Tying to remove the shift panel on an automatic transmission

[Felix_29]

Hello, i'm trying to take apart the shift plate to get to the rheostat so I can clean the electrical connections. I have popped the rehostat knob plus taken the two screws out on the shift plate and dismantled the automatic transmission shifter in hopes I would be able to lift it off but its secure. I can only lift it up at the rear the workshop manual says I need to unplug the connectors and take apart a nut next but no the shift plate P R N D is in the way. It shows it as being a hollow section most likely for a manual transmission car. does anyone know how to pop out that section on an automatic car?

[DeLorean03]

To get the entire plate to come up and out - not JUST the quadrant - you have to take off the center console A/C plate. Take all three knobs off, unscrew the one tiny screw holding the A/C plate in place, remove the 3 lights (Doors Locked, Rear Defroster, and Cooling Fan Fail), and move the plate out of the way. At that point, given that you've done all the things you've mentioned, the center console plate should all lift up and out with the auto trans quadrant still installed.

[Felix_29]

Hello, like you said, I have taken apart all three knobs and removed the AC cover plate, undone the two screws at the gear shifter taken out the trim pieces taht run lengthwise along the shift plate taken off the rheostat knob and even taken apart the PNND shift plate so the console it hollowed, unplugged the electical to the rheostat. And I can only get leverage on it from the back near the center console, it seems like i'm gonna break it if if I lift up on it. what am I missing. Do I need to take the secondary A/C plate off. I can't see how that will make a difference. There are two very small nuts under there on each side. Do they need to be unscrewed? I'm stuck at this step in fear i'm gonna break something if I force it

[kajcienski]

Have you tried just lifting it up a few inches and the pulling it back towards the parcel shelf? That should release it from under the A/C Panel where it has two "tabs" that slide in a secure it.

[DeLorean03]

I'm wondering if the resistance is from the light bulb that plugs into the PRND21 plate. Try to lift the plate up as much as you can, and then look under the plate - maybe that is all it is?

[kajcienski]

I'm wondering if the resistance is from the light bulb that plugs into the PRND21 plate. Try to lift the plate up as much as you can, and then look under the plate - maybe that is all it is?

That bulb holder just slips right out.

[Felix_29]

Hi guys thanks for all your help. I never did get that cover off. One for the ages. I was able to fix everything the way I wanted though. I ended up unplugging the light bulb under the PRND21 as well. Its really seems stiff and tight near the A/C panel which I had removed.

[Soundkillr]

On manual cars, and I would assume autos as well, there are two mounting studs under the console plate. They are rarely pushed down far enough to engage them, but if they are locked down, the console plates are very very hard to pull up. On my old delorean the plate was impossible to get off, but that's because it was pushed down far enough to engage the two tabs. In fact, I have seen some console plates dented in, where people have pulled up so hard and the plates wouldn't release, it actually pulled the metal down forming dents above the studs.

[DeLorean03]

That bulb holder just slips right out.

M bulb holder as a small amount of electrical tape around it so it's a pretty tight fit. It was one of those "Well maybe...." kinda things with these cars - figured I'd at least throw it out there.

These mounting studs some have mentioned - I have never seen them. My plate just pops right out. 'm interested to see these mounting studs and how they work/look when locked down and engaged.

[Felix_29]

Well when I was lifting up on the plate from the loose end I saw two small threaded studs with smaller which looked like 8mm nuts on each side but they weren't attached to anything holding the plate down. It would have made life so much easier if I just could have gotten that thing off. Trying to put the trim pieces back on the edges of it was also a treat. That console screams "Don't work on me".