EDIT: Please no random hating or ill fed childish comments. Please post constructive criticism. Let us have this be a professonal and mature forum topic

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Hello one and all, Finally a tech article.
Primarly for the 2006 xA, but applies to all automatics


How to change your automatic shift **** to an after-market shift ****.

Keep in mind that the over drive button is the major hurdle in this.

First: remove the center console


remove the bolt in the rear of the center console


Unclip the center harness holding the auxiliary wiring



If you have the accessory lights, unclip it here (remember it is directional wiring, keep in mind when putting it back together.

With the center console off, more clear access to the shift **** and the overdrive wire.


unclip the cover upper right of the shifter, this will expose the quick release.



Push the button, and the shift button to bring the shift **** down to get easy access to the screws. Unscrew the screws and store in a safe place

My camera screwed up showing the wires to the over drive, I cut the wire near the base of the shifter.
You can see the cut wires in the following pic.
After cutting the wires you can slip off the old shift ****.




at this point you can put the center console back together if you wish, or wait until you put the shift **** in.



the shift **** i have isn't long enough to go over the plastic switch.


this white plastic will need to be cut


after cutting (measure twice cut once) place the new shift **** over the shifter, and tighten the fasteners,


Finished product, Now put everything back together




As for the over drive, after i cut and removed the wire and over drive button, i reattached the wires using a molex connector. The overdrive button is a 'dumb' switch. Meaning there is no polarity needed for the wires, you just need to connect the wires back together.
I have the switch connected and wedged from the center wiring harness and the parking brake. So i can still switch it if i want/need to.

This shifter in particular i really have to push the button all the way down to release the latch to shift to the gear.

At this point you can either leave it as is, or put a boot. I am still debating this myself.
I hope all the steps make sense and Happy modding.

 

Thanks a lot. This really help the noobies out there like me to do some modifications.

 

you are my idol. finally, someone who did a tech for us auto people. looking to do this sometime in the future. good stuff.
cheers.

 

maybe this thing should be flaged as a tech article.

 

Flippin Sweet!!! I love it!!!! Where on earth did you find that shifter ****. I so want to do this setup.

 

Nice setup. Thanks for the DIY as well. I will use it when I get my shifter. ^-^

 

Nice job, but your not the first to do this...

check out this thread: https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...tic+shift+****

 

He didnt say he was the first

Thanks for the step by step. I know alot of people will just say "why didnt you just by a manual". But this gives us auto guys a better option than that ugly-a$$ stock shifter.

 

^^^I was just trying to provide more info and examples of this mod.
I think it looks great and hope that the how to inspires more automatic drivers to do this. I did it in my old car and am just waiting to find the right **** for my box.
ok

 

Its kool dude I'm just messing around. Post pics of yours, Id like to see more examples of this mod.

 

This is from my previous car, a 98 Ford Contour. Used a Ford Racing **** and wraped the rest of the shift rod in camo fabric to match the interior.


Door panel pic: same pattern as fabric on the shifter

 

where did you get the ****? and do you think i can cut the metal and the plastic and make the shifter shorter?(closer to the floor)

 

I got the **** a few years ago from an auto kiosk in a mall. i use to have it in my old honda, I saw a few shift ***** in pepboys, and auto zone.
I suppose you can cut the metal back and the plastic more, but i wouldn't recomend it. it is already lower because the **** itself is short and i alredy cut the plastic.

 

wow..a lot more involved than i thought it would be. nice write-up.

 

Keep the comments constructive all... no random hating please.

Thanks for the write-up!

-WDS

 

Looking good. Nice write up

 

Yes you can cut the metal and plastic! If you want to keep the shift button functional just be careful and make sure to cut equal amounts from each. If you want it to be "slap stick" style the plastic piece inside the metal shaft becomes less important.

Always being careful cutting important components of your car.

Slap stick style (no button needed) and the shaft has been cut with a hacksaw here:
registered_user wrote:


Functional style
SaintJ wrote:

 

Glad you like the DIY.
keep the comments coming

 

It looks good, thanks for the step by step instructions. All that's missing now in my opinion is a nice shift boot maybe a red and black one from Scion Shoppe.

 

I like that a lot, I have a problem with my leg hitting the shifter anyway and that would solve that problem.