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How to Remove a Steering Wheel Airbag
The steering wheel is a crucial component, which guides and directs the person while driving the car. With so many automobile advancements, this wheel of the car has also been equipped with a safety feature called Airbag, to protect the driver.
However, after being used once it turns into a non-reusable commodity. Thus, making it necessary to remove a steering wheel airbag and get a new one installed quickly.
Purpose of Airbag in Steering Wheel
These Airbags like soft cushions in the steering wheel are actually a part of the car’s airbag control system, which activates and inflate along with other airbags in the vehicle during its collision. Thus, it protects the driver from any major injury. However, sometimes the removal of the airbag is essential even before it is used because of its malfunctioning and sudden activation. Otherwise, it can cause blindness while driving, and this can be even more dangerous.
Tools Required
In order to remove a Steering Wheel Airbag, it is better to consult a trained mechanic but in case, you are in the middle of nowhere, then always have these tools in handy.
- Torx Screwdriver Kit
- Multi-meter
- Needle Nose Pliers
Steps to Remove a Steering Wheel Airbag
1. Cut Out Battery Power
Firstly, check for the negatively charged cable with the use of the multimeter. Then, disconnect the cable from the battery and wait for at least 10 minutes in order to check that all the power in the circuit has been completely exhausted. Otherwise, the bag would be released suddenly.
2. Removal of Airbag Mounting Bolts
Now, after disconnecting the battery, switch on the ignition button to unlock the movement of the steering wheel for the access to its mounting bolts.
Next, locate the bolts at the back of the steering wheel by turning it 90o and then, 180o to loosen them. In most of the cases nowadays, the bolts remain inside the wheel only and don’t come out. After this, gently remove the outer assembly of the wheel without damaging the wiring harness connector attached to its backside.
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3. Disengage the Wires
Next, two wire sets can be seen of different colors, out of which horn is black in color and the other set belonging to the module is green and yellow in color.
Now, with the help of the screwdriver, carefully remove the horn pad connector. After this, the wiring connector is removed, which has two-colored devices on each of the connectors. At this stage, the grey colored device is pushed downward. Next, the orange device is pulled upward for the release of the safety clip.
When the primary clip is removed from the connector, it is now time to take out the connectors out with the help of a small pick.
Tip: While the connector is removed, make sure that it doesn’t corrode or get damaged easily.
4. Finally, Remove the Airbag
Now, remove a steering wheel airbag and don’t keep it near any electrical source or else, it may inflate the airbag accidentally.
Finally, now you can re-install the new airbag and reconnect the wires to start driving your car again. So next time whenever you face any such problem, these maintenance tips would surely help you in this regard.
