Member Since: 11 Oct 2010
Location: there's no f in point
Posts: 2137
Steering wheel change
Doing the famous 'sticky steering wheel to luvverly leather steering wheel' change this weekend. Have read the many posts so okay with it but perhaps a bit concerned about the airbag deploying. I know to remove the key, wait 15 minutes etc, but anything else I have to watch out for? Does the airbag unplug once it's pulled off or can it remain connected when changing the wheel?
Wifey was panicing when she realised I was tinkering with the airbag... I'm probably not that happy eaither unless I know it's a safe job to do. I guess it must be as it appears to be frequently done.
28th Oct 2010 10:16 pm
zig
Member Since: 09 Sep 2005
Location: Scotland
Posts: 619
No the airbag has to be disconnected.
Changing the steering wheel is straight forward.
28th Oct 2010 10:29 pm
jimbo23
Member Since: 04 Jan 2009
Location: salisbury
Posts: 262
As you say wait 15 min disconnect battery too, remove the airbag using bit of wire through the cut outs then it just unplugs and put it to one side. As long as you let the car go to sleep and disconnect battery and handle it with care you will be fine
when i switched ignition on/started up for first time after refitting i did it from outside the car just incase anything happened my face was out the way, but all was fine
28th Oct 2010 10:30 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15214
jimbo23 wrote:
disconnect battery too
That is the key point to stop the airbag going off!!
All is in here in case you missed this thread.
http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic44501.htmlI was a normal heterosexual chap, but in these new woke awakenings I now identify as a Wardrobe.
28th Oct 2010 11:04 pm
Sonic3d
Member Since: 22 Nov 2005
Location: Ross on Wye Herefordshire
Posts: 872
When I changed mine a couple of weeks ago I managed to keep the airbag connected whilst changing the wheel, also left the battery connected I can resist everything except TEMPTATION
Can Am Commander 1000XT
Seen the light and bought a 4Motion T5
28th Oct 2010 11:39 pm
NickJ
Member Since: 11 Oct 2010
Location: there's no f in point
Posts: 2137
Sonic,
Brave man to keep the battery connected from what I hear!
29th Oct 2010 9:29 am
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15214
Yeah, but you haven't seen Sonic's face !!
Click image to enlarge
I was a normal heterosexual chap, but in these new woke awakenings I now identify as a Wardrobe.
29th Oct 2010 10:16 am
PaulP
Member Since: 04 May 2007
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 4317
To be honest I'm not sure where this idea that the airbags will explode if you don't disconnect the battery comes from
From a security and common sense point of view, of course I agree 100% that they should be disconnected, but the airbags don't fire based upon whether they have 12V connected to them or not....
They are fired by the RCM based upon signals received from the crash sensors and other data such as vehicle speed, yaw etc etc, but certainly not by connecting or disconnecting disconnecting it.
I've had my airbag out quite a few times and not disconnected it (not because I'm a smart , but because I usually forget as it's not something that worries me for the above reasons).
What I'm not sure is if the signal used to fire the airbag is a simple voltage pulse or if there is actually a coded data message sent to the airbag. If anyone knows I'd be interested to find out 2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE AutoBuckingham Blue 2007 Golf GT DSG
29th Oct 2010 12:06 pm
NickJ
Member Since: 11 Oct 2010
Location: there's no f in point
Posts: 2137
Oh, is Sonic's avatar not Sonic then?
29th Oct 2010 12:11 pm
roveribis
Member Since: 04 Apr 2009
Location: Puerto Rico
Posts: 132
Well this guy seems to have done it with just 12v:
Member Since: 22 Nov 2005
Location: Ross on Wye Herefordshire
Posts: 872
As Paulp says they need to be triggered so unless someone smashes the front of your Disco whilst your changing the bag then no problem. I can resist everything except TEMPTATION
Can Am Commander 1000XT
Seen the light and bought a 4Motion T5
29th Oct 2010 5:43 pm
JDB
Member Since: 25 Mar 2010
Location: NW Hampshire
Posts: 2485
Just done mine tonight!
Easy job, just follow the procedures as detailed.
Note disconnect the white multi connector and remove the wires from the airbag at the airbag end (small squeeze together release tabs) and the black earth, don't forget to swap the damper/weight plate inside as well.
Takes 10 minutes to do once allowed for discharge.
I now have a spare steering wheel if anyone wants one to recover etc?!
29th Oct 2010 5:47 pm
Bigcol66
Member Since: 28 Jul 2010
Location: Welshpool, Powys
Posts: 775
JDB
Do you mind if I ask how much and where did you get your new steering wheel?
29th Oct 2010 7:40 pm
JDB
Member Since: 25 Mar 2010
Location: NW Hampshire
Posts: 2485
Not new unfortunately - 2nd hand EBay RRS one that was in better condition than mine!
Last edited by JDB on 30th Oct 2010 7:19 am. Edited 1 time in total
29th Oct 2010 7:49 pm
NickJ
Member Since: 11 Oct 2010
Location: there's no f in point
Posts: 2137
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
, but because I usually forget as it's not something that worries me for the above reasons).
