00R/T
01-10-2008, 02:42 PM
For a long time, I've been looking in to the Kruzr Shiftr. It's basically a device that allows the use of any manual shift knob on the PT Cruiser's automatic shifter. It works by pushing down on the entire assembly to release and shift gears. It looked like it should work because the shifters are very similar. A few months ago, I finally decided I would get one. I was disappointed when I sawe the manufacturers website was closed. I looked on eBay and saw one for sale. Unfortunately it was the one for the older models which didn't have autostick. The older PT shifter actually looked closer to ours so I figured it was worth a shot. I ended up getting it for around $30 shipped. It was brand new and came with an 8-ball knob. The knob is a real Aramith billiard ball imported from Belgium. The whole setup should have been about $100 more than I paid for it if it were still available. It's probably more valuable than that now that they are very hard to find.
So, when it came, I set about figuring out how to make it work on the intrepid. The first problem I ran in to was it being too long. After a bit of hesitation, I cut the bottom off where it began to taper so I was left with a shaft that was about 1.5" shorter and the same diameter along the entire length. I test fit it, and was able to activate the shifter by pressing down. The problem was that the plastic rod in the middle of the shifter sticks up higher than the one in the PT. This was a problem because the device sat up too high so the pins inside would not sit in the notches on the shifter allowing the whole thing to turn. Aside from this not looking or feeling right, the knob would have to be turned every time to make sure it would line up and go down all the time. Shortening it was not an option, because then it would not go down far enough to disengage when pressed all the way down. I drove with it in my car for the past month or so in this configuration and I got used to it, but I still wasn't happy with it,. If I needed someone else to drive it they would be all messed up.
I discovered that the plastic rod moves about a half inch before it disengages the mechanism. At the point where the knob was pressed just enough to disengage the mechanism, the pins fit in and would keep everything from turning. I needed to find a way to make the knob always rest at this point so it would disengage as soon as it was pushed down and would never pop out of the notches. Unfortunately, there is a spring inside the shifter, separate from the main spring, that pushes the plastic rod up all the way after the shifter is released. I needed to get rid of this spring, but didn't want to pull my shifter out and start messing around with it. So, I ordered a spare. It came in yesterday and I disassembled it quite a bit. I was able to reposition the spring so that it no longer forces the rod up after the mechanism releases. I put everything back together, put the Kruzr Shiftr on, and it works perfectly. It will now turn only if I grab the knob and pull it up, which I would never do. I'm very pleased that I got it working.
This brings me to my dilemma. Since I was buying a new shift mechanism, I figured I might as well call up a yard that had one from an 01. I talked to them during the summer but they wouldn't guarantee the knob was chrome or that it was in good condition. At that time, it wasn't worth paying for a shifter I didn't need hoping that there was a good knob on it. Seeing as I now needed the shifter, I figured it was worth paying a little extra to get it from them and hoping I'd make out. I could not get a guarantee on it being chrome or it being in good shape, but finally got a guarantee it would be from this car. These 2 photos made me confident enough that I would be getting a chrome knob.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e333/steviedevie/pictureaspx.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e333/steviedevie/pictureaspx2.jpg
Sure enough, it showed up and is now in my car.
So, my question is, should I leave the chrome knob in there or should I put the Kruzr assembly in and get a nice knob for it? I love the chrome knob and always wanted one, and I'm a big fan of stock upgrades, but it seems as if everyone has on now and I want something different.
I'll upload a few pics when I get home tonight so you can compare. The only issue with the Kruzr one is I need to get a larger boot because it catches on the larger shaft and won't go in to park sometimes without extra help. The chrome one is in there and working perfectly. Decisions, decisions!
So, when it came, I set about figuring out how to make it work on the intrepid. The first problem I ran in to was it being too long. After a bit of hesitation, I cut the bottom off where it began to taper so I was left with a shaft that was about 1.5" shorter and the same diameter along the entire length. I test fit it, and was able to activate the shifter by pressing down. The problem was that the plastic rod in the middle of the shifter sticks up higher than the one in the PT. This was a problem because the device sat up too high so the pins inside would not sit in the notches on the shifter allowing the whole thing to turn. Aside from this not looking or feeling right, the knob would have to be turned every time to make sure it would line up and go down all the time. Shortening it was not an option, because then it would not go down far enough to disengage when pressed all the way down. I drove with it in my car for the past month or so in this configuration and I got used to it, but I still wasn't happy with it,. If I needed someone else to drive it they would be all messed up.
I discovered that the plastic rod moves about a half inch before it disengages the mechanism. At the point where the knob was pressed just enough to disengage the mechanism, the pins fit in and would keep everything from turning. I needed to find a way to make the knob always rest at this point so it would disengage as soon as it was pushed down and would never pop out of the notches. Unfortunately, there is a spring inside the shifter, separate from the main spring, that pushes the plastic rod up all the way after the shifter is released. I needed to get rid of this spring, but didn't want to pull my shifter out and start messing around with it. So, I ordered a spare. It came in yesterday and I disassembled it quite a bit. I was able to reposition the spring so that it no longer forces the rod up after the mechanism releases. I put everything back together, put the Kruzr Shiftr on, and it works perfectly. It will now turn only if I grab the knob and pull it up, which I would never do. I'm very pleased that I got it working.
This brings me to my dilemma. Since I was buying a new shift mechanism, I figured I might as well call up a yard that had one from an 01. I talked to them during the summer but they wouldn't guarantee the knob was chrome or that it was in good condition. At that time, it wasn't worth paying for a shifter I didn't need hoping that there was a good knob on it. Seeing as I now needed the shifter, I figured it was worth paying a little extra to get it from them and hoping I'd make out. I could not get a guarantee on it being chrome or it being in good shape, but finally got a guarantee it would be from this car. These 2 photos made me confident enough that I would be getting a chrome knob.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e333/steviedevie/pictureaspx.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e333/steviedevie/pictureaspx2.jpg
Sure enough, it showed up and is now in my car.
So, my question is, should I leave the chrome knob in there or should I put the Kruzr assembly in and get a nice knob for it? I love the chrome knob and always wanted one, and I'm a big fan of stock upgrades, but it seems as if everyone has on now and I want something different.
I'll upload a few pics when I get home tonight so you can compare. The only issue with the Kruzr one is I need to get a larger boot because it catches on the larger shaft and won't go in to park sometimes without extra help. The chrome one is in there and working perfectly. Decisions, decisions!