STEERING WHEEL (NEW)

[Bongo Boozer]

Good Evening Guys,
I think Santa is bringing me a New Steering Wheel for being a good boy this year.
Any tips on how to remove old one (with airbag) and replace with the New.
I am told the Boss is included with the new wheel.

Cheers

[MountainGoat]

Using the search facility using Steering Wheel AND removal I came up with the following.

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... val#p49112

[francophile1947]

Bearing in mind that garages have to have a steel box to store airbags in, I wouldn't touch it.
Airbags are fired by explosives, not compressed air - get a garage to do it for you. It's not worth the risk if you're not 100% sure what you're doing.

[John the sparky]

I wouldn't worry too much about removing the airbag (remove the battery earth, and wander off for half an hour, then unscrew and disconnect) then store it somewhere safe, where it can't cause any damage!

I'd worry more about the fault code that may come up on the airbag diagnostics, and put the light on....

not too sure about mazdas, but on VAGCOM you'd need to disable the airbag control if you were disconnecting the airbag, as the first time you turn the ignition on again the airbag light comes on, (then it'll fail an MOT I believe(?))

you'd want to check that out before going ahead

[cheffy34]

Couldn't you take the bulb out of the warning light cheats way i know but when the needs must

[scanner]

Couldn't you take the bulb out of the warning light cheats way i know but when the needs must

In the MOT the tester should check the light comes on and then goes out, (as with ABS lights), if they are doing the job properly.

So just taking the bulb out might not work.

[carlioll]

Why would the MOT tester want to check an airbag light if you have dont have an airbag? However, to remove something like an airbag from your vehicle just for a prettier steering wheel seems very immature to me and boardering on the insane !!!!! These things have been proved to save lives and serious injury so "dont do it" .

[nfn]

According to Folksam -- a Swedish insurance company that does extensive car crash analysis -- wearing a seat belt vs. not wearing one reduces the risk of injury by 55%. With an airbag as well as a seatbelt the risk is reduced by a further 5 to 15%. My take on these data would be that it's worthwhile to keep the airbag, but if that fancy steering wheel gives you a lot of pleasure, then it's probably not insanity to get rid of the airbag to get the fancy steering wheel. However, a lot of fancy steering wheels are made of wood -- which probably is not a great thing safetywise.

I started looking at Folksam reports a few years ago, when my parked Skoda Felicia was hit up the rear by a drunk driver at about 35mph or so. The back of the Skoda folded up like an accordion, and if there had been anyone in the back seat, it would not have been a good outcome. The Folksam report, which uses data on 117,000 two-car accidents, rates the Skoda Felicia as unsafe. It's a shame there's no data for the bongo.

[nfn]

Here's a link to the 2007 Folksam car safety report:
http://www.folksam.se/dpublic/a0346.nsf ... /R6546.pdf

[Bongo Boozer]

blimy
I think i'll get onto santa and ask for socks instead it sounds a lot safer.
I will keep the worn wheel as is.



Cheers
steve

[MountainGoat]

There is a Bongo Steering Wheel with an Airbag in Good condion on ebay at the moment for a buy it now price of £25.00. Do you have to mess about with the air bag too much if you just swap the steering wheels over.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAZDA-BONGO-FORD- ... 240%3A1318

[mister munkey]

I read on here somewhere that the airbags only have a ten year lifespan & should then be binned, not heard any advice on what to replace it with though.

[dandywarhol]

You're right there MM - there's a lot of cheap ten y.o. luxury cars with multiple airbags at the auctions thesae days.............

[francophile1947]

There is a Bongo Steering Wheel with an Airbag in Good condion on ebay at the moment for a buy it now price of £25.00. Do you have to mess about with the air bag too much if you just swap the steering wheels over.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAZDA-BONGO-FORD- ... 240%3A1318

Hmmm - I wonder if Parcelforce is aware that they'll be carrying explosives.

[ScubaBongo]

There is a Bongo Steering Wheel with an Airbag in Good condion on ebay at the moment for a buy it now price of £25.00. Do you have to mess about with the air bag too much if you just swap the steering wheels over.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAZDA-BONGO-FORD- ... 240%3A1318

My 1996 Bongo came with a wood & metal steering wheel fitted (with some sort of Japanese Boy Racer branding on it).

I hate the bl00dy thing, it has no grip to it, and if I hit it with my head in a crash, I have my suspicions as to which of the two would survive the impact.

Would my 96 Bongo have had a steering wheel airbag at manufacture? if so, is anyone able to advise on whether this would fit, and whether the Airbag could be reconnected? (by a pro if need be).

My guess is 'NO' on both counts!