SanchezHacker

I like to keep my wallet in the leg pocket of my pants because I don't like sitting on it when I drive. This of course results in my wallet accedentaly hiting the overdrive switch. So now I'm officaily looking for a way to disable the overdrive switch. As far as I can tell, all the O/D switch does is turn off and on the 4th gear(something I'd rather just have on all the time). Does anyone know of a plug or something I can just disconnect? I took out the center console, didn't see anything obvious. Thnx in advance.

jct

should rename the title to "overdrive switch removal"

kind of made me think why do you wanna take out your overdrive gears?!

stew32

Well, the easiest solution is to put your wallet in the left front pocket. It's just a switch, so you should be able to bypass it either at connection with the switch or somewhere further along. Sorry, no idea about the wiring.

djct_watt

I havn't had an automatic for many years now. . . but I'd assume that it would be no different than the Lexus I had. . . most of the wiring type stuff hasn't changed in for about a decade and a half!!!! Scary!

There should be wiring leading to the overdrive switch, and also a harness. In fact, the entire shifter column should have a few different harnesses going to it.

A) Find out if it is just a basic switch, or if there is anything else that might complicate it (I doubt it. . . it's probably just a simple switch.

B) Get the wiring diagrams (for the xA/xB/Echo, all pretty much identical) and locate the pins/wires for the OD switch.

3) Cut, crimp, and add wire to your own OD switch located elsewhere on the dash.

Try your local dealer for the wiring diagrms (if they are nice, which they seldom are, they will show you) or somewhere online.

In fact, they have ways of eliminating the shifter entirely and having it controlled by switches/buttons (popular for hot rods). But since it's now all electrical, it would be even easier.

The hardest part will be finding out which wires you need to access.

SanchezHacker

lol, I have bad luck with title names. changed.
Yeah I tried that, even so I still sometimes manage to hit the switch with the pocket button. Maybe I should try driving with out pants .

Anyways, I haven't completly taken off the shifter. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to put it back on once I did. I'll try doing that and looking for some wires.

foxtrot685

you have to take the head of the auto shifter apart and pull it out, and extend the wires and move it or unplug it and leave it off... one or the other. im not sure how to take the head apart tho

djct_watt

That's why I say you should just tap it at the harness. . . no need to take apart the head.

SanchezHacker

YAY, its done. I couldn't get the shifter off but I did figure out which wire to cut. There is a blue 4 pin plug under a plastic that connects to the shifter unit. The blue plug is kinda under the "L" of the shifter letters. If anyone wants pics, let me know. If my garage door wasn't broke I could have turned the O/D switch into a garage door opener, that would make a cool mod.

Thanks for all the help!

djct_watt

Where did you relocate the switch to? Hopefully you didn't just cut the wire. . . I don't know if that would make it so that O/D would always be on or always off.

foxtrot685

i think he just cut the wire...