Author Topic: Steering wheel removal? (Read 4596 times)

GrippyDrifty · « **on:** April 18, 2006, 12:30:38 AM »

I've never removed a one from an airbagged car.

asubimmer · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2006, 01:16:23 AM »

ok if you blow yourself up its NOT my fault!!

1. Unplug your battery for at least 20min (IIRC). I let mine stay unplugged all night.

2. Unscrew the airbag from the back, there are 4 IIRC. When you are taking the bag off DON'T have your face near it and remove the wire in the back of the airbag.

3. Remove the 17mm? nut in the middle of the wheel.

It really is easy. Once you start messing w/ it you can prob figure it out w/out help. I hear that static electriccan set off the so I would be carefull w/ it if I were you.

ak96ss · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2006, 01:40:39 AM »

Quote from: asubimmer

ok if you blow yourself up its NOT my fault!!

1. Unplug your battery for at least 20min (IIRC). I let mine stay unplugged all night.

2. Unscrew the airbag from the back, there are 4 IIRC. When you are taking the bag off DON'T have your face near it and remove the wire in the back of the airbag.

3. Remove the 17mm? nut in the middle of the wheel.

It really is easy. Once you start messing w/ it you can prob figure it out w/out help. I hear that static electriccan set off the so I would be carefull w/ it if I were you.

Basically true - there are two screws on the back, they are I believe T30 torx. Step 1a. should be to remove the small cover on the underside of the steering column and disconnect the orange connector in there. Step 3, the nut is 21mm, and is supposed to be replaced each time you remove it. I just loctited mine back on and it has been working fine.

Don't forget to index the steering wheel to the column with an awl or something, so you can put it back on straight.

And DO NOT reconnect the battery until you have it all back together, including all connectors. You will light up the SRS light if you do, and it would appear that even the dealer can no longer reset that light.

Careful handling that airbag when it is out - it is an explosive device.

GrippyDrifty · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2006, 02:28:42 AM »

Cool. Sounds easy, but scary! After the wreck, my steering wheel is slightly off set to the right. It does not pull to the right at all, goes straight as an arrow, but would like to realign my steering wheel again.

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2006, 09:46:00 AM »

uh... that's not your wheel, that's your steering column linkage... I'd check it out.

nickmpower · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2006, 10:54:04 AM »

no its probably the alignment

ak96ss · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2006, 11:19:33 AM »

Do you mean the steering wheel is physically moved to the right (as in "the whole column has moved"), or that the wheel is turned to the right slightly (as in "I'm turning right")?

World of difference there...

GrippyDrifty · « **Reply #7 on:** April 18, 2006, 12:14:57 PM »

Ha, yeah. The wheel looks like I am slightly turning to the right. The column its self is perfect. Sorry I should have elaborated a little more the first time.

NOrmally, an alignment would cure this, but as I said, the car still goes perfectly staright and does not pull either right/left at all. The steering wheel just looks "".