Honda CR-Z: Swap the CVT Selector for a Honda Fit Leather Shift Knob
Introduction
This guide replaces the factory selector knob on an automatic (CVT) Honda CR-Z with the leather-wrapped automatic shift knob from a Honda Fit, together with its matching plastic base cover. Owners often find the angular stock knob, sometimes called the "Star Trek" shifter, awkward to rest a hand on; the Fit knob offers a more conventional shape and a hand feel closer to a manual lever, and its blue stitching matches the stitching already present on the CR-Z steering wheel and armrest. The swap is a bolt-on: the Fit knob mounts to the same shift tree using the same two-screw pattern, so no cutting or wiring is involved. Budget roughly ten to fifteen minutes. The two parts needed are the Fit leather knob, part# 08U92-TK6-110A, and the plastic cover, part# 54132-TF0-951ZA; color variants exist, including a red-stitched version. Adapted from a community writeup by RicoMagic on CRZ Forum (https://www.crzforum.com/threads/diy-honda-fit-shifter-mod-cvt-models.9179/), including corrections from the follow-up discussion.
Reference
Tools Required
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Small flat-blade (flat head) screwdriver
- Ignition key
Parts Required
-
Honda Fit leather-wrapped automatic shift knob, part# 08U92-TK6-110A
-
Honda Fit shifter plate cover, part# 54132-TF0-951ZA
Safety Warnings
- ⚠ Set the parking brake and stay on level ground: releasing the shift-lock override lets the selector leave Park, so an unsecured vehicle can roll.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1 Expose the shift-lock override slot
Park on a flat surface and set the parking brake. Beside the selector is a small trim panel that conceals the manual shift-lock override. Slip the tip of the small flat-blade screwdriver under its edge and gently lever the panel out to uncover the slot beneath.
2 Release the selector from Park
Insert the ignition key into the exposed override slot, press down on the internal white plunger, and move the lever into Neutral. As an alternative to the slot, turning the ignition to the accessory position unlocks the shift lock so the selector can leave Park without using the override at all.
3 Fold back the trim flap over the second screw
A soft plastic-leather flap wraps the base of the knob and hides one of the two fasteners. Lift and fold it back with the small flat-blade screwdriver so both mounting screws are accessible.
4 Remove the two mounting screws
Switch to the Phillips screwdriver and back out both screws that clamp the knob assembly to the shift tree. Set them aside; the replacement knob comes with its own fasteners.
5 Lift the factory knob off the shift tree
With both screws out, the stock knob slides straight up off the shift tree under light hand pressure and needs little force. Note the pair of notches on the tree itself; these locate and anchor the screws for the replacement.
6 Test-fit the Fit knob
Seat the Honda Fit knob onto the shift tree, lining it up with the two notches. Before securing it, work the release trigger and run the selector from Neutral to Drive and back to confirm the mechanism operates correctly.
7 Secure the new knob
Drive the two screws supplied with the Fit knob into the notches on the tree and tighten them until the knob is held firmly with no play.
8 Snap on the plastic cover plate
Position the replacement plate cover over the base of the knob and press until its clips snap into place. Some alternate knobs, such as part# 08U92-SLN-100C, integrate this trim and require no separate cover.
9 Refit the override slot cover
Press the small shift-lock override panel back into its opening until it sits flush, returning the console to a finished look. The installation is complete.
Pro Tips
- 💡 The shift-lock override step can be skipped by turning the ignition to the accessory position, which unlocks the selector without using the key slot.
- 💡 Compatibility comes down to the two-screw spacing on the shift tree; trace a cardboard template of the hole pattern to check donor knobs at a salvage yard.
- 💡 Fit Sport automatic knobs appear regularly on eBay and through Honda parts counters, typically around $25-66 shipped, with the cover roughly $7-8.
- 💡 A red-stitched variant (part# 08U92-TF0-710A) and another knob (part# 08U92-SLN-100C, which needs no separate cover) are both reported to fit the same way.
- 💡 The blue stitching on the Fit knob closely matches the CR-Z steering wheel and armrest stitching.
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