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      04-05-2011, 12:57 PM   #1
Tommiexboi
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DIY: Shifter Assembly Problem Fix

Guys! I figured it out! and it only cost 12 bucks to fix it completely!

Basically couple wires snapped and you just need to buy wires, electrical tape, and heat shrink.

If you look at the picture, find the wires where I circled it.. that's where it most likely snapped.
That's the sports mode/manual shift wires.

Here's a quick DIY.

Tools needed:
- Torx screw set (not sure what size, but one tiny one and one big one lol)
- Electrical tape
- Electrical wires (I bought 18 gauge wires, but find a thinner one)
- Heat shrink (for extra securing)

Time: 30~45 min

Difficulty: 6 out of 10 (the wires are so short!)

How to fix:
1. Remove shift boot and the connector (lift up the leather part)
2. Remove the Center Trim (you can find this on the DIY section)
3. There are 3 silver bolts that are holding down the shifter assembly, take that off (torx)
4. Wiggle the shifter assembly and lean it to your left
5. On the right side of the shifter assembly there should be three bolts (torx) remove them.
6. Now you have full access to the wires. (Make sure the wires are snapped or not.... but I'm pretty positive it's those wires)
7. Locate snapped wires and begin splicing with new wire, electrical tape, and heat shrink (FYI, the snapped wires are damn short)

How to check:
1. Put all the connectors back on
2. Make sure you have your E-brake on
3. Turn on car **REMEMBER TO HOLD THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME!!!!**
4. Put the car into DS and play with the Manual mode etc.
5. Make sure everything works
6. Put car back on P and turn off car and reassemble everything.

Worked for me!

PM me if you guys have any questions.
*unfortunately I don't have pics to this
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      08-14-2011, 10:52 PM   #2
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Question

Hi there,
A few months weeks ago,I found the spliced wires, just below where you see the blue wire on your left. The wires seemed to be caught in the gear assembly and I guess this is when I cleaned the shift boot. I had lost my DS and putting it all together it worked.

Currently I lost my upshift, downshift works well and I also noticed I lost my indicator light for "P". I took apart the assembly you mention above, looked at the wires I had fixed a while ago - everything seemed cool. I wasn't able to remove the cover on the left side since the torx screw were really small. Before I go out and buy the screwdriver for them and disassemble I wanted to know if this is where you had the problem? Did you find the problem once you unscrewed the torx screws or were your spliced wires alreeady visible and you unscrewed the cover just to have exposure to more wire to work with?
Thanks for all your help on this.
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      08-19-2011, 11:18 AM   #3
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Hi Tommiexboi,

Just wanted to thank you for the details, I actually fixed the problem , I can't believe it. As mentioned above I had found spliced wires which were visible but with no conclusion to fixing the upshift mode. Many people steered me to buying a new gear assembly. I took your advice and unscrewed the cover on the right of the gearbox and to my surprise there were two wires which were completely cut (weird- no mechanical piece around it to do that damage). I re-wired and put it back together all works. Thank you very much for the write-up. I would suggest to anyone having this problem to first check the wires and not change the assembly (for those not under guarantee anylonger).
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      09-10-2011, 07:28 PM   #4
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Thank you so much. 1 green wire was complete broken and 4 more had the shield broken due to that sharp 90* angle they were tucked in. I love this forum for this kind of things?
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      11-04-2011, 02:11 PM   #5
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Don't see any split wires!

Can anyone identify where they found cut wires in my pictures? I've got the no upshift (downshift works) problem.
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      11-04-2011, 09:00 PM   #6
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Hi , the wires I fixed were the orange, yellow and red that were hidden where you used the torque screwdriver to undo the side black plastic. In your case it is hard to see any evident usage. I would start with these wires since they are the ones that fixed the problem for my upshift. Also double-check your blue and purple wires. I am not sure if these would help but I had originally welded them.

Follow the wires through as much as you can I am certain you will find a cut in the plastic.

Good luck, let me know how it turns out.
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      11-04-2011, 09:09 PM   #7
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Just checked your picture again, performed a zoom and your green wire looks cut - follow it through to make sure. Could be the way your picture turned out but it is worth a look even though it wasn't that wire that fixed the problem for me.
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      11-05-2011, 11:47 AM   #8
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Thanks

I Just would like to say thanks you were spot on my gray and purple cable was broken but thanks to you I was able to fix it.

/Johan
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      11-05-2011, 06:28 PM   #9
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isn't a great feeling - glad to have helped.
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      12-07-2011, 02:09 AM   #10
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my shifter has been broke (no DS or up down shift) for months.
I knew it was something electrical!
How did you connect the wires back together exactly? Did you solder the cut wires together or twisted on a short piece of wire on both ends?
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      12-07-2011, 04:43 PM   #11
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hi, I originally used electrical tape but that isn't great, I was patient and soldered each wire together (best bet!)
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      12-26-2011, 02:12 PM   #12
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All my wires were stripped/frayed to some degree so I cut all my wires, melted the insulation back with a solder iron then soldered all the wire ends. Then I used small butt connectors to reconnect all the wires and wrapped it all in electrical wire. I should mention that I unsecured the wire from it's twisted wrapping around all the plastic shields and stuff. It's just loose now and I tucked it behind the shifter before putting it back. Took me about 2-1/2 hours but the wire is so flimsy I wanted it to be as secure as I could get it.
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      12-26-2011, 09:22 PM   #13
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I just found I got 4 wires cut.
red white blue and purple ones.
FYI Use torx 30 and 10.
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      03-21-2012, 10:11 AM   #14
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Does anyone happen to know how to take the entire shifter out?
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      04-01-2012, 01:29 AM   #15
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Is this why I can't shift into first or why I'm having problems shifting into gear on my e90 manual?
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      04-01-2012, 03:20 PM   #16
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I found two wires starting to split, they were exposed but it appeared no strand damage yet so i re-wrapped them individually ... yet to test it out though
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      09-08-2012, 01:52 AM   #17
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I am next in line with this issue. Lately, I was using DS mode more often to help braking since I was due for front brakes. Anyway, my DS wont engage today... the orange light fluctues but D remains in dash even in DS mode. I looked into the bottom of the shifter by removing only the black leather of the shifter, I notice that you have to remove the entire alumn trim out right? Thanks
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      09-10-2012, 11:55 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GTiceman View Post
I found two wires starting to split, they were exposed but it appeared no strand damage yet so i re-wrapped them individually ... yet to test it out though
hi there,

Saw ur post and I am following the thread. Were u able to fix this issue? I am doing my search and I hope Its only bad wires I have to deal with.

I am having the same problem now. I opened the bottom part of the shifter (I only lifted the black leather part) I did not see any broken wires, but I believe I have to remove the whole trim console to have better view of the wires right? Did u remove the shifter?

Thanks
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      09-10-2012, 12:28 PM   #19
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Hi - if you follow, Tommiexboi's pictures above it should all work. The center trim has to be removed for access.
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      09-10-2012, 12:52 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F1330 View Post
Hi - if you follow, Tommiexboi's pictures above it should all work. The center trim has to be removed for access.
hey thanks. Trying to find how to remove center console? Do I it unlclip from sides or it has screws? Thanks!
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      09-10-2012, 01:50 PM   #21
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I found out how to remove center console in the DIY forums. I will check my wiring as soon as I get a chance.
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      09-12-2012, 08:04 PM   #22
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Hello All,

I completely forgot I even wrote this DIY! I'm glad myDIY helped you guys fix this dumb issue!
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