hello to all the automatic people out there (2002 protege w/o that special tiptronic shifting). yes, i SEARCHED but really couldnt find anything helpful. okay, one, u remove the two screws to take the knob off. two, the o/d button on the knob is connected to the two wires. i just cut them and reconnected them to a button/switch else where or connect them together right? i cant yank the knob off without cutting the wires thats y, unless someone else can fill me in with a how-to? also, is it RICE to buy an auto shift knob that looks standard (like razo) and put a leather boot so it looks manual? just need opinions and help! thanks everyone - chris
Automagic Help!
- Thread starter L8R
- Start date
Esteban Toledo
Member
L8R said:
Yes. But if think you'll like it, that's all that matters. Best of luck.
auto shift knob how to
Here's a how to I put together at a yahoo group. It's kind of long. The pic is the final product, I used a mountain bike grip to cover the shaft.
Hehe, he said "shaft"
Hope this helps ya,
James T
Here are hihosilva's instructions for taking the shifter apart (from
"the other forum"):
What you need to do is - remove the cupholder trim. Just give a yank on the holders themselves - it should pop out pretty easily. There are two screws (phillips, I believe) on the back of the shift knob - zip them out. The knob will be loose and will pull up, but won't come off because of the wire (you won't really see the wire yet, though). BE CAREFUL if you pull the knob up the chrome button has a tendency to pop out and fly across the car - I lost the spring the first time, and had a helluva time finding it. Also - use a piece of tape or something to mark which end is "up" for the button - it fits in upside down, but will get stuck. You have to put it back in right-side up, or it won't work properly.Then you need to take off the silvery trim around the shifter itself - this requires a bit of force to snap off, but it's not a big deal. There is another black piece under it - the two might come off together, which is fine, because you need to remove both anyway. They won't come off all the way because the shift knob is still in place. But if you look in the (now uncovered") console, about where the driver's side cupholder was, you'll see a small white wiring harness. You'll need to get the two halves unsnapped, which isn't that easy because the harness is attached to the inside of the console. I accidentally snapped mine loose while trying - might not be a bad idea just to break it off its mount for easier access. No big thing - don't worry about leaving it loose when you put it all back together.
That harness is for the OD button, and I'm pretty sure it also is connected to the tiny orange bulb that illuminates the gear selector. Once you get the harness undone, you should be able to lift everything off - "everything" includes: The shift knob (remember to watch out for flying chrome buttons!) and "sleeve" below it (the OD wire goes through the sleeve), and both the silver trim and black part from underneath it. Try to keep everything together, it'll help you when it comes time to put it back together again. I'd assume that for the Razo, you'll need to clip the wire and attach it to the button on the new knob. My only issue with that Razo is that I would like it to sit lower than the stock knob. I figure this might require cutting the metal rod of the shifter, as well as the plastic plunger inside. I just think it might look kinda silly up high, and don't know how you'd hide the wire. I would want it to be flush with the black "slider" in the trim piece - if you can do that, the wire will automatically be hidden, and it'll look sweet!
Back to me. My shifter is a Matrix (kinda cheap) I didn't have to cut the metal stalk, but I did replace the plastic plunger (you could cut it, but I didn't want to do anything permanent). I used a piece of threaded metal tubing that is used in lamp building. You have to use a tube to fit over the "key" in the stalk at its base.That lamp building rod just so happened to fit perfectly. That allowed me to lower the shifter as far as possible. I just rewired the overdrive button to that switch. A momentary switch would be best, but I couldn't find one I liked.
Here's a how to I put together at a yahoo group. It's kind of long. The pic is the final product, I used a mountain bike grip to cover the shaft.
Hehe, he said "shaft"Hope this helps ya,
James T
Here are hihosilva's instructions for taking the shifter apart (from
"the other forum"):
What you need to do is - remove the cupholder trim. Just give a yank on the holders themselves - it should pop out pretty easily. There are two screws (phillips, I believe) on the back of the shift knob - zip them out. The knob will be loose and will pull up, but won't come off because of the wire (you won't really see the wire yet, though). BE CAREFUL if you pull the knob up the chrome button has a tendency to pop out and fly across the car - I lost the spring the first time, and had a helluva time finding it. Also - use a piece of tape or something to mark which end is "up" for the button - it fits in upside down, but will get stuck. You have to put it back in right-side up, or it won't work properly.Then you need to take off the silvery trim around the shifter itself - this requires a bit of force to snap off, but it's not a big deal. There is another black piece under it - the two might come off together, which is fine, because you need to remove both anyway. They won't come off all the way because the shift knob is still in place. But if you look in the (now uncovered") console, about where the driver's side cupholder was, you'll see a small white wiring harness. You'll need to get the two halves unsnapped, which isn't that easy because the harness is attached to the inside of the console. I accidentally snapped mine loose while trying - might not be a bad idea just to break it off its mount for easier access. No big thing - don't worry about leaving it loose when you put it all back together.
That harness is for the OD button, and I'm pretty sure it also is connected to the tiny orange bulb that illuminates the gear selector. Once you get the harness undone, you should be able to lift everything off - "everything" includes: The shift knob (remember to watch out for flying chrome buttons!) and "sleeve" below it (the OD wire goes through the sleeve), and both the silver trim and black part from underneath it. Try to keep everything together, it'll help you when it comes time to put it back together again. I'd assume that for the Razo, you'll need to clip the wire and attach it to the button on the new knob. My only issue with that Razo is that I would like it to sit lower than the stock knob. I figure this might require cutting the metal rod of the shifter, as well as the plastic plunger inside. I just think it might look kinda silly up high, and don't know how you'd hide the wire. I would want it to be flush with the black "slider" in the trim piece - if you can do that, the wire will automatically be hidden, and it'll look sweet!
Back to me. My shifter is a Matrix (kinda cheap) I didn't have to cut the metal stalk, but I did replace the plastic plunger (you could cut it, but I didn't want to do anything permanent). I used a piece of threaded metal tubing that is used in lamp building. You have to use a tube to fit over the "key" in the stalk at its base.That lamp building rod just so happened to fit perfectly. That allowed me to lower the shifter as far as possible. I just rewired the overdrive button to that switch. A momentary switch would be best, but I couldn't find one I liked.
Attachments
I have done the auto to "manual" look for my car. I went all the way as to installing a shift boot and a 3rd pedal. If I can find some pics when I get home I will post them. I gets compliments all the time about how "real" it looks.
I just cut the od button and rewired it to a switch. I never really use it though, so I just buried mine into the shift boot so you can't see it. Works for me!
I didn't have to cut the stock sitck, as it was short enough once everything was removed.
I just cut the od button and rewired it to a switch. I never really use it though, so I just buried mine into the shift boot so you can't see it. Works for me!
I didn't have to cut the stock sitck, as it was short enough once everything was removed.
ph0enixrising
Member
- :
- 2002.5 Mazda Protege5
Anyone done it to the auto with the sport shift? Seems like it would be easier since there is no OD button and the shifter itself already looks like a manual one. How did you guys install the boots into the center console?
deckedoutmp5
Member
- :
- 02 MP5 #3256
spazspike said:
hhmmmm .:thinking:.
Esteban Toledo
Member
No thread jack intended, but..........
Would it be possible to convert a standard auto to the sportshift? If so, how complicated do you think it would be?
Would it be possible to convert a standard auto to the sportshift? If so, how complicated do you think it would be?
deckedoutmp5
Member
- :
- 02 MP5 #3256
Re: No thread jack intended, but..........
i was goin to convert mine to a manual and throw in a lsd.. lets just say trade it in on one with the sport shift, LOTS OF work to do.
Esteban Toledo said:
i was goin to convert mine to a manual and throw in a lsd.. lets just say trade it in on one with the sport shift, LOTS OF work to do.
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