VR 6 Acclaim - console trim removal problems

[Dunlop]

Hi again everyone. In the process of trying to get to the inhibitor switch on my VR 6 auto shifter, using the very detailed instructions below, I've come across a couple of points I can't quite understand. I'm trying to stick with this set of directions as it's so detailed.

Firstly point 14 as below:

• Being very carefull lift gear lever sliding trim up slightly, twist the rear section down, push slightly forward and pull towards the drivers side of vehicle. Remove trim. Be very carefull not to snap trim in half at gear lever.

I don't quite understand exactly which piice this is referring to or precisely how this twisting works? I need to move the black strap that runs the length of the assembly and is fixed to the middle of the gear lever...

Secondly section 17:

• Lift white gear lever surround up slightly and twist gear lever indicator bulb holder and pull away from white gear lever surround.

I gather this is the holder that illuminates the gear positions at night and which is under the white trim which you have to remove?

Thanks for any help here.


Centre Console

1. Pull hand brake lever fully up.
2. Undo zipper below hand brake lever.
3. Put gear lever into neutral.
4. Open ashtray and pull up and remove.
5. Being very carefull lift the gear lever surround up from the rear, near the hand brake. This may take some force and may require a bit of help by using a small pry bar. Do not over force else it may break.
6. Once lifted from the rear, pull gear lever surround towards the rear of the vehicle.
7. Disconnect 1x 1 pin plug from cigarette lighter light. This requires the lifting up of tab.
8. Disconnect 1x 2 pin plug from cigarette lighter.
9. Lift surround up and turn 90'.
10. Lift surround up and tilt over gear lever from rear to front.
11. Mark gear position indicator plate cover for position in relation to white gear lever surround.
12. Remove gear position indicator plate cover.
13. Remove plate cover from above PWR/ECON switch.
14. Being very carefull lift gear lever sliding trim up slightly, twist the rear section down, push slightly forward and pull towards the drivers side of vehicle. Remove trim. Be very carefull not to snap trim in half at gear lever.
15. Pry small white trim from the front section of the white gear lever surround and remove.
16. Remove 4x black screws from the white gear lever surround.
17. Lift white gear lever surround up slightly and twist gear lever indicator bulb holder and pull away from white gear lever surround.
18. Disconnect 3 pin plug from the PWR/ECON switch wiring.
19. Remove white gear lever surround.
20. Loosen 2x large screws from front of centre console. Do not remove just loosen.
21. Lift centre console lid up and carpet up in the bottom of the console well.
22. Remove 2x 10mm nuts from under the carpet in the console well. (may be 2x screws)
23. Close console lid and place gear lever into first gear position.
24. Lift the rear of the centre console up about 50mm wilst pulling to the rear about 50mm. Lift the rear of the centre console up and over the gear lever and hand brake lever then slide centre console rearwards. Be carefull of electric window wiring (undo plugs at front of centre console underneith stereo surround) if fitted. Remove centre console.

 

[grey_hawk]

The gear lever sliding trim I think is referring to the sliding plastic part that moves with the gear selector, which is slit on one side of the selector.
The twisting is to get the sliding trim off of the selector without busting it.

Section 17, yes it is the globe holder that lights up the gear position at night.

 

[Dunlop]

The gear lever sliding trim I think is referring to the sliding plastic part that moves with the gear selector, which is slit on one side of the selector.
The twisting is to get the sliding trim off of the selector without busting it.

Section 17, yes it is the globe holder that lights up the gear position at night.

Thanks for that - didn't realise it was split. Just had a look but I can't seem to find any split - could I be missing something? Also noticed that it appears there's only one small globe under the gear posiiton indicator - I thought there might have been five? But when I put the lever into D it doesn't seem to light up where the others do...

That's odd.

 

[vs-lover]

In our current cold climate we are experiencing I would be using a hair dryer and heat the plastic around the shift lever up so as not to break that piece as they do break rather easily if not manipulated correctly. All these plastic parts are getting older and more brittle by the day.

 

[vs-lover]

Thanks for that - didn't realise it was split. Just had a look but I can't seem to find any split - could I be missing something? Also noticed that it appears there's only one small globe under the gear posiiton indicator - I thought there might have been five? But when I put the lever into D it doesn't seem to light up where the others do...

That's odd.

I think your eyes must be deceiving you as there is only one T3 illumination bulb in there and the light is dictated by the small window in the sliding piece lining up with the corresponding position indicator, eg. P, R, N, D, 2, and 1

 

[Dunlop]

I think your eyes must be deceiving you as there is only one T3 illumination bulb in there and the light is dictated by the small window in the sliding piece lining up with the corresponding position indicator, eg. P, R, N, D, 2, and 1

Thanks - right on both... Going back this morning to examine everything carefully - grateful for the advice on the hair dryer. The globe under the gear indicator strip is tiny... still not sure why the D position isn't illuminating though.

 

[grey_hawk]

The 'D' position will probably only show up when everything is reassembled and aligned correctly.

 

[Dunlop]

The 'D' position will probably only show up when everything is reassembled and aligned correctly.

It did amazingly. Just thought I' fill everyone in in relation to what eventuated.

I was able to get the white trim section off enough to access the inhibitor switch. Try as I might, I couldn't get the electrical connector clips undone despite pushing a small screwdriver into the white tab. So I Iifted the switch up to pop the green cover off the side to access the contacts. According to the photographs on the detailed removal site you just push the rear plug in to pop this off.

No go - it just didn't work - looks like the cover wasn't meant to be removed and the photo appears to show a modified plug. I tried wedging a screwdriver under the lip in the front but it wouldn't come off.

In the end I just gave up and put everything back in place. Now the locking system is playing up - hardly surprising given the cold weather and humidity.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[grey_hawk]

As in central locking?
The green cover has 4 sections that are barbed,so they have to be squeezed together to release.
I think I used something like an empty biro tube to get the cover off.
Couldn't a close up enough photo but hopefully gives you an idea.
Out of interest,where did you find the instructions you were working from?

 

[Dunlop]

Than ks for that - did well if you used a biro tube (clever) to get it off...

I used the instructions which have been copied in this link - I keep losing the original link but it's on this site: https://forums.justcommodores.com.a...e-light-switch-on-auto-vr-vs-commodore.87157/

So did you just push the pen body over the top of the plug? I tried cutting part of it away to see if that worked.

Have just broken the inside parts of two door snibs so not that happy - luckily a local wrecker I know has got some replacements (170 km return trip). I finally got the orange tabs out then found they wouldn't go back again... the tabs are ok - just need two new snibs.