tomasz S with an actual transmission jack one person could theoretically do it, but yeah, two is better for sure.

[@peter3791]

herzliche gratulation, ich wollte das gleiche allein machen, aber jetzt ?? Niemals : ))) sonderwerkzeuge, was ich nicht habe . . . .

[@HelpMeDIY]

+peter Links zu allen Tools finden Sie in der Beschreibung unten…

[@gregoriomorales2553]

BRO!!!IKNEW IT WAS GONNA FALL !!!! ALWAYS USE A HICH JACK TO HOLD IT

[@HelpMeDIY]

+gregorio morales hahaha lesson learned 😁

[@frankleonard6291]

Dam no IMS bearing view ??, no clutch install footage ?????

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Frank Leonard settle down. Settle down. There’s a separate video for the clutch.

[@whahl]

I was shocked to see owner of Porsche working on it in sandals as he almost lost cover. Hope you have insurance if he severs he toe.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+whahl to each their own I suppose. Waivers were signed 😆

[@samteague2342]

Oh it gets even better, I'm a nurse, and know way better than to work in sandals, I just have zero regard for my own safety.

[@dumpsterfire6351]

Way to TRY TO spoil all the fun Wanker

[@EdA-bz3bu]

I am surprised the boss did NOT kick your @$$. (I am sure you don’t want to hear this) WWYT? Could have cracked your scull, crushed your feet…….. *so glad you are ok. ✌️

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Ed A yeah me too, thanks! This is the difference between reading that two people can remove it by hand and seeing what that actually entails. Next time: legit transmission jack 😆

[@networkbits8958]

it should slide right on if you used the clutch alignment tool.....you did use the clutch alignment tool didnt you?!

[@HelpMeDIY]

+networkbits yea the alignment tool was used (and shown)

[@KeithBickford]

The main thing I learned is that I will be paying someone else to do my IMS, RMS, and clutch.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+Keith 😂 that usually makes watching how to do it worth it too!

[@andrewmichaelcrook340]

Why would you not clean

[@HelpMeDIY]

+andrew michael crook not clean what?

[@sjfk1306]

Someone has never used a power ratchet before? That’s not a impact tool. It’s a electric ratchet.. Have to break stuff free then spin it out with that.

[@HelpMeDIY]

+SJ FK oh, did what I do not work? Is there only one way to do it? Sorry, but it’s AN electric ratchet 😉