Zep
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As I have just received my new paddles and steering wheel, I thought I would do a short how to on changing them both out. There has been some discussion on whether you can change the paddles with the steering wheel in place, from my perspective, this is a bit tricky, removing the screws with a ball headed allen key is more than possible, however getting the upper screw back in with the position of the steering wheel gives a big risk of cross threading the screw, so I decided that discretion was the better part of valour and did the hard way.
To do this you will need:
2.5mm ball headed hex key
3mm ball head hex key
4mm hex key or ratchet
8mm socket
Pick tools
Trim tools
Carbon Steering Wheel - Optional - substitute for your preferred version.
Step 1 - Remove steering column shroud
Disconnect the battery by removing the negative clamp - this will save time later. Do not fully close the bottled or you will be hunting for the manual release.
Using the 4mm hex key remove the two allen screws in the indents toward the front of the lower shroud. Then loosen the steering wheel height adjuster, revealing the 8mm nut and remove this.
Moving to the top of the shroud pry the vinyl cover between the instruments and the should upwards at the corner, it will unclip and lift out of the way.
Separate the upper and lower parts of the shroud by releasing the clips holding this together. Start at the joint in front of the indicator stalks, pressing the lower shroud, you will feel the clip release then work back toward the dash.
This will then separate so you can drop the lower part down and forward to remove. The upper part lifts out. Note the locating pin at in the centre.
Step 2 - Remove Airbag and Disconnect Wheel
To remove the airbag, make sure the battery is disconnected and left off for 15 mins, this will stop any static discharge causing the bag to go off in your face.
There are two holes in the back of the steering wheel. Thought these you can use a tool to release the spring clips retaining the airbag. Insert the key to disable the steering lock and turn the wheel to align the first of the holes with the top of the steering column, slightly toward the centre of the car. Use a suitable length tool (I used a 3mm hex as it was the right length and the ball end would locate on the spring. This needs to go into the wheel angled slightly upward to find the spring. Then, with your finger on top of the tool, lever downward to release the spring. It might take some wiggling to find the right place, but don’t apply too much pressure as this might damage the bit of the wheel you can’t see.
Once one side releases, turn the wheel to align the other hole and repeat, your airbag will then be loose.
The airbag is connected by two plugs, one yellow and one green (they are colour coded so you won’t get them the wrong way round unless you are colour blind). They are secured by a clip in the centre which needs to be removed to allow them to unplug. Using a pick tool, lift the clip away from the plug until it releases. You can then unplug the airbag and put it somewhere safe.
If you are just doing the paddles, you don’t need to unplug anything else as it the other loom has enough slack to pull the wheel off the column slightly allowing you to get to the screws. If you are replacing the wheel, carry on and unplug the black plug from the white socket. To do this depress the tiny retaining clip with a pick tool and it pulls out.
To do this you will need:
2.5mm ball headed hex key
3mm ball head hex key
4mm hex key or ratchet
8mm socket
Pick tools
Trim tools
Carbon Steering Wheel - Optional - substitute for your preferred version.
Step 1 - Remove steering column shroud
Disconnect the battery by removing the negative clamp - this will save time later. Do not fully close the bottled or you will be hunting for the manual release.
Using the 4mm hex key remove the two allen screws in the indents toward the front of the lower shroud. Then loosen the steering wheel height adjuster, revealing the 8mm nut and remove this.
Moving to the top of the shroud pry the vinyl cover between the instruments and the should upwards at the corner, it will unclip and lift out of the way.
Separate the upper and lower parts of the shroud by releasing the clips holding this together. Start at the joint in front of the indicator stalks, pressing the lower shroud, you will feel the clip release then work back toward the dash.
This will then separate so you can drop the lower part down and forward to remove. The upper part lifts out. Note the locating pin at in the centre.
Step 2 - Remove Airbag and Disconnect Wheel
To remove the airbag, make sure the battery is disconnected and left off for 15 mins, this will stop any static discharge causing the bag to go off in your face.
There are two holes in the back of the steering wheel. Thought these you can use a tool to release the spring clips retaining the airbag. Insert the key to disable the steering lock and turn the wheel to align the first of the holes with the top of the steering column, slightly toward the centre of the car. Use a suitable length tool (I used a 3mm hex as it was the right length and the ball end would locate on the spring. This needs to go into the wheel angled slightly upward to find the spring. Then, with your finger on top of the tool, lever downward to release the spring. It might take some wiggling to find the right place, but don’t apply too much pressure as this might damage the bit of the wheel you can’t see.
Once one side releases, turn the wheel to align the other hole and repeat, your airbag will then be loose.
The airbag is connected by two plugs, one yellow and one green (they are colour coded so you won’t get them the wrong way round unless you are colour blind). They are secured by a clip in the centre which needs to be removed to allow them to unplug. Using a pick tool, lift the clip away from the plug until it releases. You can then unplug the airbag and put it somewhere safe.
If you are just doing the paddles, you don’t need to unplug anything else as it the other loom has enough slack to pull the wheel off the column slightly allowing you to get to the screws. If you are replacing the wheel, carry on and unplug the black plug from the white socket. To do this depress the tiny retaining clip with a pick tool and it pulls out.
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