Damnit! :grumpy:

I've been at my wreck now for about 5 hours today... 2 hours were spent removing all the various T20 / T30 / 4mm bolts that hold the dashboard and bits and bobs in the car, and YIPPEE, it came loose and then the biggest problem hit me...

I looked and looked, fiddled with this and that, even rang Ffelan and spoke to his mechanic, but the damn thing doesn't wanna come off! Apparently the button for the horn on the steering wheel does lever off the main body of the steering wheel, but I applied some good leverage in all points off the wheel but the thing is stuck fast! I've also undone the jubilee clip which steadys the stalk/s assembly, but that did nowt for my mission. There were also two solid metallic lugs than seemed to be holding on, but I levered them out the way with a screwdriver, but I don't know if that was the thing to do, but I can always hammer them down again if that's fooked something up... Now, what do I do from here? I have a dashboard detached from my car but no way of actually getting the thing out without hacksawing it up...

HEEEEEEELPPPP! (please)

:cheers:

If you turn the steering wheel 90 degrees, there are two screw that you will be able to feel behind the wheel. Give those a go.

Jeffs right, turn the wheel to 90 deg, then insert a screwdriver into each of the 2 holes you see behind the wheel. Repeat on other side.

Turn the car upside down and shake it... it should fall off...

Turn the car upside down and shake it... it should fall off...

Hes tried that...but to no avail.

Hmmm

There were two screws deep inside the trim surrounding the wheel, which when undone (2 vertically hidden ones too... :grumpy: ) made the trim fall off. But the wheel itself...? I'll look for those 2 screws on Monday... Anyone else got any ideas about this levering off the horn button on the steering wheel? WHile I was bending the rubbery trim I could see the bolt holding the wheel on inside - Looks like a flippin big spline drive bolt to me, but I got that base covered with mate's draper fittings.

I JUST WANT THE FRICKIN HORN BUTTON OUT THE WHEEL... (please)

releasing those 4 clips (they are not screws) should allow the airbag/horn module to be removed, then all you need do is disconnect the wiring to the airbag and undo the VERY tight big nut in the centre.

Out of interest, how safe is it removing the airbag unit? Or did it already go off, Jason?

Not gone off - but there's no power in the wreck at all (battery taken away) so it going off is not a factor - I have also disconnected all leads, just in case...

Manny - these 4 clips? Where are they? I couldn't see anything in the gap between the wheel and the button? All my prodding and poking went without joy... If there are some small clips in there, I'm gonna need precise pointers.. i.e are they sat between the two pairs of spokes, when the wheel is level?

:confused:

When big K took the steering wheel off my car to fit cruise control, he removed the horn/airbag module by popping two clips with a screwdriver through two holes in the back of the wheel. I asked about the battery - but apparently if you know what you're doing, it's safe enough without disconnecting it.

EDIT: I didn't get a proper look, but I think the clips work in the same way as the "butterfly" on the back of an earring (but larger, of course). The airbag module has two pins, with a groove near the "sharp" end. The wheel has spring-loaded clips which engage in the grooves to hold the module in place; these can be retracted by pushing (in the right direction) with a screwdriver.

Jason,

I don't think the airbag needs battery power to deploy if handled incorrectly. Surely it works on an "explosive" charge?

The battery only comes into play to operate the appropriate sensor in the event of a crash.

Jason' date='

I don't think the airbag needs battery power to deploy if handled incorrectly. Surely it works on an "explosive" charge?

The battery only comes into play to operate the appropriate sensor in the event of a crash.[/quote']

Yes, the airbag is deployed by an explosive charge. However, the charge can only be set off by an electric detonator, so no electrics = no airbag (unless there's a thunderstorm in the vicinity....)

It's still not something I would touch, battery or not

I'm fearless though Geoff... When you've cheated death on the A roads of Wales getting a steering wheel off means nowt. Anyway, I've had some serious assistance from another source.

Jason, there's a fine line between fearless and foolhardy :P

Jason, there's a fine line between fearless and foolhardy :P

And I'm more the latter. But seriously, I've been given some top notch pointers and I reckon I won't be having an exploding airbag in my face Monday.

Jason, just in case, can you get a mate to stand by with a video camera?

Jason, just in case, can you get a mate to stand by with a video camera?

Waits for comedy "burnt face and no eyebrows" mpeg to start circulating...

Case of "famous last words" there, J... Wear a crash helmet when you remove it, eh?