Shifter trim creak

[Antonio DiMarco]

Guys sorry if this is a repost but I could have sworn that I saw a post that described and offered a solution to a creak that eminated from the CX-9's shifter trim/center console plastic trim. It's a very subtle sound that's driving me nuts in the CX-9's otehrwise very quiet interior. I believe it's coming from the square piano black trim piece with the jigsaw shitgate that is flanked with silver edges that sits on top of the main center console.

Like I said I could have sworn I saw a post about it but I've searched and found nothing. Please help.

Thanks

 

[ceric]

One of the clips that hold it in place might be broken.
Check with the dealer next time you go there.

 

[tonyj]

I dis-assembled my gate shifter and covered all the edges w/ electrical tape and also coated the shifter underneath the black sheet w/ grease, then re-assembled. No more squeaks.

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

I actually took the entire assembly apart down to the shifter subassembly. I applied some soy-based lithium grease to all the contact points where the clips contacted and also sprayed some silicone spray between the silver shift plate and the piano black trim piece. Squeak is totally gone now. I believe part of the issue was that someone spilled a little bit of coffee in that area and it got between stuff (the car was a dealer demo). CLeaning all that out and lubbing solved the problem.

 

[Platinum GT]

...shitgate ...

hehehe...

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

Ha, gotta try and spell check my entries next time.

 

[ceric]

Ha, gotta try and spell check my entries next time.

Don't do that. It makes it more fun to read forum postings....

 

[Gnef]

Should I expect this piece to easily move around? Have a 2011 with <50 miles on it and not only does it have some finish rubbed off on it (white marks) in two pieces, but it moves easily a few mm in either direction if you push on it.

This little thing and then the overall quality of the leather seats makes me sad to give up my 99 Audi A4 (kids happened thrice since '99). My 2nd row middle seat came with a huge indentation in the foam that I think I'm not going to be able to live with. There's creasing that my ancient Audi never suffered from. I dread to think of what the car seats are going to do to the CX-9, although I had one in the back of the A4 for 3 years that I just pulled and 2 days later you can't tell it was ever there.

Okay, enough whining! Should this piece move around - that's the question...

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

Yes the trim moves slightly, probably so it won't creak or do weird things with temp changes. So far our black leather seats are holding up fine. I use Zaino leather cleaner and conditioner. buy this for your car seats.

https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)

I purchased mine at Target. Best thing I ever did. There is also an ultramat version for total seat coverage.

 

[Gnef]

Yes the trim moves slightly, probably so it won't creak or do weird things with temp changes. So far our black leather seats are holding up fine. I use Zaino leather cleaner and conditioner. buy this for your car seats.

https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)
Thanks. Yes, bought a seat protector for the car seat that will go in the second row. I think I'm going with towels for the two seats in the third row. The seat protector seems like it will work, but I'm not convinced it will do anything that a couple of folding towels wouldn't accomplish.

I bought a back of the seat kicker protector as well for the kid in the second row. The back of the second row is like a carpet material, but haven't figured out what to do there. My kids will put their dirty feet all over the back of it.



I purchased mine at Target. Best thing I ever did. There is also an ultramat version for total seat coverage.

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

Problem with folded towels is that they may allow the child seat to rock a bit and not effectively coupled mechanically to the seat for proper crash protection. IMO.