Skwerl

Excellence's article on gauge faces only concerns non-airbag models, so how do you disable the airbag to remove the steering wheel safely? I've read somewhere about disconnecting the negative battery lead, but is that all?

TimC

http://autostream.com/airbagdisconnect.html

is all I've been able to find on this. A touchy subject. Actually, I posted this to the forum a week or so ago, but I forgot to check back for responses.

T

Skwerl

Oops, I should've said I didn't want to permanently disconnect it. I want to white-face my gauges and need to remove the steering wheel, but I don't want it blowing up on me or anything. Then, I'd reinstall the stock wheel and the airbag should be ready to go again. That's what I meant.

Dave

I've gotten my gauge cluster out without removing the steering wheel. It's a tight squeeze but it does fit.

Skwerl

By "tight squeeze" do you mean "pain in the rear"?

Dave

Depends, compared to steering wheel removal, it ain't that bad. Really its a matter of back and forth while twisting, 2 minutes tops.

MadMax

Skwerl,
If you want to remove your steering wheel to get the gage cluster out easily. Just disconnect your battery and wait at least 20 minutes. That gives the airbag's firing capacitor time to discharge. Check out Tom Pultz's website: www.944S2.com

He has a well detailed section about steering wheel removal and various methods of disabling the airbags.

Regards,
Max

Michael Stephenson

When Tom Pultz stated tha the Torx T30 screws may be tight, he was not kidding. I snaped one of my T30 tools that had a hollow center - the one that was solid did the trick.

Also, I have heard that if you turn on the ignition without the airbag connected, you will trip a warning light that has to be reset. Checkout 13.7 at 944 FAQ for the reset procedure

Good luck