Well, as usual I was rushed trying to do something and I wrecked it. Was trying to bring out the chrome on my shift gate by using my high-speed buffer....was taking forever so I got lazy and put too much pressure on one spot and melted and warped it a bit. Pretty shiny now but it looks like crap. I'll be ordering a new shift plate from the dealer, but how did you guys get the grey s$%#-a@@ paint to come off and leave the chrome plastic behind!? PLease advise!!! THANKS! :shit:

 

did you use a paint stripper/thinner? and mayb ken can sell u his old one since he got one from an rl

 

Use chemicals, NOT force, contrary to Yoda's belief. ZipStrip or a paint thinner/stripper. C'mon bro, I know you read the correct directions somewhere.

 

yeah use zipstrip!! you're going to have to let the zipstrip eat away the grey stuff so you're gong to have to let it sit for awhile. and have a bucket of water next to you so you can rinse out the grey stuff that's been eaten away by zipstrip and the with the remaining grey stuff apply more zipstrip and repeat the process until there's no more grey stuff left on the shifter plate...

 

I hope you ordered the RL's shiftgate, its the SAME thing and will fit but its already chrome

 

can you just leave it in a bucket of paint thinner?? and jsut wait til everything falls off

 

first - you're looking for paint stripper, not paint thinner - stripper is a thick gel that heats up and eats away paint.

second - the shifter itself is just chrome-plated plastic, so I wouldn't leave anything that can dissolve plastic on for too long

third - use gloves. When I did it, my fingers went tingly & numb for a few hours.

Craig

 

I know, I know, was just lazy and didn't have any stripper handy. I'll just order one from an RL. What years are the model that fits ours?

 

Any year RL will fit ours. I'm not sure if the older ones are chrome or not though. So to be safe, get the '04. It shouldn't cost you any more than 20 or 25 dollars.

 

Cool. Thanks Ken. Maybe I'll just head over to the dealer and see if there's an RL I can take for a test drive alone....Hmmm..... Just kidding! I'll order one tomorrow. You're sure they're all exactly the same Ken? Cool if they are...

 

Yep, I ordered an RL shiftgate meant for an '04 and it fits perfectly.

 

what the hell is a shiftgate? lol......

 

Check this picture out. Its the chrome plate.

 

Sweet...passing by the dealer tomorrow for a few things, foglight bulb, see if I can get bulb for the D4 light, will order that at same time!! Thanks Ken. -- rememebr '04 RL....!!
(*Maybe I'll order an '04 Engine to go with it too...!! HAHA!! I wish...)

 

You could put the '04 RL engine in our cars. Just need to do a little fiddling with the engine mounts.

Its not worth all the trouble though.

 

what about the 05 RL engine?? 300 hps....

 

heres a video showing off the 2005 RL AWD
http://www.honda.co.jp/HDTV/news/2004-4040401a/

 

The 05 RL engine is a J35 with S-VTEC (super VTEC) and will NOT fit in ours. An Accord or 99+ TL would be a better candidate.

 

I know dude!! Researched it already, but would be nice though...bit more torque...Arr ar rrrrr!!!!

 

So...where would one order a shift gate from an 04 RL? I'd rather buy one than strip the factory one to chrome plastic. That makes me nervous, I'd probably mess it up. Does anyone have a link or anything?

 

You can order one through a dealer. Most websites will not sell/ship anything to you if its under 50 bucks. So if you do order something through them, buy a few other things.

 

Ordered from the dealer yesterday...$18 CDN. LOL Guy was looking at me funny as I had just bought new fog light bulb and finally got the damned D4 bulb...He's like you know if the shift plate doesn't fit, I'm not tkaing it back... I was like dude, for $18, I don't really care if it does or not!! haha!!!

 

Crap, i just ordered a shiftgate for a '97 RL, will that fit too? I'm guessing its the same part

 

It'll fit, no promises if its chrome though. I think that might be on the newer RL's only.

 

Doh, I should've been more patient...I just wanted to get the stupid dead pedal replacement and I couldnt order just that! Oh well, if its not chrome, i'll just have 2 chances to try to use something to take the paint off. Thanks as always Ken

 

Boarder, what is the damned part number for the deadpedal replacement!!! Have been to the dealer 3 times for this and every time he takes my number to look it up based on the TSB I gave him and call me, but he never does..... If you have a part number I would REALLY appreciate it!!! Thanks man!

 

Cornflake, the part number of the good pedal is 46991-SZ5-A84. that things been driving me nuts, especially on long trips!

 

Dammit, all the pictures I've found of the '97 RL shiftgate, they are not chrome. At least it wasnt that much $$, but that still pisses me off, I shouldve checked a little more about what I was ordering. I'll just have to try to use some paint stripper and see how that turns out. At least I get two chances this time! it wouldnt suck so bad, but we dont have an Acura dealership close by where I live, closest one is like 3 hours away. Is the chrome RL shiftgate way better then a stripped version of ours? if so, i might try to find an Acura dealership while I'm in florida and have it shipped back! I guess having the new dead pedal will totally be worth all of what i paid

 

Damn, that sucks. Sorry to hear you wasted your cash on that. Yes, the '04 shiftgate I have is worth it. Its glossy and near perfection

As for the deadpedal, its a MUST if you have a "defective" one (i.e. too short).

 

THANK-YOU!!! Thanks Boarder, I HATE that short pedal, drives me nuts too, even on short trips!!!!! This is gonna be a NICE mod!

 

I know it was KILLING me...i cant wait to get home to install it. Mad props to Ken for giving me the part number!!!!

 

I just called a dealer here in Halifax and the price for the '04 shiftgate is $27 something CND. That will look sweet.

 

okay, i know this thread is hella old, but, i've been tryin to figure out how to replace my ugly shiftplate with a nice chrome one for a while now. all this talk about "the '04 RL plate fitting all of ours" intrigues me. does this include a 2002 TL Type-S??? thanks ahead

 

Nope... totally different shape. 1st gen TL's and 1st gen RL's dont have the sportshift gate.

 

Does anyone have instructions on how to change the shift gate? I will be doing it some time soon.

 

so how the hell can i get a chrome shiftplate on my '02 TL Type-S? any1 know?

 

i dont think you can cause i remember reading on the 2nd gen forum that the only the 99 TL was able to chrome it out by stripping the paint off

 

...pathetic. that sux. no1 knows how i can hav a chrome shiftplate?

 

use a small flathead screw driver and lightly go around the dges of the shiftgate. it will start to come up and pop right out. i love it. the easiest part to take off for sure (other than the ash tray). most everything on this car is easy to take off and reinstall (*most).

 

I think the '99 shiftgates can be stripped but since you have a '02 TL-S, you will lose the first gear because '00 and new TL's have plastic shiftgates, not chromed then painted shiftgates.