Shifter light replacement..

How do I replace the bulb that shines on the gear you have selected?
How do you remove the plate?

on a 97 - empty the center console, remove 4 screws at bottom as well as screws at top of console, remove 2 screws at ashtray, on front side of shifter knob (at the slit in leather) pry out "U" clip that holds the knob on the shaft, carefullyyyyyyy pry up the plate (snaps in ) and watch the wires attached.

I had to rewire this entire assembly as the wires are not routed very well -- good luck

Actually, you don't even need to remove all of that stuff. What I did was just remove the console. Then put the shifter in 1st gear so it moves it all the way back. Then you can just reach down there (a little blindly) and grab the plug and disconnect it. I just did it today. The only problem I had though was I replaced the bulb and it still didn't light up. Either I have the wrong bulb (that the dealer gave me) or there is no voltage going to it which I have no idea how I am going to get a volt meter to it without taking it all apart. Just be extremely careful if you do decide to take it completely apart. If you take everything apart, you will have to remove the shifter also. There is a staple like fastener on the front side of the shifter that you use needle nose pliers to take it out. Then you just lift up on the shifter and take it off. JUST BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL PULLING UP ON THE SHIFTER!!! When I did it, it pulled up really hard. Then I pulled up a little harder and it just came flying off, ripping off the two wires that go up the shifter. Luckily I ripped the wires in the middle of the wire and not somewhere where I couldn't repair it. I would have been SOL if that would have happened. You have been forewarned.

Re: your bulb not working after replacement, check the wires for continuity. They are cheap and, as was said, not routed very well - so they fail frequently (had to have my purchasing dealer rewire/re-solder them to get this working).

--Robert

I really need to buy a multimeter that has a contiuity tester. Someday. But this will require me to take the whole center console back apart and I really wanted to avoid that. I can't get the meter down in the storage part of the center console, hold onto the wires and check for voltage or anything else. Because I can't hold onto the wire and put the leads on it. And taking that all back apart sounds like such a big job.