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Hi Iv got a 2014 Astra GTC Auto, I’m after some advice, Iv spoken to Vauxhall themselves and they want £300 for a replacement gear knob.
The rubber on my gear knob has worn and split, also in the recent snow my car got stuck and while flicking from reverse to drive to rock the car out of a ditch the button on the back of the gear knob has snapped.
Does anyone know where I can get a replacement for a more reasonable price, and how to fit the replacement.
looking at pictures of removed auto gear levers it looks like it would require the gear cables to be disconnected, electrical plugs disconnecting and then unbolting the gear lever assembly from the floor. There is most likely a set up required to refit the cables.
You would need to remove the centre console to access the assembly.
Having said that if you only wanted to replace the actual gear knob it probably just unclips from the metal shaft, I know on the manual cars it only takes a couple of seconds to remove the gear knob.
3:rd-Jan-2018, 13:05:23 (This post was last modified: 3:rd-Jan-2018, 13:11:06 by Jayrich872001.)
(3:rd-Jan-2018, 12:58:13)vocky Wrote: looking at pictures of removed auto gear levers it looks like it would require the gear cables to be disconnected, electrical plugs disconnecting and then unbolting the gear lever assembly from the floor. There is most likely a set up required to refit the cables.
You would need to remove the centre console to access the assembly.
Having said that if you only wanted to replace the actual gear knob it probably just unclips from the metal shaft, I know on the manual cars it only takes a couple of seconds to remove the gear knob.
Yeah it is only the actual gear knob I want to remove. At the weekend I will have a proper look and see if there is anything under the gaitor. It looks like on solid unit. Vauxhall have said that it requires the whole gear shift assembly which also has its own ECU in hence the expensive price.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Just thought some pics may help
4:th-Jan-2018, 14:16:57 (This post was last modified: 4:th-Jan-2018, 14:17:36 by Big Dave2.)
You don't need the boot and surround though. See my earlier post. You can remove the knob from the stick and just replace the knob. The boot is just held to the knob with a cable tie.
Plenty of good 2nd hand ones around, without resorting to spend £240 + vat.
The knob itself does come of quite easily. I followed those instructions on the YouTube link I previously posted.
Granted, I didn't remove the surround or gator, but when I put gearstick into neutral and pressed in the reverse lock catch, I simply gave the gear knob a slight twist left and right - along with pulling upwards at the same time and the knob came off the gearstick with little effort. It also clicked back into place easily too.
I'm sure once you remove the surround and gator, you'll have no problems replacing it.
As a replacement, and I've watched a youtube video or two on how to replace them.
Is this a path I should go down or should I just bite the bullet and pay the 300 pound quoted price? I'm not a practical guy at all so don't want to mess this up. I'm also assuming Astra J is Astra GTC? Mine is a 64 plate, white GTC Auto etc.
Holy moly, is that last video legit? Can I just pull it out like that and replace it?
Almost. You'll also need to detach the gearknob from the leather/vinyl gaiter.
I never changed mine in the end as it only had a small split in the rubber. I did take it off though to repair the split with superglue.
I unclipped the surround at the base of the gaiter using a metal ruler, making sure I was careful not to mark the plsatic, and then proceeded to remove the gearknob as per the YouTube clip.
Once removed, fold the gaiter over the top of the gearknob and you'll see a cable tie. Cut this and the gearknob can be separated from the gaiter. Fitting is the reverse of removal as they say.
Holy moly, is that last video legit? Can I just pull it out like that and replace it?
Almost. You'll also need to detach the gearknob from the leather/vinyl gaiter.
I never changed mine in the end as it only had a small split in the rubber. I did take it off though to repair the split with superglue.
I unclipped the surround at the base of the gaiter using a metal ruler, making sure I was careful not to mark the plsatic, and then proceeded to remove the gearknob as per the YouTube clip.
Once removed, fold the gaiter over the top of the gearknob and you'll see a cable tie. Cut this and the gearknob can be separated from the gaiter. Fitting is the reverse of removal as they say.
Hoping it fits and is compatable.. I think it is.. My car is an Astra GTC 1.4 Turbo 64 plate... But now looking at the ebay listing I'm not sure whether this will be okay for a GTC?? God damnit...
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