PT Cruiser Shift Knob Removal

Manual-Equipped Vehicles

• Remove the shift knob on manual-gearbox PT Cruisers by pulling up on the shift knob with both hands while rocking the shift knob back and forth. The knob should pop off. If the knob is stuck on the shift lever, use a rag, crescent wrench and hammer to remove it. Wrap the rag around the shift lever (not the shift knob). Place the crescent wrench loosely around the shift lever and over the rag to protect the finish of the shift lever. Make sure that the flat side of the crescent wrench makes solid contact with the bottom edge of the shift knob, and also make sure that the rag protects the shift knob from scratching. Tap the bottom of the crescent wrench with the hammer facing straight up so that the crescent wrench pushes against the bottom of the shift lever. This should force the knob off. Be careful not to hurt yourself or damage the shift lever if using this method.

Automatic-Equipped Vehicles

• Remove PT Cruiser automatic shift knobs by unscrewing the small set screw at the base of the shift handle. Once you have removed the set screw, the shift handle should slide up and off of the shift lever. Make sure that you don’t lose the set screw, as it is quite small.

Installing a New Knob

• On manual-equipped cars the new knob may pop on, depending on the brand. However, many aftermarket shift knobs are held on with a series of set screws that run around the bottom edge of the knob. These screws will be tightened with a tool that comes with the shift knob. Automatic shift knobs are installed in the same manner as the stock knob.

Tip

• When attempting to remove the shift knob on a manual PT Cruiser, it is best to attempt it on a warm day so the plastic is warmer and potentially softer, easing removal. Over time, manual PT Cruiser shift knobs can become quite difficult to remove.