Heated Auto Shifter Knob?

[rcadden]

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.

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[Xorak]

wear gloves, or better yet, keep both hands on the wheel

 

[grimmjeeper]

I wouldn't assume that most people drive with one hand on the shifter. ?‍

That being said, I doubt there is any bolt in upgrade part for this. Tapping the steering wheel circuit may be possible but you'd want to make sure you don't overload it. There's probably not much reserve capacity and you would risk blowing fuses. It would be better to run it off an Aux switch or some other dedicated circuit.

You'd need to figure out the best way to wrap a heating element around the knob. That's certainly a custom mod and you'd have to fabricate something yourself.

Also, those built-in heaters have a safety cut off to turn them off if they get too hot. If you don't add that you can melt things if you don't constantly monitor it.

 

[roobies]

You're in Fort Worth, not Minnesota ?

 

[Vinman]

Awww.., thats cute, somebody from Texas complaining about the cold.
The temps here dropped from 80f to -18 in exactly two weeks.

 

[Bzinsky]

Has anyone tried to add a heating element to the automatic shifter knob?

Highly unlikely

It’s an odd habit that I doubt many people do.

 

[Uncommon Sense]

Being in Chicago, I feel your pain.... I see some of the Benzes now have heated gear shifts and arm rests. I'd definitely get one if there was an aftermarket solution.

I will say my heated seats and steering wheel work great in the 392. My seats almost get too hot. My 2015 Grand Cherokee had crap heated seats. I could barely tell they were on and even took it to a dealer but they swore it was heating up to the spec temp.

 

[No IFS]

You’re supposed to drive with two hands on the wheel. Wear gloves. Please don’t ask Jeep for a heated shifter knob.

 

[Rustynail11]

You're in Fort Worth, not Minnesota ?

LOL, was thinking the same thing. Lived in Minneapolis and now live in Fort Worth. Even in Minneapolis I don't think I would ever need this. The knob eventually heats up as the cabin temp rises.

 

[Terpsmandan]

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....

 

[BXFXJeep]

Just put a kid knitted mitten or glove on it, I did that since my YJ MT days, YJ cabin never really got warm mid winter if I remember correctly, and when I went AT with the JLs I still do it, not for cold, it seems to prevent unsightly wear on the knob.

I didn't have a habit of driving with my hands on the knob though, not good for MT.

 

[Ratbert]

At least you're not asking for that critical feature for manuals. Driving with your hand rested on a stick shift isn't great for the transmission.

 

[drpericak]

At least you're not asking for that critical feature for manuals. Driving with your hand rested on a stick shift isn't great for the transmission.

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.

 

[roobies]

Can anyone here say that they've worn out their tranny early from doing that? I'm genuinely interested.

Never had a tranny go out early but I never put my hand on one either ?

 

[cabnfvr]

For all of you "don't drive with your hand on the shifter" people, it's not always bad. Especially in an automatic equipped vehicle. Several years ago we had a new BMW 328i and I was driving up a twisty mountain road having fun when, in the middle of a tight right hander, the weight of my hand caused the shifter to slip left into SPORT mode. I didn't even know we had SPORT mode. The trans downshifted, the locking converter unlocked and the throttle response became a lot crisper. Yes, I know the Jeep doesn't do this. It just moves left for manual shifting. Still, in a BMW, that was a good day.

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