Gear Lever

[GOOSE1167]

Good evening.

Has anyone had any problens with their gear lever? Mine has started to wear and looks like the stainless steel is peeling off. I went to my dealer and he said he had never seen this before and that it wouldnt be under warranty. I am thinking that there must be a defect in the grade of material and that is causing the gear lever to wear so quickly. My car has only done 2400 miles and is a right hand drive model for the UK.
Neither myself or my wife wear any rings that could damage the gear lever so we dont have any idea how it got there.

Has anyone any idea how we can either get it repaired or buy a replacement?

Thanks in advance.

P.S. I tried to message the forums in the UK but no one has replied to me.

John Donaghy

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[Tickle]

No clue here. Do you think it was like that possibly when you got the vehicle or is it becoming that way?

 

[GOOSE1167]

When i bought the vehicle in March this year there were no miles on the clock. It has just appeared after 2000 miles.

 

[TypeRD]

I’m pretty positive the knob is brushed & polished aluminum, not steel. Typically, things of this nature are coated (anodized) to prevent oxidation…which appears to be the issue with yours. It’s 100% entirely possible there was a problem with the anodization (from the factory) and it’s starting to oxidize. The car is warranted for material and workmanship defects for 3 years iirc. Your dealership should definitely replace it under warranty. As the problem is only in one spot and not in other areas that you grab, makes me suspect that the problem is from the factory and not from your use ESPECIALLY since you’ve only owned the vehicle a short time.

 

[SP R KiD]

Yeah, I'll be honest with ya buddy. There is absolutely no reason a dealer shouldn't cover that under warranty. Go back and make them do it, especially if it bothers you.

I've worked in a market quality position for quite some time with Honda and I've seen crazy things covered under warranty that probably shouldn't have been, id say this is something that absolutely should be.

Good luck!

 

[007]

If this is pure polished aluminum, then these sorts of spots are inevitable because aluminum oxidizes. If it bothers you, you can have it swapped under warranty. Alternatively, you may choose to sand it down or simply live with it. Personally, I think some things look better as they age, like quality leather. An aluminum shift knob with some oxidation on it looks cool to me.

 

[Starchland]

Clearcoat failure. Rough hands; do You moisturize?

 

[TypeRD]

@007 Virtually all consumer products made of aluminum, especially where esthetics are concerned, are indeed annodized. If the knob was pure aluminum, all of us would have received our cars with the entire knobs badly oxidized upon delivery.

Even if the op put major scratches in the shift knob, it shouldn’t result in such a large spot of oxidation over such a short time. I would also expect to see other areas of oxidation, if the op is at fault. Maybe the op has sandpaper hands????

 

[007]

@007 Virtually all consumer products made of aluminum, especially where esthetics are concerned, are indeed annodized. If the knob was pure aluminum, all of us would have received our cars with the entire knobs badly oxidized upon delivery.

Even if the op put major scratches in the shift knob, it shouldn’t result in such a large spot of oxidation over such a short time. I would also expect to see other areas of oxidation, if the op is at fault. Maybe the op has sandpaper hands????

Both raw and anodized aluminum parts can develop stains when exposed to water and allowed to dry slowly. Since sweaty palms are primarily composed of about 99% water, any remaining 1% sweat contains traces of urea, uric acid, ammonia, lactic acid, vitamin C, and other organic compounds. These substances can accelerate mineral buildup and oxidation on the shift knob, whether it's raw or anodized aluminum.

 

[E - 1 John 4:10]

MOISTURIZER must be used before SHIFTING INTO Gear
doh,
That is Not my Honda Manual -
seriously angers me that the Honda Dealer did Not immediately offer FREE replacement and installed with donuts n hot cocoa
ugh
PLAN B - ugh, remove shifter - machine shop buff it out (seems like clear coat is damaged -ugh)
then re-clear coat application -
SHIFTER gets Hot or Cold with the outside temperature -
PLAN C - $200 leather shifter replacement suggested - OEM model

 

[TypeRD]

Both raw and anodized aluminum parts can develop stains when exposed to water and allowed to dry slowly. Since sweaty palms are primarily composed of about 99% water, any remaining 1% sweat contains traces of urea, uric acid, ammonia, lactic acid, vitamin C, and other organic compounds. These substances can accelerate mineral buildup and oxidation on the shift knob, whether it's raw or anodized aluminum.

Right. Anodization is a protective coating, but not invincible. It is FAR more resistant to corrosion than raw metal, however. That was my main point. Again, I think we’d be seeing this problem more widespread, not only on the op’s shift knob, but on others’ shift knobs if it is simply a problem with hand sweat and normal use. The problem has to be faulty anodization…or acid sandpaper hands. LOL!

 

[007]

Right. Anodization is a protective coating, but not invincible. It is FAR more resistant to corrosion than raw metal, however. That was my main point. Again, I think we’d be seeing this problem more widespread, not only on the op’s shift knob, but on others’ shift knobs if it is simply a problem with hand sweat and normal use. The problem has to be faulty anodization…or acid sandpaper hands. LOL!

Acid sandpaper hands and faulty anodization - sounds like the makings of an underground street racing legend. These shift knobs might need a mud bath and a biker gang escort to toughen them up for the road ahead.

 

[imhenry66]

Do you wear gloves when you drive? Perhaps some heavy duty bandages from boxing? A lot of callous as a carpenter? (The last one being less likely to do scratch up metal) I have a FK8 but I replaced the OEM knob with the red leather one for FL5, since the base of it flushes with the ring on the shift boot, as opposed to leather one for FK8. (That reminds me, I need to list older shift knobs for sale)

 

[GOOSE1167]

Thanks very much for all your comments, they have given me a good laugh.
I don't have sandpaper hands or callouses on them. I wear my wedding ring on my left hand but that mark is on the right hand side of the gear knob. My hands certainly don't sweat, not in Scotland anyway, average temperature where i live is about 15 degrees centigrade.
I work in Saudi Arabia so when i get home at the end of September, i will take it back to the dealer and get him to replace it under warranty.

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