What's the trick to get the gear shift knob back in place?

[showme]

Just changed out my daughters '04 Quests' console cover that I broke while trying to remove it (to repair one little crack). Then, when I took out the shifter knob, the little tab that holds it in place broke off, so I had to get another knob set to replace that, too. I've got the "new" console cover back in and I'm attempting to get the gear shift back together so I can be done with it and sell this van. But I'm having trouble getting it all the way in to place.

The white plastic hollow rod is on, and I've slipped the knob's shaft cover back in, but when I slide the knob back down the shaft, the new knob's little latch tab isn't engaging. It feels like it's bottoming out on the shaft, but it's like the clip/tab doesn't make it far enough to engage and stay in place. And it just slides back up the shifter column when I pull up on it. I tried pulling the knob's front button for shifting in, and pushing the side button (not sure what it's for) but neither seems to help. Is there a trick to this? Also, the new/used knob came with a white plastic rod, so I tried it too. Both of them look fine and show no damage.

The two rectangular holes in the plastic inner rod are supposed to face the tab, right? Or are they supposed to point to the sides? I started to just shove the plastic piece into the knob assembly to see if it would latch that way, but I was afraid I'd get it stuck and break off the tab again. So, has anyone had this problem before, or does anyone know what the correct procedure for re-installing this shift knob? Am I doing something wrong here? Thanks in advance for any ideas of help on this. I just want to get this done so I can sell it and get it out of my driveway!

[VStar650CL]

Sounds like the lock pawl on your knob is busted. See AT-249 here:
https://www.nicoclub.com/service-manual ... 4%2Fat.pdf

The ones where the button actuator "hooks" into a square hole usually do need to have the button pulled out manually while dropping the knob onto the shaft.

[showme]

What button are you talking about? Mine is the type you described with the rectangular hole in the white plastic cover that goes on the shaft, which looks like it's as far down as it will go. But when I push down on the knob it doesn't want to budge. Even when I tried pulling the front lever or pushing the side button. Do you mean I'm supposed to pull one of those out instead of pushing/pulling in? All the manual says is push down until it engages. I didn't try starting the van when I was attempting to get it on there. Maybe that will work. But which button are you talking about when you said to pull it out? Thanks, Lee

[VStar650CL]

The front button, the one you press to take it out of Park. Yes, they often need to be pulled out in order for the internal lever to "hook" that rectangular hole. Most Nissan shifters have an arrangement which directly presses the inner shaft downward, but I think yours is more like a gen2 Rogue. On those the internal lever works opposite, so the knob spring obstructs the knob from sliding into place unless the button is pulled out. I usually work a small hook tool under the bottom lip of the button to pull it out while I slide the knob on.

[VStar650CL]

PS - The reason it works opposite is because on other models the spring is inside the shifter, so the knob doesn't need to grab anything. On shifters with the hole at the top, the spring is inside the knob. So they accomplish the same thing (the knob forces the shaft downward and the button allows it to lift) but the knobs work differently. One simply lifts up and lets the spring in the shifter do the work, while in the hook and hole type the button needs to lift up on the shaft to relieve it.

[showme]

Ok, thanks for this information, Vstar. Sorry it's taken so long to get back on here. I'm not getting email alerts letting me know there have been replies. I haven't gone back out to try it yet. Had a doctor's appt in St. Louis all morning, and then had some chores to attend to, but I'm getting back out there in the morning to tackle this. I guess these are decent vehicles, but I've had nothing but bad luck every time I've tried to work on this for my daughter. It's been a nightmare.

[showme]

Well, I finally got the thing to go down. It seems that what was/is keeping it from dropping into place were the two copper wires that come out of the knob. Seems the replacement that I got (used but in good condition), wires are tad bit longer than the original knob, and either they're not going down into the holes they're supposed to seat in or the wires just 'push up' when they hit that spot. So I either get to use it and not have direct contact on those two conductors, or I don't get to shift gears. I went ahead and left them pushed up after many attempts to get them moved into position so they would insert into the two receptacles. What are those things for, anyway?

[VStar650CL]

It's for the OD button on the side of the knob.

[showme]

Thank you! So, if they happen to NOT be making contact, that means that only the overdrive button will be affected? I can't see that as being a terrible thing. Is it?

[VStar650CL]

The button just won't work. No other worries.

[showme]

Ok, thanks for verifying that and your help solving the problem. At the very least it's roadworthy now. I had to move it out of the drive to get my bike on the porch for the winter (no garage here). I was starting to sweat when I couldn't figure out how to get that thing on. Lee

[VStar650CL]