I can see that several experts are on line right now. I got my upper shroud off, found a broken wire to the turn signal (preventing auto on), but I have to remove the steering wheel to get to the turn/headlight switch.

That air bag scares tha crap out of me.

Can I:

1) disconnect battery 20+ minutes
2) unscrew the 2 star screws from the back of the steering wheel.
(this unlatches horn pad/air bladder for air bag?)
3) disconect air bag from its back side (yellow wire 1st, black wire 2nd)
4) mark wheel position
5) unscrew center bolt holding wheel on

6) have access tothe turn signal. . .

I searched our forum, "remove steering wheel" turns up nothing so I am forced to ask for help (didn't want anyone to think I didn't try). I based the above on a video I once saw, don't know for sure what car it was.

Older cars without an air bag - I wouldn't even ask. Like I said the thought of that thing deplloying worries me, maybe too much.

I'll monitor this thread in the hopes someone who knows or has done it before can please double check me, or straighten my plan out.

Thanks a million.

 

Well for the record I was able to remove the steering wheel without problems. Battery disconnected for 30 min, took off upper and lower shroud. Loosened Torx bolts behind steering wheel which releases the air bag unit. These bolts do not fall out of the wheel, I left them there for reassmbly.

There is more wire (air bag connection) than you think at first, it is fastened by a plastic clip against the back of the steering wheel's housing. Disconnect the air bag, put it somewhere safe. There is a 15mm bolt securing the steering wheel (don't forget to take a permenant marker and mark the position against the female recepticle you just took the 15mm bolt out of.

I was lucky, gentle rocking released the wheel. 5 o'clock position note the connector below the Green ground wire. Slide the green ground off the spade gives access to that last connector, disconnect it. Both this wire and the wire to the air bag will slip out the rectangular hole as you pull the steering wheel off.

You now have unfettered access to the turn signal switch.

 

I would say that 30 minutes is a bit overboard for the airbag removal.
I usually give it a minute or two and have never had one deploy inadvertently.

I did watch someone deploy one in the parking lot at the dealer. They wanted to set it to deploy the airbag facing DOWN so it would launch, but there were a lot of other cars that it would have landed on. (kinda like "Hey, Y'all hold my beer and watch this!")

Bad things usually happen.

bob gauff