A8 D2 Gear Lever Button Spring
 

Here is a strange one that I have been trying to resolve today.

The Gear Lever in my A8 QS has a button on the side you press to release the lever so you can change gear.

All works well and as it should.

But there should be a spring attached to it to hold it in, mine no longer has that spring :-(

Its there to pull the button in and make the action nice on it, but now its failed and flops around a bit hence how does one fix it?

The button does not seem to want to pull out (I have used some force but not gone too far not wishing to break it), plus I cannot see how you can take it apart?

The other option is to buy one with a working spring from our sponsor but I always like to try and fix these things if I can.

I can't see a way of getting in there without destroying it.

You can use something small and sharp underneath the button to lever it out - a tiny screwdriver etc. Its very hard to get it out without marking it, but at least if you do it underneath its invisible. To get the knob off you need to push the aluminium trim underneath it down by about 1cm - its usually very stiff so will need some effort. I protect the shifter surround with a microfibre and then get a kitchen knife in between the aluminium and the leather. Once that trim is pushed down, pull the button out about 1cm and then pull the knob vertically and it will come off the shifter lever. Same procedure for fitting it.

As I thought then, I spent too long trying to see if there was an abvious method.

I suspect I will order a replacement from A8 parts.

All changed today successfully with a replacement unit from A8 parts +++

Not too difficult to take off in the end, used one of those plastic trim removal tools to push down the silver trim collar. Worked well and avoided any damage on the unit.

Replacement in and I now have a button with a spring that works as it should!