Gen2 Steering Wheeler Swap

[LOUDSHO92]

Gen2 Steering Wheel Swap

Gen2 Steering Wheel Swap by LOUDSHO92

Tools:
8mm, 10mm and 15mm socket
Flat Head Screwdriver
Wire Cutters, Solder Iron and Crimps

Parts:
Steering Wheel from 93-95 SHO and air bag wire harness, ATX or MTX
Solder
Shrink Wrap

The only difference between the Gen 1 and Gen 2 steering wheel electronically is the hook up for the air bag. The wires are the same, just the connectors are different. I swapped the harness on the car side, this was to prevent anything from happening.
Gen1

Gen2

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable!! This is very important. Exercise extreme caution when working on the air bag. Personal injury may result if you accidently deploy an air bag. The airbag system is live all of the time - it is not switched on and off by the key. There are also backup power supplies. The 1989 - 91 system will discharge in about 20 minutes after the battery is disconnected. The service manual says that it must be disconnected to safely work on the vehicle. The 1992+ system will discharge in about one minute after disconnecting the battery. Never attach a self-powered test light to any part of an airbag system.
2. Remove the 4 nut on the back of the strering wheel using the 10mm socket.

3. Remove the air bag and disconnect the wire harnesses.
4. Remove the center bolt using the 15mm socket and remove steering wheel. It should pull off with some wiggling. May require a steering wheel puller in extreem cases.
5. Cut the wire harness on the car side. Strips the wires for the wires and the wire harnness from the Gen 2 car. Attach the wires. Match the grey/red (may look orange) stripped wires and attach. Make sure to put on the shrink wrap before hand.

6. Solder the wires and then pull the shrink wrap over the wires. Heat the shink wrap.

7. Install steering wheel. Install center bolt using 15mm socket. Connect wire harnesses.

8. Install the air bag and the bolts to retain it. Use 8mm socket to install. Put on bolt covers.

9. Enjoy your new steering wheel!

 

[Calypso]

Nice . The gen. 2 looks much better than the gen. 1.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Nice write up.

But you need to learn how to solder Matt

BTW, I still think the '89 steering wheel rocks

 

[SableSal]

But you need to learn how to solder Matt

Seriously...

 

[K-Dawg]

Shoulda swapped to a black steering wheel instead. Then change everything else to black too.

 

[92sho16]

Might want to add just to err on the side of caution that when disconnecting the battery you should leave the car disconnected for ten minutes time before working on the air bag, the system has capacitors that will keep a charge.

 

[Howdy_Doody]

Great, now all you Gen1 guys are going to use up the supply of nice Gen2 wheels...
:fight:

 

[LOUDSHO92]

Yeah or you could discharge the system by turning on the headlights and pumping the brakes too.

I really can solder better I just dont like those type of connections.

 

[Yamaha V6]

>>If you plan to work on your airbag system, exercise extreme caution. Personal injury may result if you accidently deploy an air bag. The airbag system is live all of the time - it is not switched on and off by the key. There are also backup power supplies. The 1989 - 91 system will discharge in about 20 minutes after the battery is disconnected. The service manual says that it must be disconnected to safely work on the vehicle. The 1992+ system will discharge in about one minute after disconnecting the battery.

Never attach a self-powered test light to any part of an airbag system. If you want to work on the system, acquire and review a manual that covers servicing of the system. Examples are the Air Bag System Diagnosis training manual from Ford, as well as the shop manuals from Helm.
<<

EDIT:
Yes, I know, the '89 didn't have bags. It was a cut & paste from the 'net.

 

[LOUDSHO92]

Fixed.

 

[Shuey]

Nice write up. Make this a sticky.