How to: Non-Leather Shift Knob replacement - '98-'02 (2 Viewers)

[Ayune]

Hi folks,

My AT shift knob had worn & cracked leather so I took a slight gamble and bought an 80-series vinyl knob to test, P/N 33542-20150-C0. Turns out it works perfectly if you're willing to ditch your leather. The knob is a cushy vinyl and feels great to me. It looks 100x better too.

Worn leather vs. new vinyl:

Side-by-side comparison:

The tools you'll need:

- Phillips head screwdriver
- Small flathead screwdriver
- Long pointy metal pick

The steps to DIY:

1. Buy new knob, it's around $85, P/N 33542-20150-C0

2. Remove shifter console bezel:
- Unscrew transfer case knob.
- Move AT shift lever to N (I did it via the shift release button under the small cover so my key wouldn't have to remain in the ignition while working, possibly draining battery)
- Grab inside the cup holder and pull up hard. There are two pressure clips directly under each cup holder, once they release the rest of the bezel will rise up.
- Unplug the seat heater and PWR/2ND switches.
- Lift off bezel and set aside.

3. Remove two phillips screws on front of shift knob. Careful not to drop them into the bowels of the console.

4. Release O/D harness from plastic clip on rear of shifter housing (below left), and release the connector on the passenger side by gently prying up retention tab with small flathead screwdriver (below right). Unplug the connector from its mate.

 

[Ayune]

5. You'll need to remove the two white O/D wires from the connector (below left). Here's how:
- Using the small flathead screwdriver lift up the large flat tab on the side of the connector (below right). It only lifts up a little as you can see below.

- Using the long pick, you'll need to gently move the plastic tabs that are holding in the two pins. I've circled the tabs in the left pic below, and drawn arrows showing how they should be moved. While you're moving each tab with the pick, gently pull on that wire and it will pull out. Don't pull too hard...

6. When the wires are free from the connector gently pull the shift knob upwards while holding in the thumb release button.
- Be sure to guide the O/D wires at the bottom of the shift mechanism so they don't get hung up.
- When the knob lifts off the post, slowly release the thumb button and remove it and its spring. Set the button & spring aside.
- Gently remove the knob while constantly guiding the O/D wires from below. The metal pins may get hung up when passing through the shift post, just be gentle and jiggle the wires until they come out on their own.

7. Take the knob to your bench and gently pry out the O/D switch using the long pick as shown below.

- The O/D switch is held into the knob via a couple friction tabs:

8: Fish the O/D wires into the new knob and press the switch housing into place. Looks good!

 

[Ayune]

9: Take the new knob back to the truck and gently fish the O/D wire back down the shift post. You'll have to twist and jiggle the wires to get 'em to go, but be patient and keep jiggling! You can rest the knob on the t-case shifter while you work the wires through.

- If you peek underneath the shifter assembly you'll see where the O/D wires will come out. Keep finagling the wires until they poke out and help them along so they don't get hung up.

10. Gently pull on the O/D wires while lowering the knob down to the post. When it's almost there (below left) reinsert the thumb button & spring (below right). Depress & hold the button with your thumb, and finish lowering the knob all the way down onto the post while gently pulling on the O/D wires from below to help it down.

11. Install the two phillips screws on the front of the knob.

12. Route the O/D wires under the shifter mechanism toward the white connector. Move the shifter back & forth a few times to be sure the O/D wires aren't getting caught on anything.

13. Re-insert the two O/D wires into the connector until they click. They can go into either hole, it doesn't matter which. They do have to be oriented in the hole the correct way, though.

14. Push back in the large white tab on the side of the connector and plug the two connectors back together. Clip them back on to the shifter frame, and pass the two cables through the plastic wire holders.

15. Plug the seat heater and PWR/2ND switches back in and re-install the shifter console bezel.
- Insert the front of the bezel under the ashtray panel first, then pivot it down into the cup holders.
- Push down on the bezel to seat all of the friction clips.

16. DONE! Happy shifting.

 

[brando1]

Great write up, could have used it a week ago.

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

Great writeup!

 

[Mojay101]

Fantastic! Thanks you for the detailed write up, pictures and product numbers!!

 

[jstew0903]

Excellent write up! Thank you for taking the time to do it

 

[Beanzermin]

I've been wanting to swap to the LX470 wood shifter! This will be perfect! Thank you!

 

[01gxr]

Btw gcc spec fzj100 come with a vinyl shifter you should take a look at it not sure if it was the same as the 80s or a little darker in color

 

[TnTnola]

I bought the same part and installed it on my 1998 last month. My favorite interior mod! Thanks for the excellent write-up.

 

[Chris Reiblein]

What does the shifter look like if just take the leather cover off?

 

[64fabius]

 

[slacker24-7]

What does the shifter look like if just take the leather cover off?

Actually it looks pretty good. It’s black vinyl with a little white showing , I took my leather off a couple years ago after seeing a buddy’s that had done the same

 

[mobi-arc]

Took less than an hour. Looks much better than the weathered leather after 240,000 miles.

 

[M1VOOD2O]

Will removing the leather jacket on the original shift knob be almost the same?

 

[TheLCProject]

Will removing the leather jacket on the original shift knob be almost the same?

Sometimes there is a little white plastic showing once the leather is gone and sometimes it's black. By the looks of the photos, the one that was installed in the photos in this thread has material all the way to the where the buttons go and it looks much smoother.

 

[M1VOOD2O]

Sometimes there is a little white plastic showing once the leather is gone and sometimes it's black. By the looks of the photos, the one that was installed in the photos in this thread has material all the way to the where the buttons go and it looks much smoother.

Thanks. I thought about just removing the leather jacket. Maybe once my cover becomes really bad I'll take it off.

 

[pat356jones]

9: Take the new knob back to the truck and gently fish the O/D wire back down the shift post. You'll have to twist and jiggle the wires to get 'em to go, but be patient and keep jiggling! I rested the knob on the t-case shifter for convenience.

View attachment 1892451

- If you peek underneath the shifter assembly you'll see where the O/D wires will come out. Keep finagling the wires until they poke out and help them along so they don't get hung up.

View attachment 1892452

10. Gently pull on the O/D wires while lowering the knob down to the post. When it's almost there (below left) reinsert the thumb button & spring (below right), press them in, and finish lowering the knob all the way down onto the post. Keep gently pulling on the O/D wires from below to help it down.

View attachment 1892453

11. Install the two phillips screws on the front of the knob.

12. Route the O/D wires under the shifter mechanism toward the white connector. Move the shifter back & forth a few times to be sure the O/D wires aren't getting caught on anything.

13. Re-insert the two O/D wires into the connector until they click. They can go into either hole, it doesn't matter which. They do have to be oriented in the hole the correct way, though.

14. Push back in the large white tab on the side of the connector and plug the two connectors back together. Clip them back on to the shifter frame, and pass the two cables through the wire plastic holders.

View attachment 1892457

15. Plug the seat heater and PWR/2ND switches back in and re-install the shifter console bezel.
- Insert the front of the bezel under the ashtray panel first, then pivot it down into the cup holders.
- Push down on the bezel to seat all of the friction clips.

16. DONE! Happy shifting.

Thank you for the detailed instructions! This is very helpful.

 

[sigjar]

Hi! I tried to change the knob with a wood knob. They seem very similar, but when I put it back, the “transmission switch”/red thing on the transmission stick is constantly on.
1.Is there a specific way the red button shown on 9
Is supposed to enter the knob?
2. is there actually a function of the knob which allows to shift gear?

 

[Ayune]

Hi! I tried to change the knob with a wood knob. They seem very similar, but when I put it back, the “transmission switch”/red thing on the transmission stick is constantly on.
1.Is there a specific way the red button shown on 9
Is supposed to enter the knob?
2. is there actually a function of the knob which allows to shift gear?

Hi there!

The sloped (angled) part of the red piece must point toward the thumb button. This is the mechanical release for the shifter and does not actually shift the gears.

When you say “constantly on” do you mean the Overdrive button on the side of the shifter? Or the thumb button is always pushed in?