Tweet
Details of this mod were originally posted in my "build thread"; I thought a separate DIY thread was more appropriate.
Edit: Additional info that might help DIYers find the correct paddles, and the correct bits to go with them: https://www.pajeroforum.com.au/forum...ring-harnesses
When I had a Golf GTD as my daily driver I generally drove it in Sport mode, using the steering wheel paddles to change gears. Now that my NT is (currently) my daily driver, I missed having the paddles, so I decided to do something about it.
After checking out the wiring diagrams, and inspecting the wiring in my NW wreck, I worked out the interface is actually pretty simple - all required signals are in one 4 pin connector. There is a compromise - the paddles only work while the shift lever is in Sport mode, and do nothing in any other mode. I designed a circuit on paper that would allow the paddles to work in any mode, and wasn't sure what would happen if the paddles were used in any mode other than "D". Picking up the "D" signal without cutting & soldering required a bigger connector, and I didn't think the extra functionality was worth the hassle. So Sport mode only.
I used paddles from an Outlander, which are apparently the same as the Lancer. It fits over the clock spring assembly like it's meant to be there - there are two pre-existing locating spigots and two mounting holes in the plastic. I grabbed the self-tapping plastic screws from the donor car, and they screwed straight in.
Unfortunately, the donor vehicle also had two mounting points on the underside of the steering column assembly - the Pajero has nothing there that even looks like it could be used.
I grabbed the steering column covers from the Outlander, in the hope that they would simply fit the Pajero - no such luck. I got them to clip together over the column, but the top cover interfered with the dash, and the bottom cover didn't work well with the height adjust lever. So I had to cut some slots in the side of the Pajero steering column covers. This was made easier by having the Outlander covers available - I just transferred the slot pattern to the Pajero covers, and carefully cut it out with a Dremel. Later, I discovered that the Pajero covers are narrower in that region, and the angle of the shift paddles meant I had to extend the slots by about 5mm.
There are significant differences between the Pajero and Outlander steering column covers, so the paddle assembly doesn't fit straight in - a significant amount of work was required. However, after all the cutting and filing, the bottom of the paddle assembly is effectively "wedged" between the front of the white assembly and the covers.
The cutting & filing:
Front.
Rear. The circled area is where I had to drill a hole for a locating spigot in the lower cover, and cut & file the rear part of the frame.
Bottom view.
The next four are close-ups of the corners I had to file away.
While picking up the shift paddles I also grabbed the two connectors required for the plug & play harness:
Not shown in the pic is the connector I grabbed to mate with the connector on the paddle assembly. That's a 3 pin connector that I extended, and put another (different) 3 pin connector on the other end to mate with the 3 pin connector in the pic.
The adaptor plugs in under the centre console, just in front of the shift levers. The paddles only have power when the shifter is in sports mode. In sports mode, the ECU gets change signals from the shift lever, or the paddles - the ECU doesn't know the difference. There is nothing to stop both paddles being pulled at once, sending two signals to the ECU - I don't know how the ECU will respond if I do that.
The relay is for another mod, suggested by twisted32, for my torque converter lockup. The lockup only has power in Sports mode, so flicking the lever back to auto will disable the lockup. One harness for two mods.
Cost: The wrecker charged me $100 for everything I grabbed, then it was a few dollars for some extra 3 pin connectors, plus some heat shrink that I already had lying around. I also had the relay, but that's not required for this mod.
Summary of parts required:
Optional, but handy:
So far, I'm enjoying using the paddles. Will I continue to use them, or will it turn out to be a passing fad?
Edit: not a passing fad for me. I use them all the time, without conscious thought.
Some installation instructions and wiring diagrams are attached to my sell thread, but the forum software won't let me attach them here too - so I've added links instead:
Installation instructions Rev 5a (for the kits that I sell, but the info might be helpful for a DIYer).
Paddle Shift circuit diagram.
Paddle Shift circuit diagram for NS.
Edit: Additional info that might help DIYers find the correct paddles, and the correct bits to go with them: https://www.pajeroforum.com.au/forum...ring-harnesses
When I had a Golf GTD as my daily driver I generally drove it in Sport mode, using the steering wheel paddles to change gears. Now that my NT is (currently) my daily driver, I missed having the paddles, so I decided to do something about it.
After checking out the wiring diagrams, and inspecting the wiring in my NW wreck, I worked out the interface is actually pretty simple - all required signals are in one 4 pin connector. There is a compromise - the paddles only work while the shift lever is in Sport mode, and do nothing in any other mode. I designed a circuit on paper that would allow the paddles to work in any mode, and wasn't sure what would happen if the paddles were used in any mode other than "D". Picking up the "D" signal without cutting & soldering required a bigger connector, and I didn't think the extra functionality was worth the hassle. So Sport mode only.
I used paddles from an Outlander, which are apparently the same as the Lancer. It fits over the clock spring assembly like it's meant to be there - there are two pre-existing locating spigots and two mounting holes in the plastic. I grabbed the self-tapping plastic screws from the donor car, and they screwed straight in.
Unfortunately, the donor vehicle also had two mounting points on the underside of the steering column assembly - the Pajero has nothing there that even looks like it could be used.
I grabbed the steering column covers from the Outlander, in the hope that they would simply fit the Pajero - no such luck. I got them to clip together over the column, but the top cover interfered with the dash, and the bottom cover didn't work well with the height adjust lever. So I had to cut some slots in the side of the Pajero steering column covers. This was made easier by having the Outlander covers available - I just transferred the slot pattern to the Pajero covers, and carefully cut it out with a Dremel. Later, I discovered that the Pajero covers are narrower in that region, and the angle of the shift paddles meant I had to extend the slots by about 5mm.
There are significant differences between the Pajero and Outlander steering column covers, so the paddle assembly doesn't fit straight in - a significant amount of work was required. However, after all the cutting and filing, the bottom of the paddle assembly is effectively "wedged" between the front of the white assembly and the covers.
The cutting & filing:
Front.
Rear. The circled area is where I had to drill a hole for a locating spigot in the lower cover, and cut & file the rear part of the frame.
Bottom view.
The next four are close-ups of the corners I had to file away.
While picking up the shift paddles I also grabbed the two connectors required for the plug & play harness:
Not shown in the pic is the connector I grabbed to mate with the connector on the paddle assembly. That's a 3 pin connector that I extended, and put another (different) 3 pin connector on the other end to mate with the 3 pin connector in the pic.
The adaptor plugs in under the centre console, just in front of the shift levers. The paddles only have power when the shifter is in sports mode. In sports mode, the ECU gets change signals from the shift lever, or the paddles - the ECU doesn't know the difference. There is nothing to stop both paddles being pulled at once, sending two signals to the ECU - I don't know how the ECU will respond if I do that.
The relay is for another mod, suggested by twisted32, for my torque converter lockup. The lockup only has power in Sports mode, so flicking the lever back to auto will disable the lockup. One harness for two mods.
Cost: The wrecker charged me $100 for everything I grabbed, then it was a few dollars for some extra 3 pin connectors, plus some heat shrink that I already had lying around. I also had the relay, but that's not required for this mod.
Summary of parts required:
- Paddle shift assembly - Outlander / Lancer, possibly PC Challenger?
- Top two screws for mounting to the white plastic assembly
- 3 pin connector from the vehicle harness to mate with the connector on the paddle assembly
- Pair of 4 pin connectors to make the plug & play assembly
- Cable to extend the paddle signals down to the centre console
- Solder & heatshrink
Optional, but handy:
- Steering column covers from the donor, to copy the slot detail
- 3 pin plug & socket, to make a separate extension cable, to extend the paddle signals from the steering column down to the plugs under the centre console. This cable could be soldered direct to the plug & play assembly.
So far, I'm enjoying using the paddles. Will I continue to use them, or will it turn out to be a passing fad?
Edit: not a passing fad for me. I use them all the time, without conscious thought.
Some installation instructions and wiring diagrams are attached to my sell thread, but the forum software won't let me attach them here too - so I've added links instead:
Installation instructions Rev 5a (for the kits that I sell, but the info might be helpful for a DIYer).
Paddle Shift circuit diagram.
Paddle Shift circuit diagram for NS.
Comment