MX83 Cressida - How to remove auto gear stick knob?

[petergoudie]

I am trying to change the gear knob on my MX83.

I have the knob off the stick but can't figure out how to remove the wires leading to the overdrive switch. I'm guessing there must be two small spade connectors at the back of the switch but it looks as though the wires are permanently fixed to the switch.

As these wires go down the gear stick tube I have to remove the switch wires before I can take the knob away. I have the switch out of the knob and the knob free of the stick but until I can free the wires I can't fully remove the knob.

Has anyone removed the knob before and if so, how did you separate the wires from inside the knob? Thanks.

[JP]

I think on the last one I did, I depinned the wires from the plug at the base of the shifter, then threaded them out through the shift lever.

[petergoudie]

Thanks JP. I looked at that also as being a way to remove the switch and I think you might be right. The only reservation I had is I would have thought Toyota would have made it easier for the production line workers because that process alone would have been time consuming hence expensive.