[COUGARGDH]

i know i'm gonna feel stupid after this thread...but i used search feature and couldn't track down what i needed...so......

have an 02 atx ....how do you remove the factory shift knob? i know there is a rivet there...i drilled it out already and pushed...pulled... nine ways to sunday....but it's still in there as tight as if i never even touched it..... how do i get it off ? thanks guys

 

[01blkcat]

1. Drill the rivet out.
2. Pull up and to the right (at least thats what worked okay for me)
3. It's going to take some pulling - you'll probably break the OD wires.
4. Once it's out, cut the shaft, install the knob, and you're all set.

At least with my car, I had to pull a lot harder than I thought I would have to, so you may be surprised at the amount of tugging you'll need to do... also, make sure that you're confident that the entire rivet is removed, just so there is no stopblock.

Good luck

 

[temujin77]

2k1coug nailed it on the spot, and yes, it is that easy I pulled mine a while back, even under the guidance of IntenseImage I wasn't able to save the O/D button. From what I see, there is no way to save the O/D button unless you can somehow remove the shifter plate without removing the shifter itself -- something I don't think is quite possible.

 

[01blkcat]

Originally posted by: temujin77
2k1coug nailed it on the spot, and yes, it is that easy I pulled mine a while back, even under the guidance of IntenseImage I wasn't able to save the O/D button. From what I see, there is no way to save the O/D button unless you can somehow remove the shifter plate without removing the shifter itself -- something I don't think is quite possible.

This is very possible -- let me explain how it can be done:

1. Take off the kick panels that cover the A/C stuff by your feet. If you look back into the console, you're going to see the shift mechanism there.

2. There are two sets of wire harnesses that are connected here. You'll see a long bank with a lot of wires in the back that appears to control the linkage (or something like that)

3. You'll see a simple harness in the front, on the left of the shifter. Here's where your intuition will play a bit. You can do one of two things:

a) You can press up on the clips that hold the panel around the shift knob, which will release the panel enough to move it around, so that you can give the OD wires and harness a bit of slack, or

b) You can pull the harness out, watching to make sure you don't sever anything else in the process.

4. Once it is disconnected, or the wires have some slack, go ahead and remove normally. You'll get enough slack (hopefully) to be able to pull the knob and then pop out the OD button with the wires. From there it isn't rock science on how to remove the wiring from the back of the switch, pull it back down the handle, and then remove the handle.

I know it sounds a bit complicated, but once you open the panels up and look, it's really easy.

Just take your time and you'll enjoy the results

 

[Cougaritus]

That sounds a lot better than snapping the OD wires.... im gonna get me a MOMO knob...

 

[temujin77]

2k1coug: Where were you when I was about to pull my shifter??? :biggrin:

I kinda like my shifter button though, makes my car unique

 

[temujin77]

Here's a picture of my own O/D button -- thanks to Crispy for this idea

Clicky clicky

 

[01blkcat]

Hehehe....

After reading all of the reports of people "killing" the OD button, I decided to get out the Ol' Ford CD and take a look - a couple of other little things to make it even easier --

1) Do the disconnect from the passenger side - it's a little harder to see, but you'll be able to shine the light directly on the part, instead of around the mechanism.

2) When you pull the button out of the knob itself, use a small screwdriver on the top (that's where mine was) to push gently -- it doesn't take very much pressure at all.

Good luck with your mods

 

[Cougaritus]

OK... so let me see if I can get this...

1. The OD must have a switch right???
2. I can't put the button there because i have a dash kit... i know there is a how to to make the dead dash buttons functional... has anyone tried to do that???
2. When I replace mine.. anything I need to do to mount.... i found the most amazing MOMO shifter....

 

[01blkcat]

Originally posted by: Custom01
OK... so let me see if I can get this...

1. The OD must have a switch right???
2. I can't put the button there because i have a dash kit... i know there is a how to to make the dead dash buttons functional... has anyone tried to do that???
2. When I replace mine.. anything I need to do to mount.... i found the most amazing MOMO shifter....

You do NOT need to reconnect the OD button!! In fact, you can just push the harness/wiring down into the console and forget about it, unless you are planning on using it. Otherwise, what about mounting it directly next to the cigarette lighter? That's where I put mine, out of the way of the dash kit, and almost not noticable As far as what you need to mount, just follow all of the howtos after you have removed the original shifter, and you should be a-okay

Good luck on that

 

[Cougaritus]

I have heard the car will not start without OD hooked up... hoping this is not the case... i NEVER EVER use that button...

 

[temujin77]

The car runs fine without O/D, in fact I drove around without it (and without any interior trim pieces in my car :biggrin for a week and half like that.

 

[Seth]

yea im not sure why i've read that people shouldn't drive without the overdrive wires hooked up.. or not going fast. According to the manual.. OD keeps your ATX gears from 1 thru 4.. Drive keeps the gears at 1 thru 3

:shrug:

 

[Cougaritus]

Well i never use it do i will maybe make it a dash switch if I get the time but I have heard the car won't start without it hooked up.... anyways... this is good news for me....

 

[01blkcat]

Originally posted by: Custom01
Well i never use it do i will maybe make it a dash switch if I get the time but I have heard the car won't start without it hooked up.... anyways... this is good news for me....

Hate to bring the bad news The OD switch is momentary, so it really isn't even hooked up when it is hooked up! Did I confuse you yet? I essence, the only time that the switch is hooked up is when you press it, otherwise it's an open circuit, and therefore shouldn't make any difference whether it's connected or not

Just an electrical engineer's perspective

 

[Cougaritus]

Wll if your an electrical engineer ill trust you

MOMO... here I come.....

 

[temujin77]

2k1coug is absolutely right. Driving without hooking up your O/D button is perfectly fine. The only thing you'll lose by not having this button hooked up is you lose the ability to turn *OFF* O/D. In other words, if you drive without an O/D button, it just means O/D is always on.

I never use my O/D but I made the extra button to have just in case... like the however improbable chance that I ever need to tow something It only take $2.50 for the button at Radio Shack and like less than an hour to install anyway. The toughest part was finding a drill bit large enough to punch the hole.

 

[01blkcat]

Originally posted by: temujin77
2k1coug is absolutely right. Driving without hooking up your O/D button is perfectly fine. The only thing you'll lose by not having this button hooked up is you lose the ability to turn *OFF* O/D. In other words, if you drive without an O/D button, it just means O/D is always on.

I never use my O/D but I made the extra button to have just in case... like the however improbable chance that I ever need to tow something It only take $2.50 for the button at Radio Shack and like less than an hour to install anyway. The toughest part was finding a drill bit large enough to punch the hole.

Just a joke, but I only paid $0.49 for that switch

 

[Guest]

How do u cut the shifter once u have the it off. what should you use to cut that metal..

 

[Guest]

I used a small hacksaw but a dremel would prolly work too. It's just a hollow metal tube, so it doesn't take much time to cut. I would reccomend cutting a little off at a time and keep trying your shift knob, so that you find a height you are comfortable with and looks good to you. Because it is permanent once you cut it.