Does anyone have a 940 shifter knob that they are willing to sell?

Thanks, Bill

Hi,

Just a suggestion. If your car uses a simple shifter knob (with cracked rubber) with only the centre switch for gear engagement, consider using a black stocking to cover it all. I've seen one owner did it while peeking into a nice 940 at parking lot. A simple frugal solution. On the other hand a nice leather cover could be ordered at online stores for car accessories.

Nowadays the original item might cost around $100. Many years back they're about $70-$80 a piece.

Amarin.

Hi Amarin,

Mine is damage by the interlock button and it's a PIA.
There might be a donor car around here, I'm still checking.
There's a long bucket list of stuff to sort out and a steep learning curve
with a new model. It's great that Brickboard has my back.

FYI: I see that Volvo had some walnut 940 shift knobs, maybe I can
get one at the Lars Anderson Museum in Boston? :-)

Cheers, Bill

All of the A/T shifter knobs I’ve seen at the pick-a-part yards are destroyed far worse than mine.
Problem is all the USA retail outlets (dealers included), offer them for sale at the same approximate price, but none have them in stock.
Upon placing an order, I always told they’re back ordered and 6-8 weeks out.
Skandix has both the knob AND a button repair kit in stock, and ready for shipping, but DHL overseas delivery from them usually exceeds the cost of the parts ordered.
Not sure what to do myself, but it’s looking like I’ll place an order with FCP, then watch my beard grow.

Dear B.B.,

Hope you're well and stay so. If a Volvo dealer says a part can be ordered, but there's a delay in delivery, that means the part will turn up. Others, I'm not so sure.

In any event, as these cars approach 30 years of age, I'd not grumble too loudly. In most other realms - e.g., household appliances - parts go "NLA" after a decade, i.e., just when one starts to need them.

I'd order from a Volvo dealer - if one such is near to you - and await a call that the part has arrived.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

I have an entire 94 shifter assembly

Hi Blindboy,

I just need the knob.
See my profile- Please send email.

Thanks, Bill

Hi Blindboy,

I just need the knob.
See my profile- Please send email.

Thanks, Bill

Dear B.B.,

Hope you're well and stay so. The black shifter knob (#6843471) is still available from Volvo. The cost - at a U.S.-based Volvo dealer - is likely to be $100-120.

The factory-original items likely are cracked, at very least.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

Hi Spook,

I haven't found any local donor cars, and see little exciting on the web for high prices. Maybe the walnut knob 9176190 for about $150 is a better choice if it is
more sturdy and doesn't fall apart. Is the installation the same?

Thanks, Bill

[Edit, I see Spook was also replying to this while I was investigating and composing my reply below. Excellent notes on dealing with the overdrive button.]

You should double check your parts sources to make sure that wood knob would fit your 1993 without modification or additional parts and that you can return the part if it doesn't fit. The Genuine Volvo source I checked lists p/n 9176190 as being superseded by p/n 9166797, red walnut shift knob, with fitment listed as 1994-on 940/960 and S/V90.

Spook's suggestion of p/n 6843471 for the plastic knob from FCPEuro would appear to be more correct where both FCPEuro and Volvo show fitment for 1993-on.

I'm not sure why the fitment would be different. I do recall there were some significant changes in the 900 series shift lever assembly starting in 1994. I forget the exact difference, possibly the ignition shift lock mechanism at the base of the lever. With the knob it could be something subtle like a clearance or engagement on the shift lever stalk.

Replacing the shift lever knob can be a bit of a pain. You will likely need to slit the old knob and cut it off in pieces. You may want to lubricate the stalk or inside the knob with water (or perhaps WD-40). You will also need to de-solder the overdrive switch to feed the wiring out and back in. Also be careful to get the shift lock tab properly engaged with the rod. I'm rather disappointed in the quality of the original plastic knobs getting gummy with skin oils and so easily starting to chip apart. It's obviously a very common problem or else Volvo likely wouldn't still have it available in the parts chain.
--
Dave -still with 940's, prev 740/240/140/120 You'd think I'd have learned by now

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the input. Spook just convinced me to get the linoleum shifter knob
instead of the walnut. So I'll be fiddling with that job sometime next week and have Spook's nice write up to do the job. I share your sentiments about the quality of the knob. Maybe I'll make a wood knob when I run out of jobs to do?

Best regards, Bill

Dear Dave Stevens,

Hope you're well. Once the overdrive switch has been removed, the shifter handle is best removed by grasping it with both hands and yanking upwards with maximum power.

The shifter handled is secured to the square cross-section shifter shaft by "rubber" lugs, that engage recesses in the shaft. Thus, when pulled with sufficient energy, the rubber lugs disengage from the shaft.

I've found that cutting the over-drive switch wires right at the switch's tabs is the easiest way to remove the switch.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

Dear B.B.,

Hope you're well. Why spend $150, when you can get a Volvo replacement for $120 at: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-auto-trans-shift-lever-knob-genuine-volvo-6843471 .

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

Hi Spook,

Why spend a little extra? Because you told me at first:
"The factory-original items likely are cracked, at very least."

Maybe the walnut knob is worth the extra $30-50?
Does it install the same?

Thanks, Bill

Dear B.B.,

Hope you're well. A factory-original item from a salvage yard car is likely to be cracked. A factory-original item supplied by a Volvo dealer (or by a reputable aftermarket parts supplier) is likely to be perfectly fine.

I've never had/installed a shifter control knob made of red walnut. It is Volvo part No. 9166797. I'm not sure if it is still available from U.S.-based Volvo dealers.

To remove the handle, you must first remove the overdrive switch, which is mounted in a rearward-facing recess in the handle. To do that:
(a) grip the edges of the switch with your fingernails and pull straight back (towards the backs of the passenger seats). If the switch will not budge, use a small flat-blade screwdriver (1/8" wide) and gently lever out the switch.
(b) pull gently on the switch so that the wires become visible
(c) you'll note that the wires are soldered to small tabs on the switch. Mark which wire goes to each tab
(d) without cutting-off the tabs, cut the wires as close as possible to the switch tab (there is little slack in these wires, so get as close as you can to the tabs, but DO NOT cut the tabs).Clean the tabs with steel wool, to remove any corrosion that will obstruct soldering the wires at the end of the job
(e) grip the knob and pull upwards. It is a fiction-fit. The knob may "pop" loose suddenly.
(f) very carefully, strip off 1/8" of insulation from the wires, that go to the overdrive switch
(g) make a loop in the wire and tape the end with the bared wires to the wire.
(h) take a length of nylon twine, and drop it through the overdrive switch opening, in the handle you want to install. Be sure the twine does not get snagged inside the handle
(i) make sure the plastic bushing at the bottom of the handle is in position
(j) with the overdrive switch opening facing towards the passenger seat backs, put the handle on the square shaft
(k) as you push the handle down the square shaft, pull GENTLY on the nylon twine, to pull the wires up through the handle
(l) you may feel a "snap" as the handle seats itself at the bottom of the square shaft
(m) un-tape the looped wire, so that the bared ends are visible
(n) solder a bared end to each of the tabs on the overdrive switch
(o) press the switch back into position

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

Thanks Spook,

I saw your nice 2014 write-up of the shifter knob in the FAQs, but there's no mention about if there's anything different about installing the walnut knob which is available at ebay from many sources.

I almost pulled the trigger with Tasca Parts @ $91, call it about $101 shipped.
That's a lot to pay for a molded linoleum knob that doesn't hold up well.
An extra 50% replacement cost might pay off with 400+% better quality?

Bill

Dear B.B.

Hope you're well. The factory-original shifter handles usually lasted 25 years: more in a cool climate, less where ambient temps are high.

Thus, a factory-new replacement is likely to last at least another 20 years. Thus, the 1993 car will be 45 years old, when a part bought this year finally wears-out.

If you think you might outlast the car, buy a second shifter handle, seal it in a plastic bag and store it in a cool, dry place.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook