Trying to get to the shifter to replace the electrical portion. How is the wood insert held in place? Is it the switches? The stereo? I dont want to break it. It seems to be sticking on between the radio and the ashtray opening where the switches are, but I would rather hear from someone who has been there before I start really tugging on it. How unnerving!

I think there are two screws in the radio opening, the whole panel pivots upward at least on the sedan the lower switches are held in the panel, the upper are held in the dash frame. You need the radio codes and radio tools. The panel had a latch near the armrest, again on the sedan!

you need the tools to remove radio and climate control. Remove ashtray. there are four screws around the ashtray that need to come out. Pull up a bit on the wood console from the rear but don't remove it. Remove the plastic shift surround. if you have the wood trim piece over the shift indicator you need to remove this (clips on, two on each side). then pull the wood piece out. there is a video of this procedure someone just posted in the SL forum.