Transmission shifter light

[mowen213]

Does anyone else find it odd the shifter knob is PRND is not backlit?

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[Theherofails]

Does anyone else find it odd the shifter knob is PRND is not backlit?

Someone does, because I've seen it mentioned before. Can't remember who it was though, but you aren't alone.

Are you older, by chance?

 

[5280Bronco]

Does anyone else find it odd the shifter knob is PRND is not backlit?

I guess I'm with you. That's weird.

 

[mowen213]

Someone does, because I've seen it mentioned before. Can't remember who it was though, but you aren't alone.

Are you older, by chance?

By older you mean? I'm in my 40s.

 

[BrentC]

Not lit on the newer F150s either. It takes some getting used to to read the pattern on the dash but you’ll get used to it.

 

[mowen213]

In my 40s...why

 

[Theherofails]

By older you mean? I'm in my 40s.

That's true. That actually makes you young around here I think.

My theory is that people who drove cars made in the 1990s or earlier may be used to looking at the shifter. Probably not accurate.

 

[Blue's B6G]

I’m not overly concerned about it but I’ve wondered how many years the painted gear designation will last. I bet there will be solutions for repainting them, eventually if not already, and I’ll do that down the road. Totally feels cheap painted, though. One of the first things my wife noticed, actually.

 

[Rubisquatch]

it’s ok as as but I agree, for a dollar or two more they could have backlit it and made it nice. The way it is now adds to the perception of basic elements in the interior. I’m sure this gets upgraded and next interior redo.

 

[Rick Astley]

Does anyone else find it odd the shifter knob is PRND is not backlit?

There's your biggest problem, and really outlines the shoddy state of drivers on American roadways today.

What competent driver is going to make a 2-3 or 4-5, or any shift for that matter and worry about what if they are in reverse or drive?

You shift by feel once you're over the age of 16 and know what you're doing. If "driving" an automatic is so difficult you have to have the dumb-stick backlit for you (because looking at the instrument cluster is beyond your physical capacities?) then this is a great way of keeping the bottom 1% of drivers off the roadway.

This 9 year old can drive a 13-speed without issue, Bronco drivers are setting the bar well below this.

 

[bytheway]

I remember someone pointing it out because theirs already got scratched up.

 

[mowen213]

Or it's an aesthetic thing. I can drive and shift anything without looking. I've driven tanks, BFV. And currently a 48 foot long tandem axle ladder truck. And guess what. The shifter is backlit.

 

[Bob Blaylock]

That's true. That actually makes you young around here I think.

My theory is that people who drove cars made in the 1990s or earlier may be used to looking at the shifter. Probably not accurate.

My 1969 Falcon had the selector on the steering column, and the indicator on top of the steering column, in the same general viewing area as the dashboard. I think the same was true of most of the cars I drove, in my early driving days, mostly 1960's and 1970's models. I t seems to me that it wasn't until some timer in the 1980s that it became common for cars with automatic transmissions to have the selector, and associated indicator, located well below the dashboard.

I now recall that when @Seanette and I test-drove a Bronco, the dealership employee who went with us had to call my attention to the indicator being back up on the dashboard, as I was fumbling to try to read the indicator down near the actual selector lever.

 

[WuNgUn]

Does anyone else find it odd the shifter knob is PRND is not backlit?

It's a Ford thing... 2018 Escape's had them backlit... 2019's didn't.
Ford loves removing and changing things for the worst, I swear.

 

[North7]

Does anyone else find it odd the shifter knob is PRND is not backlit?

You can try one of these.

https://www.amazon.com/Auto-Meter-Shift-Indicator-Gauge/dp/B00B81RYNG

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