Thumb switch replacement

[Odie]

My 2014 Chevy Sonic thumb swith stopped working. I found I can purchase a new shift knob with the switch in it.
Problem I can’t find any info on how to replace the upper shift knob. Only info I find is replacing the entire shift assembly.
Is their a way to remove just the top shift shaft.

 

[JTee2017]

My 2014 Chevy Sonic thumb swith stopped working. I found I can purchase a new shift knob with the switch in it.
Problem I can’t find any info on how to replace the upper shift knob. Only info I find is replacing the entire shift assembly.
Is their a way to remove just the top shift shaft.

This may help .. Same as the Chevy Cruze I think .. althugh you may have to be careful of attached wires for the manual +/- buttons.

 

[Odie]

I found that one also, but the problem is the sonic has a thumb shifter selector with wire in the center of the shifter knob. I am not sure if I pull it out like video shows, it might break the wire.

 

[Odie]

 

[JTee2017]

Then the only other alternative is to perhaps, use the parts from the new shift lever and replace them into your shift lever?

There are at least two videos showing how to do that.

 

[Odie]

That will not help, it’s not the front shift button that you push in to change it from park, reverse, neutral, drive. That can be repaired without pulling the shift knob. It’s
My side thumb switch that has two wires out of it going down the center of the shaft.
Switch will not pull off wires are too short and will not allow you to pull it off.

 

[SuperS13]

I just replaced my 1.8L sonic shift knob assembly with the manual shift option, way I did it was take precision hook tools and lightly pry off the shift cover plate and take a hair dryer and heat up the shiny plastic base bezel, take a drill and make precision hole Mark's and heat up again the chrome bezel good then pry at the holes carefully and once you get enough of the chrome bezel off pull up on the remaining pieces, the manual shift button connection is a 2 pin white connector under the shifter base, push on the tab and light pull up, then I heated up the fake leather and split the backside and peeled away. Heat up the plastic real frame and split frame base and pry lightly at the spilt edges and peel away. Now as your heating up the shifter assembly pull up as twisting (press fitted in). Precise force is needed to pull up and keeping the shifter rod still, the whole assembly will come up. Take new shifter assembly and gently bring 2 wire connector forward as you push the shifter down on the shift rod. Be careful as the engagement button connects to a plastic assembly on the shift rod. You'll feel a light click connection and your good to go just reconnect the manual shift 2 pin connection into base.