Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15221
Fitting your New Leather Steering Wheel
As many of us will be receiving our New Smoooth Leather Sterring Wheels from Nick over the next week, though it'd be a good idea to resurrect Ridgeback_moors excellent fitting guide.
Taken this section only as the whole thread goes [off topic &] on for 7 pages. R_m
But could someone please add more detail on the airbag.
What do we do with the coathanger tool - is it a pull, prod, or switch ?
[don't want an unexpected explosion going off when I'm working that close to it].
ridgeback_moor wrote:
I bought one of the new smooth leather steering wheels off ebay this week, and fitted it today. The improvement over the coarse grained leather wheel is amazing - at last a steering wheel that matches the quality of the rest of the vehicle .
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Releasing the airbag using special coathanger tool! See other threads for more information on airbag removal. Note before disconnecting or reconnecting the airbag, disconnect the battery and wait for at least 15 minutes.
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Swapping buttons and damper weight over to new wheel...
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New and old compared...
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Wheel mounted onto steering column, buttons plugged into rotary coupler....
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Airbag refitted...
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Job done
I was a normal heterosexual chap, but in these new woke awakenings I now identify as a Wardrobe.
12th Jan 2010 6:31 pm
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
Wiggs has a video of how to release the airbag - insert the pullers and pull towards the doors to release the latch.
Need to remember to get the wheels perfectly straight or work some way of getting the new wheel on perfectly straight - marking whch spline went where on the old wheel and transferring to the new wheel perhaps.
any other tools required for the switch packs and the weight? torx bits for example?2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
12th Jan 2010 6:44 pm
hotrocks
Member Since: 05 Jan 2010
Location: England
Posts: 467
Top notch Ronp
I need to call and pay for mine yet, but I was wondering how to fit it
I did mine just before Xmas.
My tip for all of you is be patient when trying to release the airbag,I got little frustrated,i thought it was not going to happen for me ,but eventually it did!!
The rest is easy.
Good luck & enjoy your new wheel!!
K2mut
12th Jan 2010 8:16 pm
Reggieb
Member Since: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Watford, Herts.
Posts: 707
Remember that the connectors for the airbag come out from the airbag end and not from the column side (spent ages sodding around trying to release them )
As stated by Ronp, disconnect your battery then go and make yourself a coffee and drink it before going near the airbag.
There is a mark on the wheel and the splined steering column shaft, make a note or use a permanent marker and then put the new one on in exactly the same place, "Simples"TDV6 HSE - Light Guards - White Reflective Sticker
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Last edited by Reggieb on 12th Jan 2010 8:31 pm. Edited 1 time in total
12th Jan 2010 8:24 pm
MacLeod 313
Member Since: 18 Apr 2008
Location: away
Posts: 10723
Or hold your horses and await TFC to fit a NEW Styleeeee Heated one
Well thats the route I hope to take when mine is serviced by him b4 April
12th Jan 2010 8:27 pm
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: up that tree
Posts: 4866
Quote:
My tip for all of you is be patient when trying to release the airbags,I got little frustrated,i thought it was not going to happen for me ,but eventually it did!!
reminds me of my teenage years..... one wife.......livid
Wiggs' airbag removal video is probably the best guide to watch, although I can't find the link to it at the moment. It's pretty simple to feel for the latch on each side that the hook goes around, then you just have to pull outwards fairly strongly to disengage them. The electrical connectors disconnect from the back of the airbag module really easily, and are designed so you can't reconnect the wrong way around.
Small torx drive(s) were required for the switches and damping weight, although I can't remember the size I'm afraid
Enjoy the smooth leather Previously:
2005 D3 2.7 TDV6 S
1984 90 2.25 Petrol CSW
1992 90 200TDi Hard Top
1995 Discovery ES 300TDi
2003 90 TD5 Truck Cab
12th Jan 2010 11:06 pm
Andy_RS2113
Member Since: 17 Apr 2009
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 192
link to Wiggs' video...
Peter, are you drunk? No, I'm just exhaused cos I've been up all night drinking...
13th Jan 2010 10:49 am
Martin Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18468
Anyone want to volunteer to wiki-fy this? 06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
13th Jan 2010 4:05 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15221
Reggieb wrote:
Remember that the connectors for the airbag come out from the airbag end and not from the column side (spent ages sodding around trying to release them )
Yep, VERY IMPORTANT
Spent some time faffing about with the [right hand] Airbag connector also. So added points to note:
The left hand connector disconnects from the Clockspring.
But disconnect the 3 separate wires from the back of the Airbag [not the right hand connector].
One is a metal spade connector with a vertical release prong.
The other two you'll need some pincer pliers and depress/pull the coloured gripped area.
Think one is black and the other orange.
Oh and like me, don't do it in the dark and without a torch
I had to use my little key ring torch.
[remember you'll have no D3 Internal lights].I was a normal heterosexual chap, but in these new woke awakenings I now identify as a Wardrobe.
27th Jan 2010 8:11 pm
Ent
Member Since: 12 Oct 2007
Location: In the cack
Posts: 6485
ad15 wrote:
Quote:
My tip for all of you is be patient when trying to release the airbags,I got little frustrated,i thought it was not going to happen for me ,but eventually it did!!
reminds me of my teenage years.....
Yeah me too I still remember playtime at school, a bit of footy, sneakin a quick smoke and trying to cop a feel of the girls at the back of the bike sheds. I loved that caretakers job Club Exped trailer
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27th Jan 2010 8:20 pm
GLYNNE
Member Since: 06 Oct 2006
Location: KENT
Posts: 4655
MacLeod 313 wrote:
Or hold your horses and await TFC to fit a NEW Styleeeee Heated one
Well thats the route I hope to take when mine is serviced by him b4 April
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R_m
.
,but eventually it did!! 
