Challenger/Charger/Durango
Automatic Shift Knob Install
1)Lift the trim surrounding the shifter in the center console by lifting up, potentially with a plastic trim tool. There is a clip in each of the four corners.
2)Disconnect the electrical connection from the shifter knob to the shifter base. It is located at the back of the trim panel.
3)Lift the boot and console up high enough to expose the T25 Torx screw at the back of the shift knob. Remove this screw.
4)Slide the shift knob, boot and trim off the shift base.
5)Gently pop the boot trim out from the plastic center trim. There are four tabs that hold it in. This will remove the boot and shift knob from the plastic center trim.
6)Remove the shift knob from the leather boot by removing the boot sleeve. This is done by depressing two tabs on the inside. You will need to maneuver the wiring harness out of the boot as well.
7)Now gently pull the leather boot loose from the shift sleeve. It is just glued in and will come apart with light and deliberate pulling in the correct areas. Be careful to not otherwise damage the leather boot.
8)Next we need to increase the leather boot opening that we just exposed in step 7 by making two short slits in the leather so that our new shift knob adapter will fit into the hole. Do not make too big of a slit or it will be difficult to cover up in later steps.
9)With the boot flipped inside out and paying attention to the orientation of the boot in relation to the center console trim and how it will be installed, put the adapter end of the new American Brother Designs shift know into the hole for the shifter until the biggest diameter with the groove in it is at the opening. Do not zip tie this together yet.
10)In order to avoid error codes, the OEM shifter needs to be re-connected to the electrical connection and then wrapped in foam or a rag and placed up in front of the shifter in the console. For Charger or Durango you may need to remove additional center trim in front of the shifter to expose a cavity to hide the OEM shift knob in. Route the wire along the driver side of the shift base.
11)You can now put the center console trim back in without the shift boot.
12)Next, we need to remove the inner shifter from your new American Brother Designs shift adapter. Remove the longest set screw that is used as the guide between the inner and outer shift adapter and the two pieces will slide apart. Make note of this screw position by putting a dot with a marker under it. Set the outer shifter with shift knob aside.
13)Move one of the shorter set screws to the free set screw hole we exposed in step 11.
14)Make sure the set screws in the inner shifter do not protrude to the outside or inside of the inner shift adapter.
15)We want to install this inner shifter such that our logo will look correct once we put the outer shifter adapter with shift knob on. While noting the orientation of your shift knob logo in relation to the set screw hole with the dot marked in step 11, slide this end of the inner shifter onto the shift shaft with this set screw hole closest to the bottom.
16)Now place the outer shifter with shift knob and spring onto the shift shaft. Let this naturally sit on top of the shift shaft. Get the orientation for logo correct and push the inner shifter up into the outer shifter and tighten the set screw with the dot marked in step 11 through the guide slot.
17)Now remove the outer shifter with shift knob and spring.
18)Tighten the other two short set screws.
19)Remove the short set screw that is currently in the hole marked in step 11 and place it back into its original hole and tighten
20)Slide the outer shift adapter with shift knob and spring back onto the inner shifter.
21)Orient correctly and put the long set screw back in through the outer shifter guide slot and tighten.
22)Orient the boot and trim correctly and zip tie boot in place.
23)Snap boot trim back into center console trim.
24)Test operation. Make sure you have your foot on the brake and test shifting through gears. The shift knob should have to be pressed down in order to get out of or into Park or reverse.