Gear shift cover broken

[Amadauss1]

Was trying to get the car up on blocks to change oil and in my haste, pushed the gear lever back into number 1 very fast on auto trans. The gray plate cover that is around the handle broke and fell into the parts below or is laying there. Daughter left for college and calls in a panic telling me that on the dash where it shows what gear it is showing 3rd as the gear it is in but is actually in drive. Should I panic? Says it feels like its in drive and no issues so far but will it jump gear as she is driving?

Thanks.

[driverdriver]

Its a cosmetic part. As long as she knows which gear she's in she should be fine. I'd pick up a repalcement at a salvage yard.

[Gerardjg]

I replaced this on one of my J's many years ago. I got it at a salvage yard.

Fairly simple- remove the shift knob-remove the decorative trim-and then 4 screws lift up the shift cover. There is a light attached to the bottom right below the D which is hard
to unplug, I could not get it unplugged on mine and cut the wires and then spliced longer wires back to make it easier.

[swimshark]

so did it slip on the gear position and brake the piece around the shifter itself? I know the 97 were just made of straight plastic. the 93 and 94s are a plastic piece wrapped in leather.

[Amadauss1]

Sorry all for not writing back. Mother got sick and two weeks ago suffered a stroke. Passed away this past Friday and the funeral was yesterday. Have not even looked at the car. I think it broke into pieces and just fell down. The knob moves and goes into position but the pieces are down there. Have to take it off and this diagram put up will help a great deal, thanks very much. Going to work on that and the other pieces for the doors stuck in place, swimshark. Been so long, have to refresh myself on what I need to do to get the door panels off. Thanks again everyone.

G, big question is how to remove shifter knob? Looking at it, does not seem to turn (tried that) and after I get the knob off, where does that allow me to get to those screws. Does the cover just snap up and off? Thanks.

[yodawill2000]

So Sorry for your loss.

[Amadauss1]

After reading a little bit further on site, I am realizing the shifter knob does not actually come off but you have to raise the things under it to get at the inside. Correct?

[yodawill2000]

If I recall the button on top can be pried off and that reveals a Nut holding the knob on ??

[yodawill2000]

Found this in the DIY forum thread.

Removing J30 shift knob:

Directions courtesy of Deathdealer

Alright, I have searched about everywhere to find out how to remove the stock shift knob on the automatic transmission so I could put a custom one on without breaking something.
Now, I'm going to share my knowledge if there are any others like myself.

It's obviously very simple, but if you're a bit cautios like me then you probably don't want to attempt it without knowing for sure what to do. I have found alot of opinions from people about how to remove it, but noone that had experience doing it.

Step 1: We'll have to remove the unlock button that you have to push down to shift out of neutral and park. To do this, stick a flathead screwdriver, or something of that nature, between the button and the shifter on the side facing the back of the car. Do not try to remove the inner, plastic trim around the button. Push down ion the tool and pry the button up. You shouldn't have to apply much pressure to do this, so if you're really trying to force it then you're probably doing something wrong and should stop and have a beer.

Step 2: Once the button pops up and off, you'll see 3 screws. These aren't very important because they only hold down the plastic trim down.

Step 3: Pull off the rod cap and spring - but make sure to keep them as you will probably need them for your custom knob.

Step 4: You'll see a large bolt down in the middle of the knob. This is a bit awkward to get to, but I was able to unscrew it with needle-nose pliers. Unscrew it, pull off the knob, and there you have it! Piece of cake.

I hope this helps!

[Amadauss1]

I will give it a try and let you know how it works out. Thank you very much for the help on this.

[Amadauss1]

popped the cover and found the four screws, pulled those and can lift thatpiece right up. My problem is the knob and that top release piece that has to come off in order to get to the release below to take the gear shift knob off. I am able to get a small flat head screw driver to pop this top plastic piece off but just wanted to confirm because it seems some force has to be used and fear I could damage it not knowing how it actually seats into position. Is anyone sure what it looks like underneath and will I be breaking any parts on that cover when I snap it out? Thanks.

[xxcrashxx]

yes, you need to pop off the center push button on the actual shifter knob. after that, you will need a deep welled socket(not sure on the size, maybe 10-13mm??) once you get that bolt off, you will be able to lift the whole handle off. i actually did this so that i could put a leather boot and a shifter knob that makes it look like a manual... lol.

[Amadauss1]

Thanks for the response. I am guessing it will come off with some force but you said you were replacing it with another type knob so you did not have to worry about it staying on when put back or going back in its original place with no issues, right? That is my concern. I was hoping someone had actually popped it off and then put it back with no issues to confirm it going back on. If you read one of the posts, above someone said if you are having a hard time getting it off, don't do it. That's my fear. I guess if I break it, I can change my knob or get the part somewhere but want to make it easy with the least amount of problems.

[xxcrashxx]

Heres a couple pix of my shifter. kinda dark here in florida now, so the only light i had was the lights above the shifter, and I had to use my iphone 3gs.


With knob on and boot up


knob off and boot down, the bolt that is on there is at the top of the silver shaft, in the center is the actual thing that gets pressed down to shift. there should be a white plastic cap on top of the center thing.


stock shifter with top off, bolt in the middle.


shot into opening of top of shifter with button off.

as long as you take the bolt off first, you will be able to put everything back like normal. theres no force needed to get the shifter knob off.

[Amadauss1]

Thanks for the help and pics. That one pic that shows the nut or bolt, the shifter and that top piece on the table, is that top piece (one on the left looking at picture) the piece I am talking about that I seem to be having the question on? If so I can understand why it is a little difficult to pop out now seeing how big it is and going that deep of a size. I guess that is why I am worried about breaking something. So you just put the screw driver underneath it and pushed it up then to get it out? Again, thank you very much for your help.

Here is a pic of mine in place. http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15 ... arknob.jpg

[xxcrashxx]

your picture is actually amazing to help describe it. the button that gets pressed down to allow you to shift is what has to be popped off. the way i did it was i just took a small flathead and jammed it between the button and the plastic rim going straight down, then just pry the button up and it popped out. it really just snaps into the knob via the plastic rim that is around the button. either prying from the front of the back will work fine

[Amadauss1]

Thanks very much. Do photography as a hobby so have some very good lens to get some great shots. Will give it a try this evening and let you know how it turned out.

[Amadauss1]

Hi, was able to snap it up with some effort. Their are two clips on the side of the know that hold it in place. I would suggest working it a little with a very small screw driver (flat head) and then pop it up. I am including some pictures of what is there along with the ones already on this thread. I am finding their is a black piece that goes underneath the flat piece that shows the gears and slides along with the know when moving the gear shift that has broke for me and this is my issue. very small 1 inch wide by about 12 inches long that slides along and also controls confirms what gear you are in. Now need to find one.

http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15 ... hparts.jpg

http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15 ... G_5392.jpg