Heated Auto Shifter Knob?

[J.Ferreira]

I don't believe this. I've heard it over the years, and I've driven a stick since 1989. I think just having your hand on the shifter doesn't do anything. I think if you're putting pressure on it, it might. But I've put about 100,000 miles on every stick I've had and never had a transmission issue from doing that. Can anyone here say that they've worn out their tranny early from doing that? I'm genuinely interested.

I've never had one fail either, but I understand the idea. Especially if you're heavy handed or just resting the weight of your whole arm on there.
I just don't ride my hand on the shifter on principle after seeing that video a few years ago.

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[Bzinsky]

Yes I realize this is a first-world problem and that I'm likely to attract all of the "electronics are bad" Jeepers, but hear me out.

Like I imagine most of you, I typically drive with one hand on the wheel, and the other resting on my shifter, even in an automatic. While the steering wheel is heated, the shifter knob is not, so my right hand is typically freezing in the winter, while my left hand is spoiled with the heated steering wheel.

Has anyone tried to add a heating element to the automatic shifter knob? It could be wired up to the heated steering wheel button, so no new switch is needed, but it would be nice if both hands could be warm.

I had a fat friend that used a hose, clipped it to his AC vent, and then put the other end up his shorts leg for a diy nuts cooler. (I too thought it was ridiculous)

You could do this with the shift knob. Then in the summer use it as a nuts cooler.

 

[Petey]

back in my JK days, I replaced the shift lever with one from a late TJ (NSG370) that had a threaded end instead of the press fit. Honda 6 speeds have the same pattern with reverse next to 6 and got a billet knob. Pretty sure that if you licked it in the winter that your tongue would stick to it....

any knob lickers here?

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm thinking the change of season is causing some of us to go a bit coo-coo. Another thread I'm following for some reason... is the cleaning the inside of your tailpipe.

 

[oldcjguy]

I don't believe this. I've heard it over the years, and I've driven a stick since 1989. I think just having your hand on the shifter doesn't do anything. I think if you're putting pressure on it, it might. But I've put about 100,000 miles on every stick I've had and never had a transmission issue from doing that. Can anyone here say that they've worn out their tranny early from doing that? I'm genuinely interested.

I don't believe it will "wear out" a transmission, but it will put a slight amount of additional wear on parts of the transmission. How much depends on the shape of the shifter and how much weight you "rest" on it. If the shifter handle is straight up and down and the weight of your arm is going straight down then the force from the weight of your arm will just go down into the housing, having little effect on the transmission. If the configuration is such that the weight of your arm is pulling on the shifter or the shifter handle is angled causing the force to be applied at an angle then that force goes down to the shift forks in the transmission. It's effectively like trying to pull the lever to go into the next gear while the clutch is still engaged. Now realistically the weight of your arm isn't enough to pull the shifter out of the current gear or into the next gear if the clutch is disengaged, so the force on the forks is minimal. But think of it like riding the brakes "just a very little". Big difference between a brake pad and the transmission, but you get the picture.

This was really more of an issue back in the day when there were column shifters people had the whole weight of their arm hanging on the shifter. Still not a good habit today, but (based on the shape and position of most modern manual shifters) I don't think you'll ever see a significant difference in transmission synchro life. That's just my opinion. I still wouldn't do it

 

[drpericak]

I don't believe it will "wear out" a transmission, but it will put a slight amount of additional wear on parts of the transmission. How much depends on the shape of the shifter and how much weight you "rest" on it. If the shifter handle is straight up and down and the weight of your arm is going straight down then the force from the weight of your arm will just go down into the housing, having little effect on the transmission. If the configuration is such that the weight of your arm is pulling on the shifter or the shifter handle is angled causing the force to be applied at an angle then that force goes down to the shift forks in the transmission. It's effectively like trying to pull the lever to go into the next gear while the clutch is still engaged. Now realistically the weight of your arm isn't enough to pull the shifter out of the current gear or into the next gear if the clutch is disengaged, so the force on the forks is minimal. But think of it like riding the brakes "just a very little". Big difference between a brake pad and the transmission, but you get the picture.

This was really more of an issue back in the day when there were column shifters people had the whole weight of their arm hanging on the shifter. Still not a good habit today, but (based on the shape and position of most modern manual shifters) I don't think you'll ever see a significant difference in transmission synchro life. That's just my opinion. I still wouldn't do it

I respect everyone's opinion on this. I just think it's doing about as much damage to your vehicle as riding around with a couple of bags of dog food in your trunk. Of course you shouldn't drive with any extra weight in your vehicle. The extra weight will wear out your brakes quicker. I think we can end this off topic discussion. I don't usually keep my hand on the shifter, it's just on there once in a while. I'm usually giving the finger to the other slow drivers. (just kidding)

 

[keeperman13]

My wife had an acquaintance in high school that was in the habit of hanging his arm, pointing down, out the driver's window. One day he was side-swiped. Let's just say that his nickname is not "Lefty". Ouch.

This is a real fear of mine. I constantly fear I will be mashed into and break my arm all to s#!%, or worse.

 

[keeperman13]

Could we get a front defroster that works first? Asking for a friend!

Hmmm, I have not had an issue with it yet. What specifically are you seeing, or not in this case?

 

[Carlton]

I think this kit might be right up your alley:

 

[keeperman13]

I had a fat friend that used a hose, clipped it to his AC vent, and then put the other end up his shorts leg for a diy nuts cooler. (I too thought it was ridiculous)

You could do this with the shift knob. Then in the summer use it as a nuts cooler.

We did something like this in our room on the ship. We had a pipe that blew cold air constantly and got some dryer vent hose and piped it directly into our racks. Incredible in hot climates where the fan coil unit was lacking. Had to plug it in the winter for obvious reasons. Cold days in Norfolk, VA are even colder on a ship with a nuclear winter pipe blowing 24/7

 

[cabnfvr]

Perfect. Thanks.

It's weirdly satisfying to know someone actually makes such a thing.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

Hmmm, I have not had an issue with it yet. What specifically are you seeing, or not in this case?

Only defrost part of the windshield. For a small window would think they could do better. Ice and snow builds up on the sides of the windshield into vision and will not defrost it works fine in the center.

 

[keeperman13]

Only defrost part of the windshield. For a small window would think they could do better. Ice and snow builds up on the sides of the windshield into vision and will not defrost it works fine in the center.

This is curious. I have not been in real cold yet in the vehicle so I can only guess.
- I had an issue where my temperatures were not matched between the driver/passenger and I only cleared on side, not the other.
- Are you using heat, like all the way to max heat, max fan, no recirc, A/c on. The last two are funky but worth a look up.
Maybe others can comment on whether or not they are having similar issues. I'm sure Alaska cold presents its on challenge for defrosting. Best of luck.

PS - have you breathed on it with your mouth wide open to get the hottest breath you can? /s

 

[Deleted member 59498]

This is curious. I have not been in real cold yet in the vehicle so I can only guess.
- I had an issue where my temperatures were not matched between the driver/passenger and I only cleared on side, not the other.
- Are you using heat, like all the way to max heat, max fan, no recirc, A/c on. The last two are funky but worth a look up.
Maybe others can comment on whether or not they are having similar issues. I'm sure Alaska cold presents its on challenge for defrosting. Best of luck.

PS - have you breathed on it with your mouth wide open to get the hottest breath you can? /s

I tried the back of my hand to warm the windshield up but only ended up with a cold hand.

It is not heat it is the bad design of the vents. There are DIY fixes here on the forums but have not got around to them yet. Oh there are lots of others who have the issue. There is also a TSB or whatever on vents being covered up down in the dash but don't know the number.

 

[keeperman13]

I tried the back of my hand to warm the windshield up but only ended up with a cold hand.

It is not heat it is the bad design of the vents. There are DIY fixes here on the forums but have not got around to them yet. Oh there are lots of others who have the issue. There is also a TSB or whatever on vents being covered up down in the dash but don't know the number.

Dang, I was hopeful for an easy fix.

Have you tried both hands? To quote the late great Copernicus,
"Mo' hands, mo' better!
Two hands, two better!"

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