What is the best way to remove the gear shift surround,trim ,switch cover,,pry or?thanks

 

If you're talking about the part that encircles the shift lever assembly, it's attached by 4(?) vertical tabs. If you pry the thing out the tabs will break. My car's previous mechanic, Mr. Hamhands, did exactly that.

You have to take a thin and flexible piece of plastic, like a drivers license, and slide it horzontally under the surround near the four "corners." You'll release the tab, and you can pull up a bit on that corner to keep the tab from reseating. Then do another corner, and so on.

I don't have the link handy but there are a couple of Youtube videos.

You do not want to know how expensive that crappy bit of plastic is if you break it.

 

thank you sir

 

What they said. But even knowing about the tabs and the right way to release them, I managed to break one off. I ended up buying a chrome aftermarket surround that screws on, rather than getting another plastic one that I would likely break again. Don't care for the shinyness, but I like the ease of removal and it was relatively cheap. I think I got it from Mina Gallery but they don't seem to show it on their site now. Somebody else may be able to help if you decide you want to go that route.

Brian