OK, my first interior mod (besides AE door sills) is the AE auto shifter swap. Just purchased a complete AE shifter assembly on ebay. Now I'm looking for how to get all the plastic off the console to swap this out and I'm stumped. So how the heck to you start to peel this onion?

I see 2 screws on either side of the back of the console. I see one screw head hiding behind the ashtray/stowage bin in the front center console. That's it. Where else can I get some fasteners out to get all this plastic off?

Has anyone else done this shift assembly swap?

TIA

 

i dont think you need to do all that...
i think u just need to take out the stock shifter by removing the screws on it and carefully with some force pull it or twist it off...
i've read and seen some people do this...
but i'm pretty sure thats the way you do it..

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=33563&page=1

Scroll down to 'How to install an AE automatic shift **** on a 2000 model.'

 

man, so your the one who won the auction... hehee... i saw it and was gonna bid, but i had to do something and fogot to bid on it....so if u don't mine me asking, how much did u win it for? g'luck on the install.

 

Be careful and take your time installing this AE shifter. It's not quite a direct swap. There is a slight difference between the two. I believe the AE shifter has a slightly narrower shaft than the stock shifter. So, fitment is quite difficult. I had bought the AE shifter **** and then ended up selling it because of the difficulty of install. But, in your case, you have the WHOLE shifter assembly, right? I think you're best bet is to direct swap both shifter assemblies. This is your better route and will save you time in running into any problems. I had seen this on EBAY, too. Congrats on your win, and I hope this works out for you.

 

Yes, it's not the AE shift **** alone - it's the whole friggin shifter assembly. The entire shift assembly is about 5-6" wide and maybe a foot long. Pretty sure all the conlsole plastic has got to come out. Also will need to detach the shift cable from the existing assembly that goes to the tranny - the assembly I have came with a cut cable (worthless). So back to the original question about "peeling the plastic onion"....... Anyone?

This is PROBABLY no different than the "plastic strip tease" necessary to do a stereo swap - I'm sure SOMEONE has done it. So few exposed fasteners makes me wonder where to begin the jigsaw puzzle. (This is my wife's car - if I break something or create any squeaks I'll never hear the end of it!)