Invisible gearknob legend

[AMartinD]

Here's a hopefully simple question - is the gearknob on a 2011 Superb Mk II Estate in Elegance trim (with manual-shift 6-speed box) supposed to be internally illuminated, to make the legend showing the gearshift pattern visible?

 

I noticed quite some time ago that the legend on the gearknob on my car is almost completely invisible in normal daylight conditions; I haven't checked it after dark to see if the legend becomes illuminated when the headlights are switched on.  I have a vague recollection of the legend being much more visible than it currently is even during the day, so I'm wondering if there's some form of internal illumination behind the legend that might have failed, as some of the surface-mounted LEDs that illuminate the dashboard instruments did several months ago.

 

I asked my local independent VAG specialists if the gearknob is supposed to be illuminated and they didn't know, and there's no mention of gearknob illumination in any of the service/technical documentation I've got for my car, so I'm somewhat puzzled as to why the legend has become almost completely invisible!  Anyone got any suggestions??!!

 

Thanks in advance,

--

Martin

[langers2k]

Nothing so fancy in a MK2 Superb I'm afraid, the legend has simply worn away but you can probably replace the insert

 

You need something similar to this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183853012062 but check it's compatible with your Superb before buying.

 

edit:

Not sure what style you have, it may need a replacement gearknob rather than just an insert...

 

Edited 16 September, 2020 by langers2k

[Othen]

I think langers2k is right. I just checked my car (2013 Elegance estate) - I think it should look like this:

 

 

... pretty clear but no Blackpool illuminations at night I'm afraid.

 

I should think it would be a simple job to replace the gear know or maybe just glue in a new insert.

 

Alan

[J.R.]

Do you need reminding where the gears are when driving?

 

[langers2k]

6 minutes ago, J.R. said:

Do you need reminding where the gears are when driving?

 

Not in a car I'm familiar with but given there are a few options for number of gears and reverse placement, it maybe helpful if others drive it.

 

That and it looks much neater if the legend is clearly visible

 

[J.R.]

Yes I understand re the reverse gear but the legends never show whether you have to lift or push down & I have never known an illuminated one.

[gav_is_con]

Are you referring to the illumination from the interior light cluster above the gear stick that has a couple of small spot LEDs/bulbs that shine down onto the gear stick area?

[AMartinD]

Thanks to all for the replies.

 

I don't need reminding where the gears are when I'm driving - I think I've just about got the hang of them after almost 55yrs of driving experience...  :-)

 

The picture posted by Alan (Othen) shows exactly what I'm pretty sure my gearknob used to look like but now the entire white pattern is almost completely invisible, which is why I began to wonder if there was meant to be some form of back-illumination. 

 

What's odd is that the outer surface of the insert in the gearknob is not showing any signs whatsoever of damage, abrasion or wear, and I would have expected the white pattern to be on the inner surface anyway, so I don't believe the cause of the disappearing legend/pattern can be wear - it's almost as though the pattern has just faded away evenly and completely for some reason.  I'll try to remember to take a photo of the gearknob in the next day or so and will post it on here.

 

I'll see what I can find by way of replacement inserts, although it might be simpler just to try to find an entire gearknob from one of the dismantlers who advertise online.  I'd like to restore the gearknob to looking like it should for when I intend to sell the car in a few months time.

 

--

Martin

[AMartinD]

Here's a pic of what the top of my gearknob currently looks like.

 

As I'd previously described, the entire legend showing the gearshift pattern is much less clear than it should be, but what I hadn't noticed until I looked closely at the pic I took this morning is that there appears to be a black tab of some sort obscuring the figure 6 at the lower RHS.  There's also a kind of a grey halo around almost all the part of the insert that shows the gearshift pattern, and the edge of the 'halo' looks far too smooth to be the result of wear - most odd!

 

I think I need to try to remove the insert to see what's happened to it - does it just clip in, and hence can be prised out with a screwdriver blade?

 

--

Martin

[langers2k]

Exactly the same happened to mine, it does wear off despite the fact it doesn't feel like it should

 

I used a small screwdriver to pry it off, just be careful not to mark the leather of the gearknob. I'd suggest you order a replacement first though to make sure they are the same, it certainly looks like the 5L0798117 part I mentioned above.

 

You can see the clips here:

[J.R.]

On 16/09/2020 at 23:13, gav_is_con said:

Are you referring to the illumination from the interior light cluster above the gear stick that has a couple of small spot LEDs/bulbs that shine down onto the gear stick area?

 

With this thread in mind I looked down at my gearknow while driving in the dark last night and realised that the tiny LED lights do indeed (just) illuminate the gearlever, that is if any of the markings remain.

 

Like the OP I would have assumed that if they were not embossed then they would be printed on the rear of a clear plastic.

 

Its probably daylight that has degraded the printed legend and it is on the inside, that or the clear plastic has become cloudy, the photo looks exactly like a cataract on an eye.

Edited 17 September, 2020 by J.R.

[gav_is_con]

2 hours ago, J.R. said:

 

With this thread in mind I looked down at my gearknow while driving in the dark last night and realised that the tiny LED lights do indeed (just) illuminate the gearlever, that is if any of the markings remain.

 

Like the OP I would have assumed that if they were not embossed then they would be printed on the rear of a clear plastic.

 

Its probably daylight that has degraded the printed legend and it is on the inside, that or the clear plastic has become cloudy, the photo looks exactly like a cataract on an eye.

“Simply Clever”  the interior lighting is better on the Superb2 than I have with the Octavia. I get footwell lights with controllable light levels in the Superb 

[Othen]

On 17/09/2020 at 21:30, langers2k said:

Exactly the same happened to mine, it does wear off despite the fact it doesn't feel like it should

 

I used a small screwdriver to pry it off, just be careful not to mark the leather of the gearknob. I'd suggest you order a replacement first though to make sure they are the same, it certainly looks like the 5L0798117 part I mentioned above.

 

You can see the clips here:

Good response - first hand experience is always best.

[Oli]

Anyone know a source for the exact same part for a 5 speed? (without using TipEx to cover up the 6th gear?)

[Othen]

8 hours ago, Oli said:

Anyone know a source for the exact same part for a 5 speed? (without using TipEx to cover up the 6th gear?)

A Skoda dealer.

Alan

[Oli]

Not a fan of our local place sadly. If I can find the part number I can then source somewhere sensible. 

[Breezy_Pete]

Look at 5L0798116; no idea if it's right.

[mac11irl]

On 17/09/2020 at 23:19, J.R. said:

Its probably daylight that has degraded the printed legend and it is on the inside, 

 

id go along with that. my FL mk2 Octy is faded the exact same way since before i bought it. 

i even asked the exact same question as the OP about there being an led in there somewhere

 

mine is so barely there it really looks like its an etched bottom surface for light diffusion.

[Othen]

5 hours ago, Oli said:

Not a fan of our local place sadly. If I can find the part number I can then source somewhere sensible. 

 

This looks perfectly good to me for only £15 delivered, it is an aftermarket item but is specific to the car. It comes from Poland, but that is no impediment (we are still in the BREXIT transition):

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GEAR-SHIFT-KNOB-GAITER-5-SPEED-FOR-SKODA-SUPERB-MK2-II-08-12-OCTAVIA-MK2-YETI/183111976026?hash=item2aa253045a:g:eokAAOSwKb5anqpr

[AMartinD]

Once again, thanks to everyone who has replied to my original posting.

 

I've just found the following item on eBay and have ordered one:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-SUPERB-II-08-15-GEAR-SHIFT-STICK-KNOB-6-SPEED-BLACK-3T0711113/323318773901?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160811114145%26meid%3D20b95a6b35364acc9485f5bb51d82dcd%26pid%3D100667%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D172319531018%26itm%3D323318773901%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2334524&_trksid=p2334524.c100667.m2042

 

Although it's slightly more expensive than the Poland-sourced item mentioned by Othen it'll hopefully arrive here a bit sooner (although there's no guarantee of that with Royal Mail...!).

 

The eBay posting states that the Reference OE/OEM Number is 3T0711113, 3T0711113TRYP but presumably that covers both the gaiter and the gearknob; there's nothing to indicate what the part number is for just the clip-in insert.

 

When I receive the delivery from S2 Group Parts Ltd I'll try (carefully!) to remove the insert from the gearknob in preparation for swapping it for the faded one on my gearknob - just hope I don't end up breaking any of the clips on the replacement insert!

 

--

Martin

 

 

[J.R.]

I bet you that its cheaper direct from VAG via T.P.S. Every small part that I have seen on Ebay, Superskoda etc has been.

 

Most of the Ebay sellers are relying on the fact that its too much of an anger inducing experience visiting a dealership to try and find someone to come to the parts counter that can even find an item on their computer let alone give you a price & even worse on the phone.

 

TPS cannot be beaten, its like the best person at the best parts counter of the best dealer a couple of decades ago multiplied across all their operatives & they much prefer the phone, they are not really geared up to walk ins.

[Tech1e]

1 hour ago, J.R. said:

TPS cannot be beaten, its like the best person at the best parts counter of the best dealer a couple of decades ago multiplied across all their operatives & they much prefer the phone, they are not really geared up to walk ins.

 

That depends if the TPS outlet are breaking the rules and selling to non trade or not.

 

You could always use our own parts service.

 

Briskoda Parts - By Coverdale Car Parts

[Othen]

1 hour ago, AMartinD said:

Once again, thanks to everyone who has replied to my original posting.

 

I've just found the following item on eBay and have ordered one:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-SUPERB-II-08-15-GEAR-SHIFT-STICK-KNOB-6-SPEED-BLACK-3T0711113/323318773901?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160811114145%26meid%3D20b95a6b35364acc9485f5bb51d82dcd%26pid%3D100667%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D172319531018%26itm%3D323318773901%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2334524&_trksid=p2334524.c100667.m2042

 

Although it's slightly more expensive than the Poland-sourced item mentioned by Othen it'll hopefully arrive here a bit sooner (although there's no guarantee of that with Royal Mail...!).

 

The eBay posting states that the Reference OE/OEM Number is 3T0711113, 3T0711113TRYP but presumably that covers both the gaiter and the gearknob; there's nothing to indicate what the part number is for just the clip-in insert.

 

When I receive the delivery from S2 Group Parts Ltd I'll try (carefully!) to remove the insert from the gearknob in preparation for swapping it for the faded one on my gearknob - just hope I don't end up breaking any of the clips on the replacement insert!

 

--

Martin

 

 

 

Hi Martin,

 

But why not fit the whole gear knob and gaiter - then there would be no risk on breaking any of the clips?

 

If you just wanted the insert it seems to be Skoda part # 3T0 798 117 and costs about 14 Euro plus about 10 Euro shipping here:

 

https://www.skoda-parts.com/spare-part/3t0798117-shift-lever-plaque-skoda-22241.html

 

... I know, you have ordered the complete thing now, so why not fit it? It just pushes on (well, it might need a whack with a rubber mallet).

 

Alan