Somebody emailed me from here a little while back and I accidentally deleted the email...

So here are the instruction to removing the shift **** on an automatic... Note: this excerpt is taken from my tech article writup on dash/radio removal.

1. Engaging the hand brake
2. Put the key position in ON, but the car OFF.
3. Put the shifter into 3rd gear position.
2. The small chrome piece (sleeve) under the shift **** needs to be unclipped downward, it will pop free with pressure and slide down the shift assembly.
5. Now pull out the thumb button slightly and hold it while you pull the shift **** up and off the assembly (it will take some effort).
6. Putting it back on, the procedure is the same.

 

brrman, how's the carputer workin?

 

yeah I saw a theead abut this and I love the idea. Id like to do that but dont haver the time or money.

edit Id like a usb port up front so I can use my smart phone for internet acess on the go. but then again thats the nerd in me dreaming

 

The carputer is running just fine. Been working without a hitch in the avant for about 7 months now. I have stopped fiddling with it and simply enjoy it now.

It is so much work to install and build it, I declared the other day that I would never put another computer in a car, but I am so spoiled by it I may just have to keep doing it...
And Andrew, I do have a usb port up front, but I haven't tried using my phone for internet on it. I know guys that do it though.

 

I would be one of them, last time I streamed aol xm radio for free on the way up to atlantic city, the unfourtunate thing of it was I had to have my laptop on my legs for 3 hours. Nothing beats 200kbps or more anywhere you go!If i still have this car when I re graduate college I will be attempting this build as well. There are so many sff laptops to choose from, but I may go sff desktop and swap out for a nice sound blaster audigy.

 

I spent 4 hours trying to do this seemingly simple task but was unable to remove the shifter ****. I even have the Bentley manual with instructions similar to yours. How far down should the sleeve (you call it a chrome piece under shift ****) push down? When I push this down it drops maybe 1/8" and doesn't have much of a mechanical feel although it definitely stays in the down position. I sat in the driver's seat and pulled on the **** firmly to no avail - should I hit it with something like a mallet? 2004 A4 1.8T automatic

 

Those are the right instructions. The chrome cone on the bottom doesnt drop very far. 1//8 of an inch is about right.While holding the shifter button out you need to pull up on the ****. Very hard usually. Think hand and **** bouncing off the sunroof hard when it comes loose. I find that jerking on it repeatedly seems to make it pop off the easiest.

If you use a zip tie between the button and the shifer **** you will have both hands free to pull on the ****. If the button falls into the shifter dont worry. Just blow into the bottom of the **** and it will pop out.