Replacing Freda steering wheel

Bica · Post by **Bica** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 11:37 am

Hi
Picked up our first Bongo (Freda) recently. Very pleased with it

The steering wheel (15") is a bit crusty and I was thinking of replacing it with a 14" one from a Puma. Both have air bags. Is it an easy job to do? and will the airbags present a problem.

Sorry no avitar yet looking for suitable one.

David Edwards · Post by **David Edwards** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:14 pm

Well bearing in mind that the air bag is itself an explosive device I would say it most definitely presents a problem in as much as if it is not done properly..boom..and a very expensive mistake to correct too. I have no doubt someone on here has either done it or had it done but it is not an amateur thing to do, I certainly would not try it. If you bought you bongo from a dealer why not ask them if they do the servicing etc before sales or if not who they use. Also if you put your location on here some one may suggest someone near to you. Good luck and welcome.

John the sparky · Post by **John the sparky** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 4:24 pm

it is fairly easy, but a bit of a pain.....

disconnect the battery and leave for 10 mins to half an hour, for everything related to the airbag controller to discharge,

then disconnect the airbag, which is normally a couple or three screws behind the steering wheel, then remove the wheel (by undoing the big nut!)

remove the wheel and compare the airbag connections (don't know on the bongo/freda but on seat's and vag cars there is a yellow connector) and also the lead that is wound up for the connections, (the bit that stops the cables breaking when you turn the wheel, probably a flexible circuit board type thing)

if the connectors are the same, bingo, rebuild then reconnect battery.

if not replace with the old wheel..... grrrr

on vag cars the connectors seem to change every couple of years, and if you haven't already got the wheel it will be an expensive way to find out... probably better to take yours off and find out the connections first and then wander round a scrappys!

so the short answer is probably NO, swap with type for type!

John

Bica · Post by **Bica** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 9:41 am

Thanks for the replys - Project put on back burner for a bit

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 10:17 am

John the sparky wrote: then remove the wheel (by undoing the big nut!)

Good advice john, especially the bit about waiting after the battery has been disconnected, this is often overlooked when tasks like this are carried out, with dire consequenses!

If you do decide to take the job on Bica, then please remember to just undoe the big nut holding on the steering wheel, don't remove it from its thread till the wheel has been dislodged!

(i discovered this the hard way,after whacking the wheel upwards and breaking my nose!

)