got the plastic wheel and want radio controls??...
Joined: 09-25-2007
Posts: 7
From: oregon
do you remove yellow lock tabs completely from air bag module connectors? please give me step by step process for this stage of wheel replacement. how are connectors removed, do i pull straight up or slide off?
Last edited by madbaddad; Jul 26, 2008 at 01:33 AM. Reason: typo
Member
Joined: 05-17-2008
Posts: 65
From: Saginaw, TX (Ft Worth)
Well, The Black Leather wrapped Wheel arrived, with silver Bezels.
Installation was a snap. A recap for you for you:
-Detached Battery (Neg comes off first and goes on last!!)
-Used two long hex keys inserted into the small holes on the sides of the steering wheel, this releases a spring and the horn and airbag pops right out. (play with these on your replacement wheel first, its a pretty clever design.
-Removed two yellow hold tabs (plastic) that keep two electrical connectors attached to back of the horn/airbag. (Thats why you unhook the battery, you do not want to set the airbag off -potentially VERY dangerous if powered-) On my 2007 one plug was pink/grey and the other white/grey. Impossible to reverse. Nice design.
-Then used my socket to unbolt the steering wheel nut.
-Then wiggled the old wheel off. It took some wiggling.
-Detached the old socketed (cruise control) wiring from the old Wheel.
-its now off.
For reassembly everything was done in reverse. The horn/airbag attached with a good push into its spring clamps.
There were no settings to change on the radio etc. (Mine is a 2007 LT)
The new radio buttons worked perfectly upon re-attaching the battery (Positive first, then negative).
The only thing that took a long time was realizing that the horn/airbag MUST be detached at the back of the horn/airbag through the plastic plug connectors. These wires do not detach with a socketed plug at the same place the cruise control/radio harness attach.
Be sure you properly torque down the steering wheel nut, a drop of locktite is a good idea too. You do not, of course, want this coming off in your hands in 12,000 miles....
Installation was a snap. A recap for you for you:
-Detached Battery (Neg comes off first and goes on last!!)
-Used two long hex keys inserted into the small holes on the sides of the steering wheel, this releases a spring and the horn and airbag pops right out. (play with these on your replacement wheel first, its a pretty clever design.
-Removed two yellow hold tabs (plastic) that keep two electrical connectors attached to back of the horn/airbag. (Thats why you unhook the battery, you do not want to set the airbag off -potentially VERY dangerous if powered-) On my 2007 one plug was pink/grey and the other white/grey. Impossible to reverse. Nice design.
-Then used my socket to unbolt the steering wheel nut.
-Then wiggled the old wheel off. It took some wiggling.
-Detached the old socketed (cruise control) wiring from the old Wheel.
-its now off.
For reassembly everything was done in reverse. The horn/airbag attached with a good push into its spring clamps.
There were no settings to change on the radio etc. (Mine is a 2007 LT)
The new radio buttons worked perfectly upon re-attaching the battery (Positive first, then negative).
The only thing that took a long time was realizing that the horn/airbag MUST be detached at the back of the horn/airbag through the plastic plug connectors. These wires do not detach with a socketed plug at the same place the cruise control/radio harness attach.
Be sure you properly torque down the steering wheel nut, a drop of locktite is a good idea too. You do not, of course, want this coming off in your hands in 12,000 miles....
Member
Joined: 07-15-2008
Posts: 47
From: Guyton, Ga.
I was going to try for the wheel also, but, right now there are none at Parts Distribution Centers and none expected to arrive. So I added the controls to my '08. Might upgrade to leather wheel when they are available again.