Steering wheels

[Dacca]

My V3 wrx wagon is fitted with a hideous air bag steering wheel,i think its a N/A 1.

When i asked the previous owner he said it had something to do with the clockspring setup.

I have no clue as to what hes talking about!

If anyone knows what these are all about & the differences between models,please let me know!

[DRFVDR]

the clock spring is a device in behind an airbagged steering wheel that transmits the power to the devices on the steering wheel (airbag,horn,volume buttons ETC ) it looks like a ribbon spring like what is found in a clock/tapemeasure hence the term clock spring

If the car has airbags then ONLY an airbag steering wheel can be fitted,unless it is for track use, i am not sure if it can be certed to get rid of one

[Timmah]

 DRFVDR said:

If the car has airbags then ONLY an airbag steering wheel can be fitted,unless it is for track use, i am not sure if it can be certed to get rid of one

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't that come into affect after 97?? So if he wants to change it, I think he will be okay? My v3 has the Nardi steering wheel with no Air bag.

[Dacca]

I dont mind having an airabg wheel but mine is UGLY.

Been told that import & NZ new have clockspring in different positions & thats the issue

[Guest]

Firstly - does your dash show an SRS / airbag light when you turn the key to accessory? If it's been fitted with a N/A airbag steering wheel and other V3's don't have airbag's - previous owner could have taxed the non airbag item and swapped with an airbag one?

If a car came with an airbag steering wheel and you remove the airbag steering wheel without 'tricking' the SRS sensor (unsure of how to do this) then the SRS / Airbag light will stay solid, which will automatically fail you a warrant..

A few solutions here -

> Find a steering wheel from a SAME YEAR Legacy / Imprezza (make sure it has the same 'airbag config' IE. driver has airbag, passenger doesn't etc. as a different 'airbag config' will give you a different 'clock spring' which will mean that the airbag won't work properly or will leave the SRS light on the dash) and replace it - safest bet, not reducing the 'safety aspect' of your car

> Put in a non airbag item and remove the SRS bulb from behind the dash (WOF people won't know, as certain V3's didn't have airbags - couldn't get away with this in a V8 now could ya!)

If you're in Auckland, I know a guy who is the master of steering wheels and has plenty floating around.. PM me for more info if needed.

[Dacca]

Hey thanks for the info,No SRS lite or airbag lite on dash coming up.

I work with previous owner & know most of this car history so certain he hasnt swapped,he in fact commented that he wanted to swap it ove when he owned it.

He also mentioned that he had talked to Ici ban about clock spring location etc

[Guest]

No SRS Light = no airbag deploy if you stack it at the front.

Plenty of Momo's (don't have to get one with and airbag) around for cheap - should slot straight on to the existing boss kit too.

[Dacca]

After looking at every V3 on trademe & asking CS members,im convinced that V3s come standard witha NARDI non airbag wheel. Now convinced that someone has removed that & plonked this hideybeast one on.

[Guest]

Was my first thoughts..

[Dacca]

Contacted Subaru agents in Lower Hutt,my car is a single airbag car apparently! 1st one ive come across that V3. Still no light on dash so have to look into a bit more

[subieboy]

 Dacca said:

Contacted Subaru agents in Lower Hutt,my car is a single airbag car apparently! 1st one ive come across that V3. Still no light on dash so have to look into a bit more

Bet the bulb is blown, Have a close look for one from various angles...

[Dacca]

Ive recently replaced the original unit with a sti one so chances of blown bulb in both?

[subieboy]

 Dacca said:

Ive recently replaced the original unit with a sti one so chances of blown bulb in both?

That might explain it as well.

If you changed the original WRX unit with unit from another model (STI in this case), there may not be an icon to be lit by a lamp in the replacement unit.

OR

it may not have been an option on the STI...

[94 Leone]

 gmeago said:

Firstly - does your dash show an SRS / airbag light when you turn the key to accessory? If it's been fitted with a N/A airbag steering wheel and other V3's don't have airbag's - previous owner could have taxed the non airbag item and swapped with an airbag one?

If a car came with an airbag steering wheel and you remove the airbag steering wheel without 'tricking' the SRS sensor (unsure of how to do this) then the SRS / Airbag light will stay solid, which will automatically fail you a warrant..

A few solutions here -

> Find a steering wheel from a SAME YEAR Legacy / Imprezza (make sure it has the same 'airbag config' IE. driver has airbag, passenger doesn't etc. as a different 'airbag config' will give you a different 'clock spring' which will mean that the airbag won't work properly or will leave the SRS light on the dash) and replace it - safest bet, not reducing the 'safety aspect' of your car

> Put in a non airbag item and remove the SRS bulb from behind the dash (WOF people won't know, as certain V3's didn't have airbags - couldn't get away with this in a V8 now could ya!)

If you're in Auckland, I know a guy who is the master of steering wheels and has plenty floating around.. PM me for more info if needed.

Or he could always just put on the airbag steering wheel for a warrant...

[DRFVDR]

 94 Leone']

[quote name='gmeago said:

Firstly - does your dash show an SRS / airbag light when you turn the key to accessory? If it's been fitted with a N/A airbag steering wheel and other V3's don't have airbag's - previous owner could have taxed the non airbag item and swapped with an airbag one?

If a car came with an airbag steering wheel and you remove the airbag steering wheel without 'tricking' the SRS sensor (unsure of how to do this) then the SRS / Airbag light will stay solid, which will automatically fail you a warrant..

A few solutions here -

> Find a steering wheel from a SAME YEAR Legacy / Imprezza (make sure it has the same 'airbag config' IE. driver has airbag, passenger doesn't etc. as a different 'airbag config' will give you a different 'clock spring' which will mean that the airbag won't work properly or will leave the SRS light on the dash) and replace it - safest bet, not reducing the 'safety aspect' of your car

> Put in a non airbag item and remove the SRS bulb from behind the dash (WOF people won't know, as certain V3's didn't have airbags - couldn't get away with this in a V8 now could ya!)

If you're in Auckland, I know a guy who is the master of steering wheels and has plenty floating around.. PM me for more info if needed.

/quote]

Or he could always just put on the airbag steering wheel for a warrant...

Still does not make it LEGAL as the rules state that a VEHICLE must be up to WOF/COF standard AT ALL TIMES

[Guest]

PS. Legacy steering wheels DO NOT work as a swap from an Impreza, as the airbag size is different and won't fit into the Impreza 'outter' wheel.