Just installed a Gen.2 steering wheel into my Gen.1 997
Discussion
Hi,
As the title explains, I have just finished swapping over my steering wheels.
I've wanted to do this for a while now, and I actually bought the GT3 steering wheel about a year ago but never managed to get the correct airbag until today.
The wheel I have fitted is supposed to be a GT3 wheel although I just saw a standard looking wheel with alcantara which is what I was looking for. Really I wanted the yellow strip at 12 o'clock but couldn't find one with it.
Anyway it was pretty straight forward to do.
You will need a T-55 Spline socket (like a torx but with 12 teeth) to remove the bolt holding the wheel in place, this was actually a little tricky to find.
Removing old wheel
Step 1. Ensure wheels are pointing straight and disconnect battery and leave car for ten minutes
Step 2. Use an allen key or something like it to insert in the hole underneath the wheel to allow the airbag to pop out.
Step 3. Pull airbag out and disconnect wires on back.
Step 4. Disconnect wheel electrics from socket.
Step 5. Unscrew bolt to free wheel.
Step 6. Remove old wheel
Fitting new wheel
Step 1. Seat new wheel in place making sure it's lined up, tighten bolt firmly.
Step 2. Connect plug and connect airbag wires to new airbag.
Step 3. Insert new airbag and push until it clicks in place.
Step 4. Reconnect battery.
Step 5. Test horn as depending on the wheel you removed it might not work.
OK if you fit the new wheel to get the horn to work the car needs to be programmed as if it had a multi function wheel. Don't know why but that's what I read on another forum during my research.
The good news is if you (like me) already had a multi function wheel then no programming is needed, it's a straight swap. Also there was talk on another fourm that you needed a control unit from the old wheel, but this is not the case. I think that is only if the new wheel you fit is also a MF wheel (then you need the gen.2 control unit).
As the title explains, I have just finished swapping over my steering wheels.
I've wanted to do this for a while now, and I actually bought the GT3 steering wheel about a year ago but never managed to get the correct airbag until today.
The wheel I have fitted is supposed to be a GT3 wheel although I just saw a standard looking wheel with alcantara which is what I was looking for. Really I wanted the yellow strip at 12 o'clock but couldn't find one with it.
Anyway it was pretty straight forward to do.
You will need a T-55 Spline socket (like a torx but with 12 teeth) to remove the bolt holding the wheel in place, this was actually a little tricky to find.
Removing old wheel
Step 1. Ensure wheels are pointing straight and disconnect battery and leave car for ten minutes
Step 2. Use an allen key or something like it to insert in the hole underneath the wheel to allow the airbag to pop out.
Step 3. Pull airbag out and disconnect wires on back.
Step 4. Disconnect wheel electrics from socket.
Step 5. Unscrew bolt to free wheel.
Step 6. Remove old wheel
Fitting new wheel
Step 1. Seat new wheel in place making sure it's lined up, tighten bolt firmly.
Step 2. Connect plug and connect airbag wires to new airbag.
Step 3. Insert new airbag and push until it clicks in place.
Step 4. Reconnect battery.
Step 5. Test horn as depending on the wheel you removed it might not work.
OK if you fit the new wheel to get the horn to work the car needs to be programmed as if it had a multi function wheel. Don't know why but that's what I read on another forum during my research.
The good news is if you (like me) already had a multi function wheel then no programming is needed, it's a straight swap. Also there was talk on another fourm that you needed a control unit from the old wheel, but this is not the case. I think that is only if the new wheel you fit is also a MF wheel (then you need the gen.2 control unit).
Slickhillsy said:
Or you could have just sent off your wheel to have it covered and the yellow marker added...
Yeah I was thinking I could have the stripe added but not sure where to send it and how it would look. As I'm not even sure how it was added on the original wheel?I had a slight issue with this job, because the first time I reconnected the battery the airbag wasn't in place properly (horn didn't work) when I finally finished the airbag light was on. I had to get it reset. So off to Sports and Classic in Knutsford to have the light turned off, and now all is well.
As for cost, well I bought the wheel from Jasmine Porsche used about £250 if memory serves (I bought it a year ago). I bought the airbag last week on ebay although it stated it was 'new' and I paid £515 including postage. From Porsche the airbag is £900 in VAT!!!!
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