AT Shifter Mod: Reverse the Up/Down Shift Directions
 

After owning an AT Miata for 4 years I was use to pulling back on the shift knob to up shift and pushing forward to down shift when in manual mode. This is opposite of the controls in our AT 370's. After 5 months I still got things mixed up if I wasn't paying attention when I switched gears so I decided to reverse the leads to make my Z shift the same as my old Miata.

After this mod, the manual shifter will work opposite its original factory setting. The steering wheel paddles continue to work as before.

Skill: Low, mostly removing trim pieces.
Time: Less than an hour.
Tools: Philips screwdriver, flat head screwdriver, safety pin.

To start with remove the trim pieces around the shifter, the knee pads and the center console. Rather than repeat those instructions, see page 2 of this thread http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...era-dvd-2.html for rarwz's instructions. Note: you do not need to remove the shift knob itself for this mod, also skip the parts of rarwz's instructions dealing with radio removal. Also, I did not loosen my parking break, I was able to remove the center console by pulling the break up as far as it would go.

Once the various trim pieces are out of the way, you need to twist the black plastic piece with the shift positions (P,R,N,D) out of the way. There are 4 plastic clips (Pics 1 and 2) that need to be released, use a small flat head screwdriver to pop them loose. No not disconnect any wires from it, just twist it out of the way to see the large white connector underneath it (Pic 3).

The white connector (M137 in the service manual) is held in place by a clip to the shifter assembly, to pop it loose push it toward the passenger seat. Once it is loose disconnect the two halves by pressing the release tab and pulling. We want to modify the half closest to the drivers seat (the part with the male connectors). Carefully pry the safety clip off of the connector (Pic 4).

We now want to swap the Light Green and Yellow wires (these are pins 2 and 3 in the service manual). To remove the wires take a safety pin and insert it in the large opening below the metal connector and pry up the small plastic clip holding the connector in place. You can then pull the wire and connector out of the plastic housing. See Pic 5 for an idea where it insert the pin, if you lift the clip correctly the wire will pull out easily. Pic 6 shows one of the wires out of the plastic housing. Note: Pic 6 is just to show a disconnected wire, ignore the wire colors in this pic. When this picture was taken I had mistakenly removed the wrong wire.

Pull out both the Light Green and Yellow wires and swap them. Pic 3 shows the final assembly with the wires in their new positions. Re-assemble everything and you are done. Don't forget to put the white safety clip back on the white connector after switching the wires.

Very nice! The Porsche owners would probably pay good money for this fix. Their stupid PDK systems have the shift directions backwards too.

+ rep for ingenuity

Thanks for the rep.

I just realized I misspelled reverse in the title. anyone know how to you edit the title? The edit button only lets me edit the body of the post.

Neat! +1 rep!

EDIT: And now successfully done. +1 rep again! :tup:

I can help.

Nice! Just remember to undo it if you sell the car!

I may have to do this. Nissan hooked it up backwards from my brain. +1

What do I need to do Triple's?

Nothing in regards to the thread title, it's been fixed. :tiphat:

Awesome to see you got this done!

doesn't apply to me but +rep for a terrific and simple mod... good contribution!

best diy ever!!! now we need to find some self adhisive + - that can stick over ther factory locations

I agree jetguy, I'm still trying to figure out a mod for that. I thought about using a dremel tool to make the - into a + but that doesn't help make the + a -. :p

i'm gonna try a few things today. i'll post it up if it turns out ok

this is what i came up with today. i'm not 100% satisfied with it but it will due for now. i had these in my tool box already they are from Tetrax - Portacellulare magnetico per auto - Accessories about $9. i sanded them, painted them w/ silver, then used a fine brush w/ touch-up paint, then clear coated. they are selfadhesive and stick like no ones buisness.

thanks agian for the diy on the shift mod. it is a HUGE improvment on the Z
http://www.the370z.com/members/jetgu...2891-shift.jpg

I thought about doing that too. It makes more since to pull down for the up shift and to push up for the down to me. Nice little project!

Nice job!!

Racing Shift Indicator & Harness kit
http://www.ppi-mines.com/images/Z33_...ICATOR_400.jpg

if you make it look like this. it will look nicer.

+ rep to axeman71 :tup:

Those prices are obscene.

Undead thread!

Just wanted to mention that i just did this, and it works great! I still prefer the paddles ,but using the shifter stick feels much more intuitive now -- "grab" the next cog gear by pulling towards you (i.e., down), "push away from you" (i.e., up) to slow down and drop a cog -- like a proper sequential set-up.

No issues, no CEL's, no change to how the paddles work; works perfectly as described by the OP :tup:

EDIT: Add a snazzy boot to cover the whole thing, and no worries about the "+" and "-" being opposite to actuation :tup: -- looks nicer too!

P, N, and R are indicated on the digital display, so the console display is redundant anyway.

i want to do this

Hello from texas,new to the 370z never owend one but in 1984 a 280z. Coming from 911 crowd just sold my 14 S and since I am a finance guy for nissan dealer in DFW got a great deal on a 17 370z, I like to mod my cars so got the base and will take it from there.installed the Z1 post MAF and K&N filters it feels better since the car is A/T love to do the paddle shifter mod but my parts department has no clue what I am talking about and gave me $10,000 in parts estimate I knew they don't know anything about this mod.
So this is the Question anyone with 17 370z base? How do I find out if the harness is there?
Thank you
Ben

This is very cool... I like them the way they are now but still give you rep points for the innovation!

Well I tried to rep you but it's not letting me for some reason

axeman71, I'm not sure if you're still around here but I just wanted to say thank you! I did this mod recently and it totally changed the way I drive my Z.

It's just so much more satisfying and engaging to pull back on the shifter for upshifts and forwards for downshifts as it should be. Shifting with paddles is ok but now it really feels like I have a clutchless manual which is very cool. Thanks! :tiphat: