Steering wheel replacement!! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

99CamV6 · 04-30-2005, 12:32 AM

Is it possible to replace the Camry steering wheel with other models? Like Matrix?

jhale1 · 04-30-2005, 01:45 AM

Yep....But I haven't done it yet myself...Don't know if its a direct swap....

pk_kk · 04-30-2005, 01:56 AM

how about a momo one? i have a wheel sitting at home.

98CamryLE · 04-30-2005, 11:28 AM

If it takes the airbag out, it's most likely illegal (momo). If you replace it with a wheel from a Matrix, the airbag may not deploy correctly.

Don't play with fire, dude.

If you get into a serious accident where the airbags did deploy, and you had injuries that would normally be covered under your auto insurance, they may not cover you because you altered the safety system of the automobile they insured, therefore they aren't liable to cover your injuries.

Welcome to the world of automobiles that can't be customized, at least legally.

whocares04 · 04-30-2005, 12:04 PM

^^^and if u drive on the streets and get pulled over the cop could be a dick and give u an expensive ticket for not having proper safety equipment; not to mention, if the ticket gets back to ur insurance, they could be dicks about it and either drop u or raise ur rates...

i have a gen 3, and i know the celica (00-up) steering wheels fit but i will possibly loose the cruise control and unfortunately there is really no way to test if the airbag will deploy even if u connected all the wire right unless u wanted to set off the airbags. U might be to take it to a dealer and ask if there's a way to test and if they can do it but?

skewe · 04-30-2005, 12:30 PM

The steering from RAv4, which might be the same as Matrix's sure looks nice but as mentioned by 98CamryLE, you are playing with fire.

If the dealer can do it, you will know that it should work.. and should be covered under insurance

95WhiteCamry · 04-30-2005, 12:37 PM

Yea... like said before me, it is dangerous for safety reasons and because of cops and such... however, you might try getting a gen 5 camry steering wheel. they look really nice, easpecially from the SE model. granted they're both camrys, things may not be as bad as if you were to put in a matrix wheel. however, do ask a mechanic or a dealership before doing anything.

***Eye8Pussies*** · 04-30-2005, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whocares04

^^^and if u drive on the streets and get pulled over the cop could be a dick and give u an expensive ticket for not having proper safety equipment; not to mention, if the ticket gets back to ur insurance, they could be dicks about it and either drop u or raise ur rates...

i have a gen 3, and i know the celica (00-up) steering wheels fit but i will possibly loose the cruise control and unfortunately there is really no way to test if the airbag will deploy even if u connected all the wire right unless u wanted to set off the airbags. U might be to take it to a dealer and ask if there's a way to test and if they can do it but?

the airbags are self-diagnostic....so if you wire it up, and the airbag light doesn't go on, then that means it will deploy

Luc · 04-30-2005, 09:26 PM

I actually have a Gen5 SE steering wheel w/cruise control and airbag module, and had planned on swapping them into my Gen4 about 2 years ago. But the airbag connector is COMPLETELY different, and will NOT be a plug-n-play. The best way to really make it work is to get the Gen5 "snake" with the proper connectors. If I knew who actually make the connectors, I can request engineering samples such that I can try it.

98CamryLE · 04-30-2005, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eye8Pussies

the airbags are self-diagnostic....so if you wire it up, and the airbag light doesn't go on, then that means it will deploy

The key word you are missing is correctly. Who cares if they deploy? if it doesn't deploy correctly, then it's worse than not deploying at all. I'm not an engineer, but it would make sense to me that airbags in different cars may use the same mechanicals to deploy, but the way they deploy might be very different. It may be an extreme example, but think of if you put an airbag for a Land Cruiser into an Echo. It's a much smaller car, so the airbag is probably smaller because the driver sits closer to the steering wheel. It probably also deploys at a different angle because you sit higher in a Land Cruiser than in an Echo.

Playing with fire..... keep in mind the insurance thing.... an insurance company will look for any reason... ANY reason at all to avoid writing you a check. And changing safety equipment sure sounds like a really good reason to avoid paying... one that would sure hold up in court.

98CamryLE · 04-30-2005, 10:12 PM

sorry, I know I'm not much fun, but I'm trying to help you avoid a costly accident/ticket in the future.

camlex · 04-30-2005, 10:24 PM

this is not funny but trade what you have and get the car which one have steering wheel you like.

Safety should be always no.1 priority.

whocares04 · 04-30-2005, 11:33 PM

^^^thats not funny...b/c it doesnt make sense and is irrational...

i kinda confused about what eye8 said -- since they're self-diagnostic, if u connect the wires incorrectly i'm assuming the only thing that'll happen would be the airbag light coming on right, like, they're not just gonna deploy...