Steering wheel change, ok for a novice?
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 7:43 pm
My first post. I'm now the happy owner of a 2003 1.4 Sport 100 bhp. For the most part the vehicle is clean and tidy, however, the steering wheel is quite tatty.
The leather cover is quite worn, however I reckon it can be treated with something to bring a bit of the softness and colour back.
However, the spokes have lost most of their soft touch coating, it looks really tatty. Also, I spied a 9n interior belonging to a workmate and he has a blue VW logo on his airbag, which looks great! I really fancy one of those.
While I am fairly handy with DIY and tools (I'm a fairly good bicycle mechanic), I have zero experience with cars. As such, replacing the steering wheel scares me! I'd hate to end up rendering the car un-driveable due to my lack of experience and potentially poor judgement!
So - would changing the steering wheel be an easy enough job for me? What about the risk of setting off the airbag? I think I read somewhere that the car cuts all power to it when the key isn't inserted, is that true? As I wouldn't be particularly keen on disconnecting the battery either, for fear of creating problems with car's computer. Are there any other things I should be thinking about?
Also, does anyone know whether the central part, along with the spokes, can be separated from the actual wheel? As I've spotted a one for sale with soft touch plastic intact and a blue logo airbag, but I'd like to keep the leather wheel cover (standard on the Sport) that my wheel has. Behind the spokes it looks like there is a panel that might be removable somehow to get access to whatever fixes the wheel to it, has anyone else seen this?
It'd be nice to sort this out, especially being the only part of the car that my hands are always touching!
Cheers
Steve
The leather cover is quite worn, however I reckon it can be treated with something to bring a bit of the softness and colour back.
However, the spokes have lost most of their soft touch coating, it looks really tatty. Also, I spied a 9n interior belonging to a workmate and he has a blue VW logo on his airbag, which looks great! I really fancy one of those.
While I am fairly handy with DIY and tools (I'm a fairly good bicycle mechanic), I have zero experience with cars. As such, replacing the steering wheel scares me! I'd hate to end up rendering the car un-driveable due to my lack of experience and potentially poor judgement!
So - would changing the steering wheel be an easy enough job for me? What about the risk of setting off the airbag? I think I read somewhere that the car cuts all power to it when the key isn't inserted, is that true? As I wouldn't be particularly keen on disconnecting the battery either, for fear of creating problems with car's computer. Are there any other things I should be thinking about?
Also, does anyone know whether the central part, along with the spokes, can be separated from the actual wheel? As I've spotted a one for sale with soft touch plastic intact and a blue logo airbag, but I'd like to keep the leather wheel cover (standard on the Sport) that my wheel has. Behind the spokes it looks like there is a panel that might be removable somehow to get access to whatever fixes the wheel to it, has anyone else seen this?
It'd be nice to sort this out, especially being the only part of the car that my hands are always touching!
Cheers
Steve