Mr_Outside

I've heard about the chrome under the paint on the shifter plate-thingy. Is this for all TLs including the 2.5?



Thanks.

TLin401

Yes...it looks so much better without the sticker on it.

wackjum

Yes. Both TL models.

But you can also go to an Acura dealership and pick up a chrome shift plate for the 2004 3.5RL. It is the exact same fit.

Mandy

Or just use paint stripper, rinse and wipe, put back on...chrome shifter plate!

bigwerm187

^ so when you do that it comes out clean or what..?

Mandy

Just watch...it's magic. You will have a very nice chromed plastic!

pretty_ricky302

BEFORE





AFTER

TLin401

Looks good

Mr_Outside

Thats awesome! Certainly gonna do that this weekend. Hope it comes out that good. I'm not the best at DIY. :P

Mandy

Be careful in prying out the plate....search, there's a DIY, here!

Mr_Outside

Thanks a lot.

bigwerm187

dam dat is hell of clean.. lol... were you get that wood grain around the shift plate.. mins is black and i want it wood grain..

pretty_ricky302

Theres a premium edition and not

You have the not.

I have the not

but I went to the junkyard and brought it.

bigwerm187

ooo yea i though soo.. yeah that would look alot better

main70072

The 96 2.5TL premium did not come with the woodgrain around the shift plate. Later years have them. All the 3.2TL premium came with them. We also do not have the woodgrain piece around the power window switches either. Ebay has them but cost is a little high. Junkyard is best.

bigwerm187

yeah cuz i wanted to get the wood garin all over in my interior you know what i mean. but i may have to go on ebay or buy them new. no junkyard in the 805 has a TL and if the do there already gutted. i only found on TL here at the junkyard and that was it.

Mr_Outside

Will some one please post the DIY for this, I cant seem to find it.

Thanks.

TLin401

There is a DIY on here somewhere about how to do this but basically this is what you need to do. First you need to but paint stripper so that the sticker will come off and reveal the chrome. Next you need to unscrew the shift knob and remove the plastic piece with the gears in it. Next you could either remove the shift plate or leave it on (I left mine on). Then you take the paint stripper and put it ALL over the plate. Now wait an hour or two andwipe away the stripper and if all of the sticker didnt come off then put stripper back on this until all of the sticker is gone. Then if you removed it then clean it out in the sink or if it is still in the car then wipe it down with a wet rag. Finally put everything back together. Good luck.

apz24

wow that looks easy ive got to try it tomorrow

Capricho

It's a lot easier to just buy a chrome '02 RL eustachian plate from the dealer and pop it in. No fuss, no muss. I think its like $20.00 or something.

Mr_Outside

How exactly do you get the plate out? I was trying last night and it didnt seem to wanna come off. I dont want to break anything.

pretty_ricky302

Diy:

Take coin tray out (Remove two screws)

Remove screws on each side of console (2 total) Near edge of seats.

Open arm rest (big section) remove cloth cover. (remove 2 screws)

6 screws total.

Pull up ebrake.

Take out console.

Unplug lighter, shift light bulb.

Black plastic ring just pops out around shifter.

********Plate doesn't come off********

Just spray paint stripper on plate. Just try not to be messy. No biggie

Wipe away paint.

Reinstall.

Capricho

Use a screwdriver to lift the plate out. There's a few tabs in there that hold it in. It's been a number of years since I did this and I recall it wasn't all that difficult to do. There's a DIY post on this topic somewhere if you do a search.

Pete_tl

yea i just did it yesterday. easiest thing to do to enhance appearance. First use a flat head screwdriver to pop out the gear plate. Then spray the paint stripper on the plate wait about an hour for the chemicals to sink in and then use a paint scrapper to peel off the black sticker it comes off with ease and there you go a clean shiny chrome plate just polish and your set.

DarkNinja75

Here's some pics. I actually started the DIY after I had already pulled it off, but I still included the pictures of how I did it.

Step 1: Unscrew the shift knob. Lefty loosey.

Step 2: Pull off the black gear plate with a small flat head screw driver. It's held in by 4 tabs, 2 on top and 2 on bottom.




Once it's up a little bit you can pull it off with your hand from either the bottom or top.



They're just little pop-in tabs so it's hard to break it. Here's a picture of where the tabs are.




It has the light and gear indicator screwed into it. You can leave it on.

Step 3: Take off the grayish plate. It's held on by two tabs on each side. I used two screwdrivers to do this. One popped out the tab on the back and held it out, while the other popped out the tab in front.



I scratched the plate up a bit doing this, but it's on the side and that's not visible when installed.



Step 5 (not pictured): Spray paint stripper on the plate. It says it's not safe for plastic but it worked just fine. I had to spray it on, wait 10 minutes, wipe it off, and do it again.

Here's the shifter with everything off.



Step 6 (not pictured): Press your chrome plate back on. It snaps in.

Step 7 (not pictured): Press the black gear plate back on. I spray painted mine black.

Step 8 (not pictured): Screw the shifter knob back on.

Step 9: Polish.



Step 10: Admire.

TLin401

Nice DIY. I might try spray painting my plate black. I'm also thinking about getting another shift plate because mine has wrinkles in it.

Whitey_1997TL

What happened to the wood trim on your center console? Looks like you got paint stripper on there.
What I did wrong was use Scotch-brite, stupid me.

DarkNinja75

Dunno, bought the car with it like that. My best guess is that the previous owner left the sunroof open on one of the 110+ degree days here and it melted. I took off the plastic piece and set it on newspaper outside when I sprayed the stripper on it.

TLin401

I picked up a new console at a salvage yard for like $35. It is a quick fix because there are 6 screws that hold the console in. It is very, very easy to replace.

DarkNinja75

I might go that route.

One word of caution: don't get the paint stripper on your skin. I had a drop hit me and it started burning almost instantly.

TLin401

That is def 20 words of caution

Anyway...

Rule #1 of anything: Put on gloves.

simm

I used Paint Stripper and it was all over my hands. After about 5 min, I felt burning on one of my fingers. Next time, I'll wear gloves.

TLin401

I need to do this mod again. My shift plate is bubbling and wavy.

Mandy

Some people ordered the RL Chrome Plate...lots of $$ though.

Mandy

RL and TL are using the same Chrome Plate (TL being painted but chromed).

Xanderpants

Did this today. Looks great. Thanks for the write up. As mentioned before, it is not necessary to remove the entire console. Just remove the bezel around the shift plate with a small flat head screwdriver.

Tip for removing the shift plate:

Use pliers. Place the bottom jaw of the pliers inside the groove where the shifter sits; position the upper jaw of the pliers on the side of the shift plate so the teeth help to grip the underside of it.

Now simply pry the plate off gently. Once you remove one side, the other just slides out. Much easier done, than typed :P

Mandy

Great idea! Thanks!

Ken1997TL

You can grab a new '04 RL plate for $20

9632tl

For anyone who wants the woodgrain trim peices, i would rather have the black(?) ones. maybe we can swap?

TLin401

Too bad you weren't on here last year. I changed mine from black to woodgrain. I would of just sent it to you. You would of had to pay fro shipping.

Try a salvage yard.

I picked my console up for $35.