Install a Coolerworx Short Shifter Into a 2015 Ford Focus St
Template:FormatThis article will be on how to install the best short shifter on the market for the MK3 Ford Focus St.
Steps
- Ensure you have all necessary tools listed below before installation
- Plastic trim removal tools
- Tin snips or small saw
- Dremel type tool with grinding wheel
- 10mm socket ¼ inch drive
- 10mm open end box wrench (very short)
- 3mm hex key
- 4mm hex key
- 12-inch ¼ inch drive extension
- ¼ inch drive ratchet
- Electrical tape
- Small flathead screwdriver
- T-25 screwdriver or socket
- Start by removing the trim panel on the passenger side of the center counsel pry up the rear of it with the plastic trim tool and open the glove box and remove it fully.
- Remove the trim around the gear shifter by using your trim removal tool and lift starting in the back and working your way around the driver's side first then the passenger side, then fully remove the piece.
- Next remove the “airbag light panel” located above the climate controls. Start on one side prying up with the trim tool working your way to the other side
- Be careful not to remove it fully as there is an electrical connector in the middle. After popping all the clips remove the electrical connector.
- Remove the three T-25 screws one towards the rear of the car under the trim panel you removed. The other two are to the right and left of the climate controls.
- Put these three screws in a bag to ensure they do not get lost.
- Unscrew the shift knob and take it off, at this point you can start lifting the whole climate control panel with the remaining trim around the shifter
- You do not have to unplug any of the connectors one the back of this panel. Just rest the whole panel on the driver's side of the car.
- Now you have the shifter exposed, disconnect the two cable ends that are on the shifter. You will use a trim tool or a flat head screwdriver, these are stiff and will require some pressure.
- You will be prying the cylinder puck off of a ball.
- With the cable ends disconnected take your socket and put a piece of electrical tape in it to hold the bolts in it so they do not fall out. And start removing the four bolts holding the shifter to the car.
- Towards the front of the car following the two shifter cables there are two plastic cylinders, push them to the front of the car and pull them up. The driver side cable attachment you can get to with the shifter in position, but with the passenger side you should lift the shifter up a little to get a better grab onto it.
- Now with everything disconnected carefully pull the stock shifter out careful not to damage any surrounding plastics.
- With the old shifter out, you can choose to replace the cable ends with the ones provided with the shifter, it is not needed.
- Before putting the new shifter in trim this plastic with your saw or tin snips. Just between the two bolts. The Coolerworx shifter will not fit with this here.
- Position the shifter into the car. While you are doing this push the cable ends into the proper space so they can connect with the ball end.
- You have to put both of them in at the same time, if you do one at a time it will not fit, and you will have to remove the shifter
- Carefully put one of the bolts that you removed holding the stock shifter into the socket with the electrical tape to ensure it does not fall out. And start screwing it in, do not tighten it down all the way. Start the other three bolts before tightening any of the four fully.
- With all four of the bolts fully tightened down attach the cylinders on the cables to their proper place on the new shifter. With both attached test functionality of the shifter.
- When the shifter is bolted fully in start adjusting the rod of the drivers side shifter. This one adjusts how far forward and back the shifter can go. You just need to to get into gear fully then stop adjusting it.
- Now adjust the passenger side rod, this one adjusts how far side to side the shifter car go. Ensure the shifter can go into reverse, and 5th and 6th gears easily
- With the rods properly adjusted lock the two jamnuts per rod with the short 10mm open end wrench. Jam these against the end of the adjustable rod, not the part that you were turning in step 14, and 15.
- Now you will put the limit screws into the shifter, these will limit how far left and right you can move the shifter. Adjust these so you can get into 5th and 6th gear easily, and lock these in position with the very small hex key bolt through the top hole
- If wanted use the hex head bolt and the provided nut to create a reverse lockout. You will now only be able to enter reverse by pulling up onto the collar. Like the rods on the shifter use the nut as a jam nut locking the bolt in place.
- Now the shifter is in place, but now you must trim the plastics to have them fit on the shifter. This is where the Dremel tool will come in handy. You will have to trim the front where it will hit the reverse lockout mechanism. Also trim on the passenger side.
- If desired to use the stock shift boot remove to stock reverse lock out collar from it. Remove the shift knob that came on the new shifter and slide the shift boot over the shaft, but the shift knob back on.
- Screw in the three T-25 torx screw back into the holes you removed them out of. Reattach all plastics ensuring to attach the plug on the back of the airbag light panel.
- Congrats, you installed the Coolerworx short shifter. Take it for a drive and enjoy very short shifts.
Warnings
- If your car has any other short shifters like a short shift plate, you must remove it before installing this product. With both the throws will be too short, and almost impossible to find where specific gears are.
