Gear Lever electrical connection?

[Rx-Kench]

Hi folks,

After doing a bit of prodding to prepare myself for my upcoming xcarlink install (w00t), i gently prised off the surround around the gearlever. Now, the xcarlink install guide i've been using suggests unscrewing the gearlever knob first, but i found that i just couldn't twist it. I'm not a small guy, either. So i prised up the surround to see what's what.

...and discovered a small electric wire running into the gearknob, which had been cut (not by me) and the connector it was meant to go into just sitting there.

What is this? is it some sort of light-up gearlever? Should i get out the old soldering kit and re-attach it? I'm pretty sure whoever cut it did so on purpose.

Cheers, and i'll try to get a photo posted.

Kench

EDIT: Photos! Excuse the hosting please.

http://www.bettwsbach.co.uk/Misc/RobMisc/PA060052.JPG - The cut wire.
http://www.bettwsbach.co.uk/Misc/RobMisc/PA060053.JPG - Where the wire goes up into the gear knob
http://www.bettwsbach.co.uk/Misc/RobMisc/PA060054.JPG - Another view of the wire, the connector and where it disappears into the dash!

Thanks in advance.

 

[solidtrance]

that would be the 12v wire for the optional lighted shift knob. If you connect it the shift knob should light up where the shift pattern is displayed.

 

[Rx-Kench]

Magic, thanks. I had guessed as much. Is it worth it? It would have been nice of the previous owner to disconnect it rather than cut it...

 

[solidtrance]

I would say it is worth at least checking to see if the lights still work. The shift knob should look a little diferent than the stock one. I would recomend using a multimeter to check the 12v sig before you hook it back up. Radio shack should have everything you would need to get this up and running again. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, one of the guys working at the radio shack could help. Some of the guys that work there are pretty knowledgable. I would be they would jump at the chance to "work" on an 8.

Just looked at your pics. I have no idea why someone wouldnt just disconnect it. CFS (cant fix stupid). At least he or she left you enough room to use a butt connector to puit it all back together.