How to replace the automatic shift knob

[gaith]

found some DIY about the manual knob replacement, but nothing about how to go about replacing the tiptronic shift knob. any help or pointers would be highly recommended.

replacing with another audi knob.

i know i have to go thru the ashtray > surround shifter trim > cover > knob, but how?

[gaith]

come on people, there must be write up somewhere!
or am i going to be the first guy to document all the scratching and hopefully no cracking!

[mxrz]

[gaith]

love you..... in a brotherly way that is! will upload picts of the new knob

[gaith]

stupid question, i am assuming that the car is turned off?

[mxrz]

Preferably

[gaith]

OK.... so i tried doing this over the weekend, and i have 2 issues! (there are only two real steps here, and i managed to screw up both!!!!!)

- so i pulled on switch -2 too much, and now it is dislocated! it is still functional, but is out of place!
no biggy, since i dont plan to use it when its off, BUT...

- the button on the new knob was NOT secured..... so it went all the way in! the write up suggest a compressor airgun to bring the button up again! used two compressors and the thing does not move!!!!!!!

so know i am afraid to remove the old one, and then the new one might not fit as is, and i end up with no shift knob!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

any advice, or shall i just surrender and go the stealership!

any advice, or smart a$$ comments are welcomed (since it seems that i deserve them)!

[3.0L AUDI A4]

there is a white plastic piece that hangs down on a spring and then comes up... you have to pull it up then sit it into the groove of the button that you are pushing in....

If not, I remember that someone had invented some sort of button which eliminates the stock button from being used... Possibly ECS Tuning? or SPP (rings a bell) I forget.

[gaith]

there is a white plastic piece that hangs down on a spring and then comes up... you have to pull it up then sit it into the groove of the button that you are pushing in....

If not, I remember that someone had invented some sort of button which eliminates the stock button from being used... Possibly ECS Tuning? or SPP (rings a bell) I forget.

ummmm.... thanks, that gives me hope that i can fix my existing knob.... i will try again tonight.....

any advice on the new knob with the stuck button?

[gaith]

should i try using the air pump at my local gas station to get that stubborn button out? or bad idea?

[Pete4 1.8t]

I've heard that double sided tape works tape put it on a marker or something and then stick it to the button and see if you can't pull it out. Just my 2¢

[gaith]

I've heard that double sided tape works tape put it on a marker or something and then stick it to the button and see if you can't pull it out. Just my 2¢

hummmmmmm! creative! i shall try that tonight!
i actually got some 3M tape to stick my sills on, and it was super sticky!

[gaith]

cool.... the double sided tape did the trick to bring up the new button!!!!!!!!!!!!! (piece of cardboard on the other side)

now back to the original install, removed button 2, and i turn sleeve 1 and push down as hard as i can, and i can see the plastic insides start to show, BUT the knob does not come out!!!!!!!!!! i pulled as hard as i can, and the thing does not move...

[Shak]

What shift knob did you get?? Need to see pics

Sorry this post couldn't be any more helpful.

[gaith]

these are on the new S6

[supercooloptw]

That looks great! I've been looking for a while for a new shift knob and never found one. The tan interior makes it tough...

[A4B7GA]

I know I saw that before...where did you get it? I was holding off since I had no idea on how to change it...but now....

[gaith]

I know I saw that before...where did you get it? I was holding off since I had no idea on how to change it...but now....

madaudi clicky here

but i cant get my existing knob off!!!!!!!!! tried again last night with no results..... following the instructions, but the damn thing would not move!

[deephouse]

Gaith.... you have to pull UP really hard to get the stock knob off.

If i remember correctly, you just put the car into Neutral, slide down the metal sheath, and then pulled hard upwards, and watch your grill when you pull up LOL. I almost decked myself in the face....

Now, i dug up this link just in case you come across this issue with your new knob:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...tronic+shifter

Good luck man.

EDIT: hahahahh OK i'm reading down the thread now... the link above will fix your problem

[gaith]

deephouse, thanks for the link... after thinking about it for hours, i ended up using a double sided tape too! (great minds think alike i guess)

i will try again tonight and pull super hard!

- was it N or D?
- how far down did you have to push the metal sheath?

[deephouse]

deephouse, thanks for the link... after thinking about it for hours, i ended up using a double sided tape too! (great minds think alike i guess)

i will try again tonight and pull super hard!

- was it N or D?
- how far down did you have to push the metal sheath?

hahaha yah man, good shit.

-N.
-it only clicks down about 1/4 inch, then you're ready to pull.

[deephouse]

Actually, you know what....lemme double check that. I swore it was N....

[gaith]

-N.
-it only clicks down about 1/4 inch, then you're ready to pull.

i ask just because the above attached image from mxrz clearly states D!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dolphin18T]

I wanna see some pics of these installed

[gaith]

OK.... so after excessive force (my arm literally hurts) it only worked when i reinstalled the button and pushed it all the way out.... initially i just removed it completely, it is attached to the piece that locks the lever in place! so when its in the normal position, it locks and when its completely out, it locks, since there is a spring that wants to lock as default position. so you have to pull enough to dislocate, and not too much to disengage!

anyway, after all that, the new knob fits, but NOT all the way in, and not down enough for the button to engage/lock with the lever! ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

need to see if the metal piece needs shaving or something....

the two knobs side by side are the same size, but the new one has a longer plastic piece sticking out, at first looked like it can hide inside the metal piece!!!!!!!!!

will try to dig up more resources before officially giving up!

[Greg@DTH]

This is the dealio, the push button needs to be all the way out to remove the knob.

The picture that shows the cable tie explains why. Your new shift knob will come with a plastic piece that keeps the button out (it is spring loaded), if you let this plastic piece come off, you will have a heck of a time getting it back out to replace the plastic spacer. Once you have pushed the new knob all of the way down, you can then remove the spacer.

[ZGSON]

Buy a manual transmission A4,.

[PhilABowl]

Buy a manual transmission A4,.

It's useful posts like these that keep me coming back for more here at Audizine.

ZGSon, be quiet when grown folks is talkin'.

[Curt941]

Any pictures of this knob installed?

[gaith]

i could not get mine to install properly!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the dealer also tried without any success!!!!! BUT i have been in contact with members that did get it installed properly... i will try to ask them for picts

[ZGSON]

It's useful posts like these that keep me coming back for more here at Audizine.

ZGSon, be quiet when grown folks is talkin'.

Hey don't be mad at me because you were skerred to by a manual transmission vehicle.

[gaith]

Hey don't be mad at me because you were skerred to by a manual transmission vehicle.

can you please NOT hijack this thread and convert it to a manual vs automatic argument please! thanks

[Curt941]

Hey don't be mad at me because you were skerred to by a manual transmission vehicle.

You mean scared to buy?

[ZGSON]

You mean scared to buy?

Yes thats exactly what I mean't!

[ZGSON]

can you please NOT hijack this thread and convert it to a manual vs automatic argument please! thanks

Sorry sir, I was just giving you my opinion on what I feel you should do.

[gaith]

update: it officially DOES NOT fit without shaving a bit off the bottom... but then it will not secure properly to the lever, because the bottom is where the clips are to hold it firmly in place.

project canceled.

[pmi_man]

can you take a picture of what the lever looks like without the knob? i want to put a momo sphere on mine, but dont want to buy that $70 kit.

[gaith]

can you take a picture of what the lever looks like without the knob? i want to put a momo sphere on mine, but dont want to buy that $70 kit.

i decided to go with the airleather knob..... it will arrive next week... will try my best to remember to take a photo of the naked lever for you.

[pmi_man]

alright thanks. is there any way to secure the lever thing (whatever happens inside the lever/knob when you push the side button) so that you don't need that spp kit or whatever? just to have it kind of permanently "pushed in"? and do you know if this would cause any problems?
and o yeah, thanks in advance for the pics!

[rodosant]

alright thanks. is there any way to secure the lever thing (whatever happens inside the lever/knob when you push the side button) so that you don't need that spp kit or whatever? just to have it kind of permanently "pushed in"? and do you know if this would cause any problems?
and o yeah, thanks in advance for the pics!

Any new ideas how to fix
The lever knob- button I resist to believe that if nothing broke inside the artifact has not fixing. I just started to look into this, it fascinates me that, this this looks so simple and it its such "bad boy". I ll keep posting.
If anyone has a picture of the piece that comes loose when button is pulled out, please post.

Thanks everyone!