F1 Gear Panel Removal - Need Help!

I am in a process of clearing the sticky interior parts of my '98 355F1 and would like some assistance on how to remove the F1 gear panel. If I unscrew the four screws of the metal gear plate, should it come off easily? How about the reverse stick? Do I need to remove the reserse stick? If so how? I really appreciate the help on this!

 

I am surprise to see no responses frm any one. I havewent ahead and trie dto remove it. This is the F1 reverse shifter section for 355 I am talking. I was able to remove the panel from the center console but now the problem I am faced with is on how to disconnect the cables from the switches in the back. I tried to pull to disconnect....unsuccessful. Should I use more force to disconnect the cables? Are there any ticks to how I should disconnect them?

 

Hi Yoshi:

This might help:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxG4weJW9UI&feature=player_embedded#

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

 

Yoshi

Follow the Youtube instructions and remove the ashtray then move the HVAC panel to one side.

Undo the 4 Screws holding the F1 panel with reverse lever and buttons. The wire should be long enough to allow you to lift it out of the base. I can't remember the clip design but there will be one there that you have to release it to remove the plug. To remove the lower surround you lift it from the rear and then unclip the connectors to the 4 round switches at the side of the change.

You will then have to remove all the connectors for the row of switches at the front, make a note of the order of the connectors as it's possible to reconnect them incorrectly, the wires are tight so it's a fiddly job to remove these. Once all removed you can lift the panel away

 

This is spot on. I marked the wires with tape and was really glad I did. Very easy to confuse which plug goes where.

I found the plugs were difficult. Often more force than I felt comfortable with, and I was worried something was going to go snap!

 

Has anyone taken apart the F1 box to get at the R gear shift lever? Mine seems to have broken something inside...still works, but it's loose. Do the two halves just snap together? I couldn't get them to budge and really don't want to break anything with a horsey on it

 

Jay

not taken mine apart but they are known to break, I believe Hill Engineering do an upgraded part for them

 

Thanks guys for all the advices and tips. I actually followed the instruction and found it was very helpful until I come to a point of removing the cables from the back of the F1 panel. No matter how I "carefully" tried to pull out the cables from the sockets, they would not come off. Are there any good tips for removing the cables??

 

The plugs are held on with little plastic clips- my memory is you pull the piece UP away from the side of the plug (Your natural reaction would be to push in)-

I did mine a few weeks ago and once I figured that out it became quite easy- but DO NOT TRY AND FORCE the plugg off- you'll wind up breaking the bottom of the switch.

 

Thanks for your tip. Are the plastic tips found on all four sides of each socket? Also, the cables/sockets for the top switches and the side switches seem different in its mechanism. Do they have the same plstic clips? SHould I use some tool to pull the pience up away? WHat kind of tool do you use?