A4 shift knob button removal
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
A4 shift **** button removal
I'm trying to change out the shift **** on my A4, but while I got the **** itself off the shifter, I can't get the black push button out of the ****. I need the spring and pin inside. Any tricks? And yes, I went to the Vette Essentials site and looked, but I did not see how the BUTTON is removed, only the ****. The instructions I have only say "using a small screwdriver..." but give no other clues. I've been digging at this thing for 30 minutes, and before I ruin the leather on the ****, I figured I'd better ask here. Thanks 
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
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From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
I used a micro screwdriver --- you know the ones in the blue, plastic box with the clear lid? If you look at the side of the ****, which faces the front of the car... there is a horizontal "pin" --- I think it look more like a big staple. Just get that out a little and pull the rest of it out with some needle nose pliers. The **** comes up off the shifter. Should be no effort.
If you're trying to take the "button" off the top part of the ****, STOP. You don't need to... that's only for manual shifters.
The "staple" holds the automatic's **** in place.
Hope this helps.
Dave
If you're trying to take the "button" off the top part of the ****, STOP. You don't need to... that's only for manual shifters.
The "staple" holds the automatic's **** in place.
Hope this helps.
Dave
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Thanks, Dave - but I am talking about the push button itself. There is a spring and pin inside the **** that is needed for the replacement **** I am using. I have the **** off - but somehow I do in fact need to get the black center push button off of the ****. This thing got in there, it MUST come out! Maybe I should just post up in the for sale section that I want to buy an auto shift **** and just tear it apart so I don't ruin this one...
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
OK - well another day, another failure. I can't believe there is no one on this Forum that knows how to take out this center button! I've certainly tried all the things I can think of or I wouldn't be posting up again. Anyone?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
I should've read your post more thouroughly... sorry.
The push button does comes out... there are four tabs, one on each side. It's almost flexible, so it seems like it's gonna snap, but it doesn't. I took mine out before :o I remember putting s small nick from prying it out though. I just worked on one end of it until it popped out. Hope this helps.
Dave
The push button does comes out... there are four tabs, one on each side. It's almost flexible, so it seems like it's gonna snap, but it doesn't. I took mine out before :o I remember putting s small nick from prying it out though. I just worked on one end of it until it popped out. Hope this helps.
Dave
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
I got it out, but I did break it... It is easiest to pry out from the back side of the ****, just using a thin blade screwdriver. Just push a ways down with the screwdriver, give it a good push and pry upwards - but you might just snap off the bottom piece like I did. I really carved up the side of this thing trying to get it out - and I can see by the looks of things that I had NO chance at all to pry it out from the front or the sides - the button is far too long to get a screwdriver past the point where you could get some leverage. I wonder if this is a piece I could get separately? Might as well get it now and have it put aside for the day I might want to go back to stock...
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
I got it out, but I did break it... It is easiest to pry out from the back side of the ****, just using a thin blade screwdriver. Just push a ways down with the screwdriver, give it a good push and pry upwards - but you might just snap off the bottom piece like I did. I really carved up the side of this thing trying to get it out - and I can see by the looks of things that I had NO chance at all to pry it out from the front or the sides - the button is far too long to get a screwdriver past the point where you could get some leverage. I wonder if this is a piece I could get separately? Might as well get it now and have it put aside for the day I might want to go back to stock...
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