My new (2000) Maxima has a thrashed center console. The right arm rest looks like a dog has been chewing on it. The trim around the manual shift **** and up towards the dash is scratched up. I managed to remove the trim around the shifter but cant get the shift **** off. How do I remove the shift **** and the trim around the stereo without breaking it? Any instructions or pics on the forum?

My goal is to: replace the arm rest pad, replace the shift boot, repaint the trim pieces.

 

Ya, there are instructions, try searching for 'center console' or something to see pics.

IIRC though
-manual shift **** hand screwed on (no hidden set screws), just turn it by hand and it comes off with some effort. Normal threading, not reverse
-Fan vents above the stereo 'pop' out with a little bit of effort and careful prying
-fold open the ash tray thing, pull out the box in it, behind it is a phillips head screw
-slide driver/pass seats forward a little bit, which will reveal a phillips head screw on either side of arm rest console
-open arm rest console (if you want it out too, otherwise not needed for radio console area removal), remove phillips head screw on bottom of storage area (iirc, maybe not though)
-other screws reveal themself for the radio trim and cabin control when fan vent piece & cig-lighter/e-lights trim piece removed


When you remove panels (which I think you can now do), there are pop-tabs, they wont break but you can bend or misplace them easily. Consider using a flat head screw driver to carefully pry the panels out. Also the cig lighter and e-light button are connected to wires which pop off easily. Engage the park brake at some level and arm rest console slides past it. Just take your time and it is straightforward.

 

Thanks, good info. So the shift **** comes off counter clockwise? I have applied a lot of force and it wont come off. What does the stock shift **** look like? Mine is a black ****.

 

Honestly I dont remember which way it is threaded, I would guess regular. Black leather ****?

 

its actually a black plastic ****. No gear markings. Not stock?

 

Probably not stock then, but someone else is gonna have to chime in. Mine was black leather with gear markings.

 

The shift **** has a standard threaded. I'm really surprised that yours is that tight, since every car I have owned the gear shift ****, including my 03 SE, gets loose after a while.

 

The leather probably came off,that's what happened on mine