Airbag fix with a no-bag steering wheel

[bcp477]

For those interested in using a non- airbag equipped steering wheel, yet who want to re-enable the airbag system (so at least the passenger airbag will work and the dash light will not stay on)....I found a solution.

I gave up on finding some sort of smaller diameter wheel for my Corolla (the huge standard wheel interferes with my knees) - but which does have an airbag. I spent a good deal of time trying to find a 2002 - 2006? Corolla wheel, (perfect for my needs and good-looking, too)....for a reasonable price. The key to it is that I didn't want to spend lots of $$ on this. I also didn't want an aftermarket (so-called "racing") wheel....because I think they look dumb on a car like a Corolla, in most cases.

Anyway, I finally found a non-airbag wheel that looks OK (and fits me well), from an 89 Supra, at the junkyard (in really good shape, too.....a bonus !). A nice, leather-wrapped wheel. So, I determined to make it work. I had to do a bit of modification - but not too difficult - and it works great, looks good and cost $11.

But, how about the airbag light on the dash ? The light really didn't bother me, but I wanted the passenger airbag to work - and I read that neither of the bags will work, if the light is on (which signals a full "failure" of the airbag system). So, what to do ? I found instructions on the net (some Honda website) about fixing this using a resistor. The instructions insisted that a resistor of 1/4 watt capacity and 2 OHMS must be used, or very close to that. I couldn't find one locally, so I decided to experiment. I found that a 1 OHM/ 10 watt resistor works just fine for this. I bought 2 of these at Radio Shack, for $1.19, plus tax.

What I did was modify the 89 Supra wheel to fit , WITHOUT removal of the airbag connector and spiral cable housing from the steering column. That was easy. After that was finished and the "new" wheel installed, I simply plugged the resistor into the steering wheel airbag pigtail, which is now enclosed inside the rather empty hub area of the Supra wheel. I wrapped the plug and attached resistor with tape and tucked it inside. Voila - it works perfectly. So, once a year, for purposes of the state inspection, I can simply switch the steering wheel back to the hated original.....with a minimum of effort.

Anyone could certainly use the resistor fix, plugged into the steering wheel airbag pigtail further upstream, even if they remove the spiral cable housing. The point is, the resistor will "trick" the airbag system into believing that all is as original, so that at least the passenger bag will work (and the dash light will not stay on).

Anyway, I thought this info might prove useful to someone - so here it is.