AT Shifter Mod: Reverse the Up/Down Shift Directions

axeman71 · 10-03-2010, 08:00 PM

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 DIY: Rearview Camera & DVD 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.

spearfish25 · 10-03-2010, 08:39 PM

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

axeman71 · 10-03-2010, 10:10 PM

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.

Jordo! · 10-03-2010, 10:36 PM

Neat! +1 rep!

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

Trips · 10-03-2010, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axeman71

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.

I can help.

m4a1mustang · 10-03-2010, 10:43 PM

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

JACKPAC · 10-03-2010, 10:48 PM

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

axeman71 · 10-04-2010, 08:37 PM

What do I need to do Triple's?

Trips · 10-04-2010, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axeman71

What do I need to do Triple's?

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

wilsonp · 10-04-2010, 11:25 PM

Awesome to see you got this done!

travisjb · 10-04-2010, 11:30 PM

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

jetguy · 10-05-2010, 08:43 AM

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

axeman71 · 10-05-2010, 09:37 PM

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 -.

jetguy · 10-06-2010, 07:27 AM

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

jetguy · 10-06-2010, 06:20 PM

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

10-03-2010, 08:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	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 __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

10-03-2010, 10:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
axeman71 Base Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 129 Drives: '10 Conv A7 Blk Chry Rep Power: 14	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. __________________ 2010 Roadster, 7AT, Black Cherry, Touring, Navigation, Lighted Kick Plates, Floor and Trunk Mats.

10-03-2010, 10:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 417	Neat! +1 rep! EDIT: And now successfully done. +1 rep again! __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it. Last edited by Jordo!; 11-18-2013 at 09:08 AM.

10-03-2010, 10:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	Nice! Just remember to undo it if you sell the car! __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

10-04-2010, 08:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
axeman71 Base Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 129 Drives: '10 Conv A7 Blk Chry Rep Power: 14	What do I need to do Triple's? __________________ 2010 Roadster, 7AT, Black Cherry, Touring, Navigation, Lighted Kick Plates, Floor and Trunk Mats.

10-03-2010, 10:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
JACKPAC Track Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 516 Drives: MB 370z Rep Power: 16	I may have to do this. Nissan hooked it up backwards from my brain. +1

10-04-2010, 11:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
wilsonp A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,134 Drives: 2009 Touring Sp Nav Rep Power: 16	Awesome to see you got this done! __________________ 2014 Cayman S PDK Sport Chrono White/Black Was 2009 370Z Touring Sport+Nav 7AT Metallic Black/Persimmon Was 1991 NSX Auto Black/Black Last edited by wilsonp; 10-06-2010 at 05:02 PM. Reason: typo

10-04-2010, 11:30 PM	#11 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 188	doesn't apply to me but +rep for a terrific and simple mod... good contribution! __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

10-05-2010, 08:43 AM	#12 (permalink)
jetguy Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: atlanta Posts: 311 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 15	best diy ever!!! now we need to find some self adhisive + - that can stick over ther factory locations

10-05-2010, 09:37 PM	#13 (permalink)
axeman71 Base Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 129 Drives: '10 Conv A7 Blk Chry Rep Power: 14	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 -. __________________ 2010 Roadster, 7AT, Black Cherry, Touring, Navigation, Lighted Kick Plates, Floor and Trunk Mats.

10-06-2010, 07:27 AM	#14 (permalink)
jetguy Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: atlanta Posts: 311 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 15	i'm gonna try a few things today. i'll post it up if it turns out ok

10-06-2010, 06:20 PM	#15 (permalink)
jetguy Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: atlanta Posts: 311 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 15	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

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