Automatic Shift Knob Replacement
 

Does anyone know the thread size or other necessary dimensions, or possibly just a brand and model of an automatic shift knob to replace the cheap looking thing in the Mazda5? I was used to the nice leather wrapped, chrome capped manual tranny shifter in my Mazda6 so this plain black thing just looks and feels cheap to me.

There are tons of options out there, but none have model compatibility or dimensions for the fitment to a specific vehicle.

MOST new mazdas are M10 x 1.25.... I can't say for sure if the 5's auto knob is though.

You had to throw me off with that "M10" detail, didn't you? I have been chasing high quality shifter knobs with the M8x 1.25 dimension for a week now without much luck.

I know on the Proteges, the MSP/P5/LX/DX/ES have M10x1.25, but the automatic Protege5 with 'sport shift' manual mode as well as the Protege MP3 had M8.

shift knob
 

hey im new here purchased my 3 hatchback and can anyone tell me how to remove the shift knob, i would greatly appreciate it

You just unsccrew it. It's on way tight (glue or something I'm not sure). If your 3 has the leather knob with the chrome piece on top and the chrome ring, I'd recommend doing your forceful twisting from the chrome ring.. the leather part is just glued on to that part and it can separate (happened to me when I had that knob)

THANKX dude, it came off fairly easy, i looked around these forums but i couldnt come across any info on how to change out the factory radio, and if there is anyway to keep that display above the radio, if i cant keep that illumination thats fine, but how hard is it to change them out, and do i have to have a special tool ? and do i have to have a wiring harness or can i hard wire the radio so i dont have to have the key in ign to turn radio on and off, i like the radio scene, its cool but id rather have my alpine, can u help me ?

I can help you in a few minutes with more elaboration, but here's some basic answers:

-- You can keep the display.. there's a unit that you wire in to control the display (it's aftermarket). I don't know how much it costs or where it is available, I'll get back to ya on that one when I'm not at work.

-- Removing the radio is easy. Open the glovebox to give you acess to pull that silver/carbonish plastic trim piece off.. the one that encircles the screen and goes over above the glovebox (Is it held on with any screws? It's been a year or so since I last removed one, but I don't think so). then there's 4 screws to remove the radio. Be careful not to scratch all the stuff underneath the radio when you slide it out.. painters tape, a soft cloth, etc is highly recommended.
-- Even if you are going to wire it so that you can power the radio on whenever (I absolutely don't recommend this, as most radios are still 'on' when they are turned off, either to display a clock on screen or whatever. Yes definitely get a wiring harness like the ones available from www.crutchfield.com and other sites. You just won't be using the red wire (switched 12v) on the harness.. you can just wire it from the radio to a simple toggle switch, and from the switch directly to the battery with an inline fuse ~10 inches from the battery (really low amperage, and thin wire (18ga or 20ga) is fine because it won't draw much current, it just uses that wire as a signal to turn the head unit on, which then draws its power from the yellow wire (on the radio harness)).
-- Of course you will need an adapter to get a single DIN radio to fit into the dash and not look silly.. they are available, but I don't know which brand is better than the other because I've never touched any of them.