Start/stop button replacement DIY?

**TTRStud** · 10-16-2015 04:13 AM

Hi folks!

So my start/stop button started peeling a little and I've purchased a replacement one, with the red ring around it! How do I go about doing this myself? Anyone has instructions I can use? There are a lot of trim pieces that may or may not need to come out, and I don't want to tackle it blindly.

Thanks!!

**jkownz** · 10-16-2015 04:53 AM

Originally Posted by TTRStud

Hi folks!

So my start/stop button started peeling a little and I've purchased a replacement one, with the red ring around it! How do I go about doing this myself? Anyone has instructions I can use? There are a lot of trim pieces that may or may not need to come out, and I don't want to tackle it blindly.

Thanks!!

Send me a pm! I done it on my rs and other rs. I'll explain it best I can

**scottykenneth** · 10-16-2015 05:18 AM

Write it here :))). Love the red ring. No idea why my 14 S5 had it but not my 15 rs. Weirdddd

**TTRStud** · 10-16-2015 05:26 AM

Originally Posted by jkownz

Send me a pm! I done it on my rs and other rs. I'll explain it best I can

PMed! Thanks!

**HazeMyth** · 10-16-2015 06:16 AM

Does the red ring light up? Mine doesn't have a red ring.

**Shaph** · 10-16-2015 06:28 AM

Originally Posted by HazeMyth

Does the red ring light up? Mine doesn't have a red ring.

Nope. I think the A6 one does

**fasteddy91** · 10-16-2015 06:36 AM

I just purchased a used carbon fiber atlas trim kit and was thinking while I have the center console out I would replace the start/stop button with the red ring one.

What is the cost for one of these and who sells them the cheapest?

**jkownz** · 10-16-2015 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by fasteddy91

I just purchased a used carbon fiber atlas trim kit and was thinking while I have the center console out I would replace the start/stop button with the red ring one.

What is the cost for one of these and who sells them the cheapest?

Alex over @ Eurocode, has em. Think there 75 still. Shoot him a message maybe you could work something out.

**Shaph** · 10-16-2015 07:00 AM

yep still $75

http://europrice.us/switch-sport-start-stop-red-trim

**fasteddy91** · 10-16-2015 07:30 AM

Thanks Guys,

I'll pm him in a moment...might as well upgrade while the center console is out :O)

**TTRStud** · 10-17-2015 01:01 PM

I am unable to slide the old start button out of the center console? Is there anything special to it? Just pushing upward on it is not doing it...I'm applying an incredible amount of force and it's not coming out...I don't want to break anything. Any advise?

Thanks!

EDIT: Finally was able to take it out...the little aluminum legs that hold it in place and flex, apparently had expanded too much over the years and wouldn't give in...I had to force-push it out which in turn bent these little legs and rendered the old button useless...it doesn't matter, as it was flaking and I had no intention of saving it anyways! :)

**TTRStud** · 10-17-2015 02:40 PM

What a difference…this is a nice, simple cosmetic touch for the interior, that makes a difference:

**jkownz** · 10-17-2015 02:58 PM

Hopefully it was not to bad!! Looks niceee

**TTRStud** · 10-17-2015 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by jkownz

Hopefully it was not to bad!! Looks niceee

Thanks bud, your instructions were perfect! In fact, the most difficult part was sliding the old button up and out - not sure why but it wasn't a matter of a simple push from underneath. It took a lot of force for such a simple part, so the excessive push ended up bending and compressing the little metal legs that lock the button in place. Luckily nothing broke, and the new button slid in very easily.

**Junhager** · 10-18-2015 05:20 AM

Write DIY info here

**Diamond Dog** · 10-18-2015 08:59 AM

Please share instructions, especially for those that do not want to replace the center console trim.

**d1amund** · 10-18-2015 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Diamond Dog

Please share instructions, especially for those that do not want to replace the center console trim.

Right; why all the secrecy with this?

**TTRStud** · 10-18-2015 01:56 PM

The DIY is very simple:

1) pull upwards on the shifter boot (auto or manual makes no difference) until it detaches. It will take a bit of force, but it will eventually detach entirely as a rectangular piece and you can pull it up towards the knob - leave it that way.

2) at this point you have two options: a) the way the dealer does it, b) the way the instructions I was given told me to do it. Both work. So:

A) you can literally stick a finger underneath and push the start/stop button upwards. There are two bending metal clips that hold it in place, and with enough pressure it will pop up. In my case this wasn't easy; I guess the button was on the car for so long that these metal legs opened up and wouldn't let the button slide out. If you have a replacement button already you'll see what I'm talking about. If the button does come up, be careful, the harness attached to it has enough cable length for the button to come up, but you don't want to pull on it too hard. Detach the harness and the button will be out!

B) The other instructions provided start off as what I just explained above, with an additional step that may give you more room to work with when detaching the harness and pushing the button up and out: once the shifter boot is up and out of the way, you can stick your hand through the shifter hole and gently pull the center console trim upwards. This has to be done carefully, as many harnesses attach to this piece from underneath in order to power the many buttons (nav, radio, parking break, etc). Once this trim detaches, you'll be able to tilt it up and have more room to disconnect the start button harness and push it up and out.

To reassemble, push the new button back into place, reconnect the harness to the new button and make sure it clicks into place, press the console trim back into place until it snaps evenly in (if you used option B), and push the shifter boot back into place. Done!

**d1amund** · 10-18-2015 04:41 PM

Thanks! I would have started with prying trim panels...this seems much easier

**TTRStud** · 10-18-2015 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by d1amund

Thanks! I would have started with prying trim panels...this seems much easier

It is very simple...no need to go crazy with trim panels...you don't even need tools, just your hands.

**ak_siberian** · 10-18-2015 06:32 PM

What do you call the shifter boot? The silver trim around? BTW are there any (red) lit Start/Stop buttons that will work on the RS?

siberian

**TTRStud** · 10-18-2015 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by ak_siberian

What do you call the shifter boot? The silver trim around? BTW are there any (red) lit Start/Stop buttons that will work on the RS?

siberian

The boot is exactly what it is, the boot, the leather around the shift knob, not the silver trim. Tha silver trim stays on.

This button lights up just like the regular one, the red is just a nice accent.

**ak_siberian** · 10-18-2015 06:52 PM

Thanx TTRStud. Is the boot attached with velcro or how does it attach back again?

siberian

**TTRStud** · 10-18-2015 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by ak_siberian

Thanx TTRStud. Is the boot attached with velcro or how does it attach back again?

siberian

The boot is actually stapled to a rectangular trim that snaps into place…when you pull boot upwards from the center console trim and it finally detaches, you'll see that the leather is stapled to a plastic trim piece with little built-in clips on the bottom edge.

**Beast** · 10-18-2015 07:22 PM

Thanks TTRS, I am going to order the button now

**ak_siberian** · 10-18-2015 08:33 PM

Thanx for that. So the rectangular piece the boot is stapled to snaps to the silver rectangular piece I mentioned earlier?

siberian

**TTRStud** · 10-18-2015 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by ak_siberian

Thanx for that. So the rectangular piece the boot is stapled to snaps to the silver rectangular piece I mentioned earlier?

siberian

Correct...the silver rectangular piece is nothing more than a decorative border; the boot's rectangular piece sits within the rectangular silver piece and snaps into the center console underneath...you can't see what it snaps to until you pull it up/out.

**ak_siberian** · 10-18-2015 11:53 PM

Thanx

siberian

**patmusk** · 10-19-2015 05:07 AM

Thanks guys, just got one also... the OEM one is chipping up and stabbing my finger.

**sonictuning** · 10-23-2015 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by TTRStud

What a difference…this is a nice, simple cosmetic touch for the interior, that makes a difference:

Huge difference!!! flows a lot better in the interior!

**fasteddy91** · 10-28-2015 09:06 PM

I just swapped mine out and it took less than 2 minutes to do. Not sure if the manual transmission cars are easier but mine was really easy to do.

Step 1. Put you fingers under the center shifter boot by the Nav/info buttons and pull up. This should separate the center surround from the center console.

Step 2. Unplug the start/stop button and push the start/stop button up from the bottom.

Step 3. Put the new button in the center shifter surround and plug it in. Snap the center console surround back in place.

Step 4. Sit back and relax and enjoy the new look of your start/stop button.

**fasteddy91** · 10-28-2015 09:09 PM

...

**TTRStud** · 10-29-2015 05:53 AM

Originally Posted by fasteddy91

...

Hey there! I noticed on your sig that you have spacers but no mention of a drop? If so, could you please PM with a few shots of your car? I'm considering spacers without a drop but some people say the look is not the best? Thanks!

**fasteddy91** · 10-29-2015 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by TTRStud

Hey there! I noticed on your sig that you have spacers but no mention of a drop? If so, could you please PM with a few shots of your car? I'm considering spacers without a drop but some people say the look is not the best? Thanks!

Pmd you back...the car looks good without the drop but I plan on installing the H&R OEMS...I just haven't had time to do so. In my opinion adding spacers with out a drop will look fine....but better with a drop.

**Jeff V.** · 10-29-2015 07:42 AM

Basic directions.

http://xtreme3s.net/S5/Console/02%20...20controls.pdf

Be careful when you pull up on the control assembly. The wire harness going to the start button is very short, and you can damage it. It takes a lot of force to get the clips under the control assembly to release.

If your hands are small enough, you might be able to just reach in through the shift boot hole without pulling the console up.

**Dogger7** · 02-15-2019 06:42 PM

Thanks to this thread it was a 5 minute job.

**rnp614** · 03-17-2019 06:44 PM

anyone with an RS5 able to tell me where to pull up on the leather boot? Dont want to break anything. Also any cheaper source for the button? Seems price is up to 100?

**jkownz** · 03-18-2019 05:45 AM

Originally Posted by rnp614

anyone with an RS5 able to tell me where to pull up on the leather boot? Dont want to break anything. Also any cheaper source for the button? Seems price is up to 100?

Just grab on the loose leather with both hands and pull up. Sounds harsh, but it's the only way.

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