R
Roberto
Guest
Hi Guys & Gals,
It's often been mentioned in here about the removal of the factory fitted gear knob, and 1 or 2 remedies have been suggested. Yesterday I fitted the black/red Abarth gear knob and aluminium plated gaiter 2 my HGT and I thought I'd share the experience with u.
It was mentioned in here that removing the old gaiter would expose a clip 2 remove the knob, but on inspection, my HGT had no such clip. This might have something 2 do with the year of the car (97 R plate) as newer models might b different. Quite simply, unless u r very strong and able 2 twist it off, if there is no clip, u will need 2 hacksaw the bugger off. This is not as bad as it sounds as the knob, be it the plastic one or the std leather version (which is just a plastic knob with thin leather trim added) is reasonably soft when introduced 2 a blade ! It took about 30 seconds of sawing, starting down from the top of the knob, then using a screwdriver to pry it apart and then I was able 2 twist it easily off. The new knob is secured by 3 allen screws and the gaiter screws on2 the knob. The only problem I had was that the instructions 4 fitting the gaiter were slightly wrong in as much as they tell u 2 drill 4 holes 4 4 of the screws but what confused me was that, of the 8 screws provided, 4 are self tapping and 4 r short bolts with locking nuts. I couldn't figure out how u r expected 2 attach the nuts underneath the console with the gaiter attached. Am I being thick ??
Anyway, no drilling was required as a small bradawl made 4 easy holes 2 screw in the self tapping fixings and I then glued the 4 nuts in place using a speck of Super Glue so everything looked nice.
Total fitting time, approx 10 minutes.
I also fitted my exhaust sports trim and sill kick plates and am very pleased with the result.
By the way, FIAT no longer make sill plates specifically 4 the Bravo in Abarth colours but my dealer ordered some Abarth plates which I think were 4 either a Punto or Seicento and they did the trick just nicely.
So there's my "knob" experience 4 u....slighty surreal, all this talk of knobs & nuts !
All the best,
Rob.
It's often been mentioned in here about the removal of the factory fitted gear knob, and 1 or 2 remedies have been suggested. Yesterday I fitted the black/red Abarth gear knob and aluminium plated gaiter 2 my HGT and I thought I'd share the experience with u.
It was mentioned in here that removing the old gaiter would expose a clip 2 remove the knob, but on inspection, my HGT had no such clip. This might have something 2 do with the year of the car (97 R plate) as newer models might b different. Quite simply, unless u r very strong and able 2 twist it off, if there is no clip, u will need 2 hacksaw the bugger off. This is not as bad as it sounds as the knob, be it the plastic one or the std leather version (which is just a plastic knob with thin leather trim added) is reasonably soft when introduced 2 a blade ! It took about 30 seconds of sawing, starting down from the top of the knob, then using a screwdriver to pry it apart and then I was able 2 twist it easily off. The new knob is secured by 3 allen screws and the gaiter screws on2 the knob. The only problem I had was that the instructions 4 fitting the gaiter were slightly wrong in as much as they tell u 2 drill 4 holes 4 4 of the screws but what confused me was that, of the 8 screws provided, 4 are self tapping and 4 r short bolts with locking nuts. I couldn't figure out how u r expected 2 attach the nuts underneath the console with the gaiter attached. Am I being thick ??
Anyway, no drilling was required as a small bradawl made 4 easy holes 2 screw in the self tapping fixings and I then glued the 4 nuts in place using a speck of Super Glue so everything looked nice.Total fitting time, approx 10 minutes.
I also fitted my exhaust sports trim and sill kick plates and am very pleased with the result.
By the way, FIAT no longer make sill plates specifically 4 the Bravo in Abarth colours but my dealer ordered some Abarth plates which I think were 4 either a Punto or Seicento and they did the trick just nicely.
So there's my "knob" experience 4 u....slighty surreal, all this talk of knobs & nuts !
All the best,
Rob.
