Swapping out stock auto shift knob.

[Starship Enterprise]

Glenn, if you keep your thumb off the top of the shifter, it can't go back all the way into manual mode. The top lever that unlocks you from Park when you push it down is the only thing that lets you go into Manual mode.

Try to pull it into Manual without depressing the lever. It can't be done.

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[AZ_Ryan]

It has nothing to do with it not sticking in your head. It is, IMHO and in disagreement with AZ_Ryan, a Ford problem. It should not slip, so easily into manual mode. But each to his own. I will be changing mine when convent! Glenn

Well, I agree with you it shouldn't slip. But are we talking slipping or accidentally pulling the shifter back too far? One is user error and one is a defect. If it's slipping, that is 100% not normal and should be looked at immediately.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Glenn, if you keep your thumb off the top of the shifter, it can't go back all the way into manual mode. The top lever that unlocks you from Park when you push it down is the only thing that lets you go into Manual mode.

Try to pull it into Manual without depressing the lever. It can't be done.

^ This. You just press down enough for it to unlock. You don't need to keep the shifter button pressed down as you pull back. If thats what you are doing, I could see the problem.

 

[Starship Enterprise]

^ This. You just press down enough for it to unlock. You don't need to keep the shifter button pressed down as you pull back. If thats what you are doing, I could see the problem.

Exactly.

It was 17 years of pressing in the side of my T handle shifter on my 06 GT and pulling all the way back into Drive without having to think any more about it.

Now I have to remember to press down just for a moment to get it out of park and let up for the rest of the way.

But 9 times out of 10 or more, I shift into reverse as many do before going into Drive, so its easier just to pull back with no thumb action afterward.

Billetworkz shifter should be here in 2 days, been waitng a month for it, but that's another story.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

I can undertand your learning curve now. At least a little.

You missed the S550s. They had an S instead of an M. So downshifting to S put you in sport mode AND enabled the paddles for use. But it didn't activate manual mode unless you tapped one of the paddles first.

I kind of preferred it that way honestly.

 

[Starship Enterprise]

The S550 sounds like a better system. When I had my Prowler, I could pull all the way back and shifting side to side upshifted/downshifted in manual mode. I don’t remember going into it accidentally, but probably did at least once…lol.

For this car I like just putting it in Auto and just override with paddles…if I forget, it will revert back to Auto…eventually.

When I finish break-in, I’ll probably use paddles over Sport mode. It really tends to hold gears forever in Sport.

Still trying to keep RPM under 5000 for now.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

The S550 sounds like a better system.

Not really. You didnt get to use the paddles unless you were in sport mode. And you didn't get a drive mode toggle unless you had a Premium model. So base GT owners didn't get to change drive modes outside of putting the shifter to S. And base GT cars also didn't get paddles. So no, definitely not better.

 

[Wiley Marmot]

Added a Billetworkz knob to mine a couple of weeks ago.

Matches my Rapid Red fairly well and works good!

NOTE: If you're going to swap your auto knob out for a BW model; the 2 set screws that hold the OEM knob on are #2 Phillips heads, and be SURE and use a magnetic screw driver, or wrap a towl/shirt/cloth around the bottom of the shifter shaft! Very easy to drop one into your shifter mechanism = NOT good!

 

[Starship Enterprise]

Added a Billetworkz knob to mine a couple of weeks ago.

Matches my Rapid Red fairly well and works good!

NOTE: If you're going to swap your auto knob out for a BW model; the 2 set screws that hold the OEM knob on are #2 Phillips heads, and be SURE and use a magnetic screw driver, or wrap a towl/shirt/cloth around the bottom of the shifter shaft! Very easy to drop one into your shifter mechanism = NOT good!

Looks good! My knob is being delivered today. I plan to cover that opening in case anything drops.

That wrapped knob is weighted right? if it is, does it wobble while driving or feel too heavy for the mechanism? (I ordered a weighted one, and it just looked and felt like it would make the whole stalk top heavy. I never installed it and am waiting for the anodized one To get here.)

 

[Sofa King]

Looks good! My knob is being delivered today. I plan to cover that opening in case anything drops.

That wrapped knob is weighted right? if it is, does it wobble while driving or feel too heavy for the mechanism? (I ordered a weighted one, and it just looked and felt like it would make the whole stalk top heavy. I never installed it and am waiting for the anodized one To get here.)

The weighted knob won't wobble around... unless of course you stock one already does.

 

[Starship Enterprise]

That’s good to know. It just seems with the extra weight it would be easy to pull back past the gear you wanted to select. But having never installed it, just guessing.

Yeah with an auto, there’s not much to mess up, but I would find a way.

 

[Wiley Marmot]

@Sofa King --is correct. No wobbles, flexing, looseness, etc for me. either, Very solid unit, and easy to use.

 

[glenng6]

Well, I agree with you it shouldn't slip. But are we talking slipping or accidentally pulling the shifter back too far? One is user error and one is a defect. If it's slipping, that is 100% not normal and should be looked at immediately.

I would chalk up my issue to the fact that I am gripping the shifter like I am driving a stick and can't seem to shake the habit. That puts my hand on top of the shifter knob, and thus the problem. My thumb really isn't involved. Glenn

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Just for giggles I played around with my shifter today in my garage.

When shifting from park I can confirm you simply press the shifter button down once, RELEASE IT, then pull the lever back. It will stop in drive AND LOCK there very time. Once in drive you need to press the shifter button again to go farther back to M.

Only If you keep holding the shifter button down when shifting out of park or reverse, will go all the way back to M. And if you do that, its user error, not a design flaw.

So I think its great if you like the aftermarket knobs better. Just pointing out that correct operation doesnt require a parts replacement.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

I would chalk up my issue to the fact that I am gripping the shifter like I am driving a stick and can't seem to shake the habit. That puts my hand on top of the shifter knob, and thus the problem. My thumb really isn't involved. Glenn

Ah ok. Now I understand how thats happening to you. The shifter is designed to be gripped from the side and the button pressed with your thumb.

I drove an S650 with one of these aftermarket knobs like you guys are getting and it drove me absolutely insane. I guess I just never learned to use an automatic without my thumb. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

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