Replace Your Vinyl Gearshift Tape

[Guest imported_Mark K]

The following is a description for replacing the vinyl tape on the gearshift selector on the console. This is for 1988 and 1989 Reattas (and Rivieras) only. 1990 & 1991?s are completely different and these procedures do not apply. I replaced the vinyl with leather , but any vinyl-like material will work as long as it is thin and flexible. I want to thank forum member 88 89 ReattaJohn for sending me his gearshift selector for me to document this project. Please let me know if anyone has any questions or comments. I will be in Lansing this weekend so let me know what you think. I would like to do the same project fo a 90-91 so if anyone has one for me to work on please let me know.

Now for the legal stuff:I cannot be responsible for any damages that may occur during this procedure, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK (most members on this forum understand do-it-yourself procedures, but this is viewable on public domain and I don't know every person in the world ) When using any product, read and understand the instructions provided on the packaging, use only as indicated.

Materials Needed: 7mm socket, small flat-head screwdriver, contact cement & contact cement thinner. wooden board (1 x 4 about 15 inches long works well), small nails, 2 part glue such as JB weld, clamp.

Before staring this project it is recommended that you put the car in neutral with the parking brake on and/or a wheel block under the front wheels.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Step 1 Remove gearshift knob</span>

Remove the u-shaped clip from the back of the knob with a small flat screwdriver and pull the knob straight up. This is easiest with the transmission out of park.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Step 2 Remove shift plate </span>

Gently pry up on it. There are 4 clips that hold it to the console. The location of these

<span style="font-weight: bold">Step 3 Disassemble</span>

Remove the 3 screws shown with a 7mm socket. Under each screw there is a spring and washer. Note the order in which they are assembled. Separate the shift selector from the plate.

Remove the rubber boot by pulling it out of the heat-melt rivets.

Remove the plastic grommet that surrounds the gearshift shaft by cutting away the two raised plastic parts as shown. I used a Dremel tool to grind the plastic. Be careful that it does not get too hot. You want to take away just enough plastic to separate the two halves.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Step 4 Remove metal ?tape?</span>

Mark the front of the metal tape so you can reassemble it correctly.

Depress the tape to release the indicator slider. This attaches to the metal tape with two pins that protrude through it as shown in the photo. Just push on the tape and slide it out of the way.

The front of the tape is bent so it will not pull out. Straighten it and pull the tape out from the rear.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Step 5 Mount the metal tape on a board</span>

Use a nail on each end. There is a hole on one end and punch a hole with the nail on the other end.

Scribe the edge of the vinyl so you can tell where to put the new material.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Step 6 Remove old vinyl</span>

I peeled most of it off by hand then scraped the rest with my fingernail. Clean the old adhesive a with solvent such as contact cement thinner. BE SURE TO READ AND FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER?S INSTRUCTIONS. USE IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Step 7 Cut new material</span>

Cut your leather or vinyl 1 1/4 inches wide by 13 3/4 inches long. It doesn't need to be quite that long. The leather I used was only 12 inches and that is plenty long. The original is 13 3/4?

<span style="font-weight: bold">Step 8 Apply contact adhesive</span>

Place masking tape along your scribed lines to keep the glue off the edges.

Apply one coat of contact adhesive to the metal tape and two coats to the leather (vinyl). Let the first coat dry first. BE SURE TO READ AND FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER?S INSTRUCTIONS. USE IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA.

When both surfaces are dry, carefully press the leather to the metal tape. Make sure it is in the correct position because once it is applied you cannot move it.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Step 9 Re-install metal tape.</span>

Guide it through the groves. You may have to bend the end upward so it doesn?t catch. Insert the tape through the two slider tabs until they engage. Re-bend the end of the metal tape so it coils properly.

Cut the leather covering the shifter hole with an Xacto knife.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Step 10 Re-install the plastic shaft grommet </span>

Install the top piece of the grommet into the hole. Try to align both pieces of the grommet in their original position. You can tell this because they will fit better in one position than the other. Coat both pieces of the grommet with a two-part glue. I used JB Weld and clamp overnight.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Step 11 Reassemble Shift plate</span>

Install rubber boot by stretching it over the melt rivets. Mount the selector to the plate with the washers, springs and screws.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Step 12 Install Shift Plate on Console</span>

Place shift plate over gear shift shaft and press it into the console. Install knob and clip.

[Roadster90]

Mark,

Absolutely excellent job <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> !

I have a slightly damaged 90 gearshif assy that belongs to Jim Finn that would be excellent for the project. I would have to clear it with Jim first, but I don't think it would be a problem. After the project we could send it back (I actually think he told me to trash it at one point but do not remember for sure) to Jim. Let me know by a PM please...

Nic

[Guest F14CRAZY]

Nice job. I'll have to do this sometime

[Guest CL_Reatta]

Very good job, makes me want to go out and buy a 88 or 89 just to repair the gear selector <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />. hope you didn't have any problems like I did when I posted that center console removal thing.

[dlb61]

This is a keeper! It reflects one of the few visible flaws in my car that threaten to drive me nuts.

[manikmekanik]

I'm saving this topic as one of my favorites!!

Great job, Mark K.!!

Looking forward to meeting with you at the Homecoming!

[Guest Reattaray]

I agree this is an excellent job!! Mark K. I would suggest that you post it on reatta.net.

[Machiner 55]

The gentleman does outstanding work don't cha think?

Thanks again Mark.

[Guest imported_Mark K]

I am glad everyone liked my post. Now that I know how to get pictures into posts I will be doing more of this. Nic, I will send you a PM about the 90 selector. See you all in Lansing.

Mark

[DAVES89]

Ronnie, You may want to update your website with this info. When I went there to look this up, the pictures were there, but not the instructions...

[Ronnie]

Is this page where you are taking about? Unless I misunderstand what you are saying it seems to contain basically the same as the relevant text above.

Anyone else having problems reading the text?

[DAVES89]

I clicked on to your link from your last post and the pictures were there but no instructions...

[Guest DAVESWF]

Ronnie--I clicked on the LINK, and saw 'only' photos, NO TEXT.

[Ronnie]

That is really weird. I have made changes. <span style="font-weight: bold">Please see if you can see the text now.</span>

[Roadster90]

Photos only @ 10:52 A.M.

[matthewlawe]

Hmmm... photos only.

Regards

matthewlawe

89 White/Blue

[Guest Reatta1]

Same here. Photos only. 8 am Pacific Standard.

[KDirk]

Ronnie,

Checked it just now (10:06 AM CST) and I get all text and pics with no problem.

Computer I am on right now (my fallback system, main is undergoing some upgrades) is running:

Windows 2000 Professional SP4

Firefox 2.0.0.15

So it works fine on this combo. Might be helpful if other posters who cannot see the text state what OS and browser they are running - this can make a difference.

KDirk

[bobwhite]

I just checked, with Internet Explorer, the text is missing. With Firefox, it is there. Must be a coding problem.

[DAVES89]

Well for the amount of $$$$ we pay Ronnie for the mainteance of his site, this service is unacceptable!!!!

Thanks Ronnie.

[Ronnie]

Is the missing text only a problem with this particular tutorial or is the text missing in all the tutorials? OR the whole website?

[DAVES89]

Ronnie,

I clicked on a number of tutorials that I knew had pictures with instructions. It appears that the gear shift tutorial is the only one that is giving you/us problems.

[Guest spyhunter2k]

I can see it fine. I use Firefox.

[Ronnie]

Thanks everyone for your response.

It's appears some people can see the text and some can't. I have tried it with Firefox and Internet Explorer and it works fine for me. Since I can't see a problem I will need to do the tutorial again and hope that that cures the problems. I will get it done soon.

[JalopyBob]

I use Firefox and it works fine for me.

[Guest jamhudson]

Internet Explorer 8 or Google Chrome works fine on it here. If I use compatibility view in Internet Explorer 8 I don't see the text.

[Rawja]

Worked fine for me both yesterday and today with Safari.

[Ronnie]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DAVES89</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ronnie,

I clicked on a number of tutorials that I knew had pictures with instructions. It appears that the gear shift tutorial is the only one that is giving you/us problems. </div></div>Hey Dave, Are you able to see the text now?

There seems to be a bug in Internet Explorer that hides the text in some layouts. Maybe it is fixed now.

[DAVES89]

I feel like I am in a tv commercial. Can you see it now?

Yes I can.

You done good.

[Ronnie]

That's great Dave! Thanks for pointing out the problem. If you spot other problems please let me know.

Thanks to everyone who responded and helped with this problem.

[DAVES89]

While I was testing out a luminescent panel on an extra shifter unit I have, I thought I would also do the vinyl tape repair. I should have waited for the words to go with the picture, as I cracked the plastic retainer holding the silver tape in place.

A picture is worth a 1000 words. I was missing the 1001 word which was "wait"

[Ronnie]

It's too bad I didn't realize there was missing text earlier.

[DAVES89]

It's not your fault. I had an extra unit and time, so I tried. There are more rivs in yards. I can always get another one if I need it.

I'm more dissapointed that I coudn't fix the short in the luminescent panel.

[Guest smith356]

Has anyone done a write-up on replacing the tape on the 90-91s ?

Thanks, Jim

[DAVES89]

It might be on Ronnies site. Try Reatta Owners Journal - Home

If not, why don't you try and post back for us?

[Guest steveskyhawk]

Doing the 90-91 shifter tape repair is similar to the earlier but a little easier. Ive done a couple of them without trouble. Getting it out of the car is the hardest part on the later cars

[DAVES89]

Ronnie, saw your avatar... That's funny right there!

[Guest Mark K]

I have posted the tutorial for the '90-'91 shifter tape but, I believe, the photos went away with the forum format change. It is a bit harder to replace because the unit does not screw together as in the '88-'89 but still is not hard. I will try to re-post it. Please be patient I am not entirely used to this new format and it may take me a bit of time.

Mark