18 replies to this topic

[Ouija Board]

I am researching info, on removing the steering wheel and airbag with a view to having a bespoke spacer machined to facilitate fittment of an after market steering wheel. I know this has been discussed many times before... (I searched!! ). Anyway this is something that would be useful to a lot of members who wanted to change the wheel for cosmetic reasons, or wanted to remove the airbag for track days etc. What I am hoping to do is machine a spacer that fits on the OEM steering wheel mounting points, WITHOUT removing the wheel from the splined shaft. In essence all that would need to be done is after removing the airbag, you would unbolt the wheel from the 6 or so bolts that hold it to the spline mounting plate, leaving the spline adaptor in place. Bolt the new wheel, and spacer onto the OEM mounting holes and.. hey presto. However..... the fly in the ointment is the air bag warning light. It should be possible to plug in a resistor into the airbag connector to make the sensor cuircuit think the bag is still in place. if done with the ignition off then no light should illuminate. I have read through all of the "Checking proceedure" in the TIS and AFAI can ascertain the airbag cuircit should have an impedance of "2.5 to 4.8 ohms", (Page 18 of 50 refers), when checked with the Tech 2 and a DVM. (Digital Volt meter). In short I would like to know: 1. Does anyone know if this is the correct value and/or done this with sucess? 2. If the light does come on, can it be extinguished by re-plugging in the airbag, or resetting with the tech 2? Have just spoken to Ian at TMS who has very kindly gone to ask the Techs' and will ring back and let me know either way, but your help would be appreciated. Obviously don't want to remove the air bag to try messing about with various resistors, if I can't turn the bloody light off. Hopefully you can help, then I can make some progress into machining a spacer, and maybe mocking up a kit, complete with the right resistor and connector, which I feel would be of use to quite a few people, especially the "track addicts". I feel I've had a long enough rest after helping to design the "Revotec Heater Mod", so fancy another cahllenge. Doh. I am aware of the "perceived" insurance issues etc, but it is up to the individual to do as they see fit regards informing or not informing as appropriate, (road cars only) (I know all my mods are documented with no hassle) Cheers Rob

Edited by Ouija Board, 18 March 2008 - 03:58 PM.

[Ouija Board]

Ok, as i have no replies i'll take it no one has managed this. . I'll get back to Ian at TMS and see if he knows the resistor value. if not I'll remove the airbag and try a few myself. Hopefully then I can machine up a spacer and get my new momo wheel fitted. I just know it's gonna be a pain in the arse.

[snoopstah]

Surely finding the resistance value is easy -- simply remove the airbag and attach an ohmmeter across the contacts. Regarding warning lights, I can't speak specifically for the VX220, but with most cars, any failure of the airbag system will cause the light to illuminate until reset by the diagnostic tools (Tech2) -- if the system has detected a fault, simply fixing the fault (i.e. plugging the airbag back in) will not reset the fault/re-enable the airbag system.

Edited by snoopstah, 20 March 2008 - 10:14 AM.

[slindborg]

seeing as the airbag is calibrated for a 1.6 ton car, its of no fcuking use in a vx220 anyway! get rid and take the airbag light out of the dash lol

[Ouija Board]

Surely finding the resistance value is easy -- simply remove the airbag and attach an ohmmeter across the contacts.

Regarding warning lights, I can't speak specifically for the VX220, but with most cars, any failure of the airbag system will cause the light to illuminate until reset by the diagnostic tools (Tech2) -- if the system has detected a fault, simply fixing the fault (i.e. plugging the airbag back in) will not reset the fault/re-enable the airbag system.

Unfortunatley you shouldn't do that, (otherwise I would), but there is a risk of the bag deploying if you put a DVM across it. (don't want to chance it really).

Slindborg, yeah had thought of removing everything, but decided not to incase I ever want to sell the car.(Can't think why I'd do that though LOL)

Rob

[snoopstah]

Unfortunatley you shouldn't do that, (otherwise I would), but there is a risk of the bag deploying if you put a DVM across it. (don't want to chance it really).

Use a real ohmmeter then, not one of those plastic pieces of tat

Personally I suspect that the airbag control unit will measure the resistance of an airbag in exactly the same way as a DVM would anyway, but I can understand you not wanting to try it out

Having said all that though, I doubt the control unit is particularly fussy about what resistance it sees - it'll be looking for no resistance, or a really high resistance. I imagine any value you use within the specified range will be fine. Make sure it's got a decent current rating though - I'd probably try a 1/2 watt resistor, although if the airbag 'fires' it may burn that out.

Edited by snoopstah, 20 March 2008 - 12:01 PM.

[kek700]

I have done the above, and for a quick reply.. remove airbag wire, (may have cut it) from the instrument panel connector. i think s/c light's the abs light. ( i do not have my cct diagrams avalible ) (you should be able to o/c the wire at the steering wheel, (i removed the instrument pod)) disconnect battery, then remove all of the airbag bits from the steering wheel. (not so easy) get the boss kit from TMS, i fitted a quick release boss from rally design (wish i had fitted the much more expensive race tech type). made a circular plate and TIG welded the quick release shaft on to it. drilled it to fit TMS boss adaptor. Remove the steering wheel and replaced with the bits made and bought. I have probably not answered your question properly or miss read it knowing me, but thats what I have done and every things has worked ok for the last 2 years. 0

[rs64]

i've just changed my steering wheel. scrapped all the crap vaux stuff down to bare splined column (watch out for the spring under the boss its very strong and would hurt if you copped it in the face) fit a 2.7 ohm resistor (33p from maplin) across the airbag terminals in the plug. dont bother fabricating or bodging a boss just get one for a corsa B with a 50mm sparco wheel spacer, fit your wheel of choice its that easy. ps dont forget to disconnect the battery before you start.

[vocky]

would it not be easier to just unplug the airbag ecu when using a non airbag steering wheel and reconnect it when the airbag steering wheel gets refitted

[Arno]

would it not be easier to just unplug the airbag ecu when using a non airbag steering wheel and reconnect it when the airbag steering wheel gets refitted

SRS/aribag computer also controls the seatbelt pre-tensioners, so if you keep the 3-point belts and want the tensioners active then you need to keep the computer operating without errors.

Bye, Arno.

[slindborg]

but the SRS module isnt calibrated for the vx.... you'd have to be in a crash soooo bad to activate the stuff that you'd be dead anyway. I appreciate the possible insurance problems, but at the same time the insurers probably dont realise the SRS stuff on the VX is about as much use as a bacon sandwich at a bar-mitzvah (spelling)

[vocky]

The srs ecu looks identical to the vectra ecu If you remove the airbag then the pretensioners won't help much in a severe frontal accident, so I would fit harnesses at the same time as removing the airbag

[slindborg]

The srs ecu looks identical to the vectra ecu

If you remove the airbag then the pretensioners won't help much in a severe frontal accident, so I would fit harnesses at the same time as removing the airbag

came out of the omega if my source is correct.... well technically it came from the corsa for the VX but the corsas SRS kit came from the omega and wasnt recalibrated then either lol

[Ouija Board]

Thanks all for the replies!!!! Having seen some horrendous crashes on here which have mangled the VX, without the air abg going off, I agree with slindborg, it's probably not much cop. However, as i don't want to remove the Airbag ECU for my original raesons (resale.. oh and can't br arsed to remove the dash at the mo LOL). I'll plug in the 2.7 Ohm resistor as RS64 advises. On another note, I didn't know it was a Corsa B spline, so I'll do as you suggest mate. Very Many thanks. I'll let you know how I get on!! Cheers Rob

[rs64]

 steering_wheel_001.jpg   370.88KB   4 downloads heres a pic of mine. wheel is a sparco 300sn, its a bit smaller than the original but i prefer it.

[cheeky_chops]

good find on the corsa B adapter Any idea what the weight saving between OEM VX wheel/airbag and your replacement? what about the horn? And where did you get the boss/spacer?

Edited by cheeky_chops, 27 March 2008 - 09:17 AM.

[Ouija Board]

Cheers Mate Edit ( Beat me to it cheeky chops was going to ask the same). Having looked in the Demon Tweeks book, I take it the Boss is a momo item ???

Edited by Ouija Board, 27 March 2008 - 09:37 AM.

[rs64]

the boss is a momo item, the spacer is sparco, both from demon tweeks. i've no idea on the weight saving. i havn't wired my horn thru yet but the horn connections are in the same plug as the air bag wires (you can see when you remove the big green round thing) i havn't made my mind up whether to run 2 wires up thru the boss to use the horn push supplied with the boss but they will have to spiralled to allow for the wheel turning. i am considering putting a small push button in the column surround next to the trip meter reset button. hope this helps and i will post whatever i decide on the horn.

[Stefan_A]

Done the same mods on mine, replaced the airbag with a 2.7 ohm resistor to keep the light out. Got a complete kit from Elise-Shop in Holland, including snap-off adapter and a 30 mm hub and a MOMO steering wheel. >LINK<. The holes line up nicely, only had to source 4 bolts for the hub (to the steering column). Connected the wires to the horn to the button in the steering wheel as well.


Without the wheel, easy to enter with the roof on


With the wheel in place