CORVETTE ACCESSORIES UNLIMITED, LLC is now an official distributor of the

shifter knob.

1. Stock shift knob removal:
   • Using a small flat blade screwdriver, gently pry the shift pattern cap out. Start along the front side of cap, if cap does not want to come out, work your way around the other sides of the cap to help loosen cap.
   • Once the shift pattern cap has been removed, you will be able to access the lock pin that prevents the stock knob from unscrewing. Using a pliers or Vice-Grips, pull the lock pin straight up. You may also try prying the lock pin out using a medium sized flat blade screwdriver, (make sure you place something around the stock knob to prevent damaging it with the screwdriver.)
   • After the lock pin is removed, unthread the stock knob from the shifter lever.
   
   
2. Shifter boot removal:
   • The stock shifter boot uses a plastic ring with several snap tabs to hold the boot in place. Gently pull the base of the boot towards the shifter lever where the boot meets the center console. You will need to pull the boot/plastic ring in about 1/4 inch so that the snap tabs will clear the center console. Once you get one of the snap tabs released, work your way around the boot to release the remaining snap tabs.
   • TIP: If you are having trouble getting the snap tabs to release, push down on the ring/boot slightly. If you have too much pressure on the snap tabs against the center console, they will not want to release.
   • TIP: If you have problems getting the first snap tab released, skip this step at this time and proceed to the next step. Once the traction control panel is removed, you can reach beneath the center console and release the rear snap tab, and then work your way around.
   
   
3. Traction control panel removal:
   • For light up shift knobs, you will need to tap into the vehicles electrical system. To gain access to the power/ground wires, remove the traction control panel from the center console. To remove the traction control panel, open the center console storage compartment door. The traction control panel clips in place with two spring clips along the sides, (no hardware to remove.) Grab the rear edge of the traction control panel and pull up and towards the dash. Minimal effort should be required to remove the traction control panel.
     
     Click on image to enlarge.
   • NOTE: When re-installing panel, make sure you insert the tab on the front edge first, then snap the back edge in place.
   
   
4. Connecting the wiring harness to the power/ground wires:
   • IMPORTANT: Due to the complex electrical systems and numerous computers used in late model vehicles, it is recommended as a precautionary measure to disconnect the negative cable from the battery before beginning work on the vehicles electrical system.
   • NOTE: Many late model vehicles, including the C5 Corvette, use a ground pulsing system to dim the dash lights. In a ground pulsing system, the device, (in this case it would be the dash lights), has full voltage applied to it at all times. The device is turned on/off by controlling the path to ground. To achieve the effect of dimming the lights, the path to ground is turned on and off at a very fast rate, so fast as not to create a flickering effect, but slow enough to reduce the output of the device. If you connect the device directly to the chassis ground instead of the pulse controlled ground, the device will not be controlled by the dimmer switch and will be on all the time.
   • Included in the installation kit is a wire harness approximately 19 inches long, with a T-1 bulb attached to one end and two splice connectors on the other end. The two splice connectors need to be attached to the orange wire and the brown with white stripe wire (located next to the orange wire) in the traction control wire harness/connector that plugs on to the traction control button.
   • It does not matter which splice connector is connected to which wire. Just attach one of the splice connectors to the orange wire, and connect the other splice connector to the brown with white stripe wire. Make certain that the splice connector makes a good connection through the wires insulation, (you might need to use a pliers to close the splice connector and press the wire into place.) Once all connections are made, it is a good idea to double-check all connections and then test the system. (If you disconnected the negative cable from the battery, you will need to reconnect it to test the system.) Turn on the dash lights and adjust brightness. The T-1 bulb should change brightness along with the dash lights.
     
     Click on image to enlarge.
   • Route the T-1 bulb under the center console from the traction control panel to the shifter. Make certain that the wire harness will not catch on any sharp objects or rub against any moving parts that might cause a break in the wiring harness insulation.
   • Secure the wiring harness to the shifter lever with electrical tape, (included in install kit.) To determine the necessary length/position of the wiring harness, TEMPORARYLY screw the Flameball knob onto the shifter lever, (MAKE CERTAIN NOT TO OVER TIGHTEN THE KNOB!) Insert the T-1 bulb into the small hole at the base of the Flameball knob. Route the wiring harness down the shifter lever and secure the wiring harness near the base of the shift lever with the electrical tape.
   • NOTE: If you opt to tape the wiring harness just below the Flameball knob at this time, make certain you have enough slack in the wiring harness so that you can remove/install the T-1 bulb from the hole in the base if the Flameball knob. (I recommend waiting to tape the wiring harness just below the Flameball knob until the shifter boot is reinstalled and the Flameball knob has been installed with the thread locker adhesive. There should be enough play in the shifter boot to allow you to slide the shifter boot down the shifter lever, tape the wiring harness just below the Flameball knob, and then slide the shifter boot back in place.)
   • Remove the T-1 bulb from the Flameball knob and unscrew the Flameball knob from the shifter lever. Once the Flameball knob has been removed, reinstall the shifter boot.
   • TIP: I found that it helps if you lay the T-1 bulb/wire in the key way at the end of the shift lever, otherwise you keep pushing the T-1 bulb/wire down when you try and slip the boot back down the shifter lever.
   • Once the shifter boot is in place, reinstall the traction control panel in the center console. Make certain that the splice connectors do not interfere with any other controls. When reinstalling the traction control panel, make sure that the tab along the front edge is inserted first, then the back edge snapped in place.
   • TIP: It is a good idea to test the lights a second time at this point.
   
   
5. Flameball knob installation:
   • Clean the threads to remove any contaminants on the shifter lever and in the threaded insert in the Flameball knob. The install kit includes two alcohol wipes for this reason.
   • Apply a couple drops of thread locking adhesive, (included in the install kit), to the threaded insert in the Flameball knob. Screw the Flameball knob onto the shifter lever. MAKE CERTAIN NOT TO OVER TIGHTEN THE KNOB!
   • Insert the T-1 bulb into the small hole at the base of the Flameball knob. Tape the wiring harness just below the Flameball knob at this time. There should be enough play in the shifter boot to allow you to slide the shifter boot down the shifter lever, tape the wiring harness just below the Flameball knob, and then slide the shifter boot back in place.
   
   
6. Installation should be complete at this point. Allow cure time for thread locker adhesive before putting into service.
   
   Click on image to enlarge.

CAU-LLC can not be held responsible for any damages due to reference to this document, we are simply stating/showing what has worked for us. Install with your own discretion.

Email: info@cau-llc.com