Just got done replacing the actuall rubber boot as mine had disentegrated to the point where I could see the ground. Easy enough to do as it takes all of 30min or less to exchange and the parts are available from Victoriabritish. Just a few pointers to keep in mind when replacing it. A knife (gently) will take the cover off nicely and take out all the stuffing. The shifter **** twists off as well as the "ring" directly below the shifter ****. Once that's off, the metal plate surrounding the boot cover will have to be unscrewed. Look carefully, there's an arrow pointing on this metal that mine was barely noticeable. That's the direction you want to put it back again. The replacement gear shift boot should line up with the holes "naturally". I had to twist that around in there for a bit to find that out, but have patience. Then reverse the process.
Oh and if you do take the shiter actually out of the gearbox in your excitement there you'll find a j hook down below. Looks like half a paper clip. The "ball" of the shifter needs to be on the right side of this and realize this to only goes in one way as there is a notch in the metal shifter that line up with the well inside the
gearbox.

What I did notice & maybe someone can help is that my shifter boot came in one peice and not three as pictured. Did they change the design? Well, that's it. Major point is look for that arrow on the metal surrounding the shifter boot & take it for a test drive. I now have no exahust or heat coming up

 

With pics?
http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/shiftbsh.htm


-Ted

 

Most definately with pics! NOW you show them. lol

 

your SURE the shift **** just twists off? why wont mine twist off? i've been like twisting it with all my might and it wont loosen or nothin...