FS: OEM Leather Steering Wheel...2000-2004

$89 plus shipping. Bought it for my 2000 Pre-Runner and found that it was for a non-cruise control vehicle and I've got cruise. This is a $500 wheel at the dealer.


IMG_1125 by rzgkane, on Flickr

 

Pic?

 

Is that the one they sell on eBay for $89? How do you know it doesn't work with the cruise control? Did you try to put it on?

 

x2

 

Because it doesn't have the tabs on which to mount the cruise control switch.

 

That's what I was thinking too, but doesn't the cruise control mount on the part behind the steering wheel (where the horn is)?

 

I should back off my statement because I have not actually dismantled my steering wheel and tried it. The seller specificies that the wheel is for vehicles without cruise and a cross-reference of the part number for the wheel also indicates it won't work. I have no first hand knowledge of any of it, although someone sent me a message through ebay a few days ago in which the person stated that someone had successfully installed the $89 ebay wheel on a 2000 Tacoma with cruise.

I'm going to give it a shot.

Anyone have a link to some instructions on how to remove the airbag from the wheel without it blowing up in your face?

 

Disconnect the negative terminal at the battery; should do the trick.

 

Let us know how it works out so we know for future reference

 

I doubt that disconnecting the negative terminal at the battery will cause the airbag to fall out of the steering wheel. ;-)

I'm looking for the procedure to remove the steering wheel, airbag included.

 

Sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. There are a bunch of how-to's out there if you google.... but here's one I found:

http://www.yotatech.com/f2/steering-wheel-removal-98-4runner-89437/

Let us all know how you make out, and please post pics!!!

Brian

 

It will keep it from blowing up in your face, though , while you are removing it. Actually, I just let the airbag "hang" while I changed the paddle shifters on my Audi steering wheel.

 

Ok, so great news. That $89 ebay wheel worked perfectly on my 2000 Tacoma Prerunner with cruise control. I think the only reason the site says their wheel doesn't fit trucks with cruise control is because it comes bare, without any of the bracketing that holds the cruise switch in place. But that's of no consequence if you are simply replacing a wheel already fit with the cruise guts. I now have replaced that shitty rubber wheel that came completely disconnected from the metal ring with a nice, new leather wrapped Toyota wheel for $89. Dealer wanted $450 for a new rubber POS.

Easy as pie, too. All you need are a 19mm socket and ratchet, a Torx 30 bit (long, because the reach into the airbag retention bolts is deeper than a standard Torx bit), a 10mm wrench and a phillips screwdriver.

Here's how I did it and it worked for me. I do not recommend this to anyone else! Do not do this. Your airbag could blow up in your face. I am not responsible! Do not try this at home. Have a professional do it. DANGER! DANGER! EXPLOSIVES AT WORK!!!!

First, disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery and then touch the cable end to the positive post of the battery by keeping the wrench on the negative cable and reaching it over to the positive post. This will discharge any stored up energy in the truck's electrical system. Make sure not to contact the negative post and positive post of the battery at any time!!!

Then, go inside the truck and remove the two covers on the back of the steering wheel plastic trim that conceal the airbag rentention screws. One is on the left side of the wheel and is a little round plastic deal. Easy to see. The other is the plate just next to the cruise switch. Also easy to see. Pop them out. Behind both of these covers are the two screws that hold the airbag to the steering wheel. They are Torx 30 and they enter the unit at an angle. They are also deep in there so you need that long bit. Your bit will have to enter the screw heads angling from the front of the truck aiming slightly toward the back of the truck. Otherwise, you will not be able to get the bit into them. Unscrew the screws until you know they're free from the airbag. Grab the airbag with two hands and pop it out. The only thing holding the airbag to the wheel will now be the airbag harness in yellow shrouding. Disconnect it and set the airbag aside.

Push the screws that held the airbag in place outward so that they do not interfere with your putting the airbag back in. They will pop out into a position that will hold them in place and not allow them to fall on the floor.

The cruise switch will be held to the vehicle by a large plastic connector at the 12 oclock position. Disconnect it so you can take out the wheel and cruise switch as one assembly.

Now loosen the 19mm nut that holds the steering wheel to the steering shaft almost all the way but do not remove it. Keep it threaded on by a turn or two. You wanna know why? Because if you do remove it, and then you rock the wheel back and forth and pull it towards you in an attempt to break the wheel free of the steering shaft, it will come off in your hands and slam you in the face. You do not want that. The nut will keep it from happening.

Now that you have the wheel loose, put the steering wheel in the exact centered position, remove the nut and the steering wheel falls off in your lap. Place the old wheel next to the new wheel and transfer the parts. That's it. Assembly is just the opposite.

When securing the airbag into the steering wheel, you will have to apply inward pressure on the screws to pop them out of the place you popped them into when you removed the airbag. Otherwise, they will just spin and never bite into the airbag module.

Sorry about no pics. Really, you do not need them. A trained monkey could do this job. But you should have a professional do it. Not you. Never you. Do not try it.

 

Hmm this seems tempting. I have a leather wrap on my wheel but the real deal would be neat.

 

Nice upgrade for $89 and a half hour of time.

 

Awesome. Care to post a pic if the finished product or can text it to me?

 

IMG_1165 by rzgkane, on Flickr


IMG_1125 by rzgkane, on Flickr

 

Man that looks really good!!! Thanks for trying it out for us!

 

No problem. Truth be told, if it weren't for you finding me through ebay I would not have attempted it. All info pointed to the wheel not working on trucks with cruise and it was only because you told me it might work that I even gave it a try.

Two months ago I ALMOST dropped $450 at the stealer for a new rubber wheel because the current one was driving me nuts it was so flimsy.

For those who REALLY want to go on the cheap, I sliced the old wheel open at the seam and injected copious amounts of the Home Depot purchased Gorilla Glue in there and it held up like a champ. That crap is nasty.

 

1st, has anyone replaced a steering wheel for a 2000 Tacoma pick-up? When replacing the steering wheel with an after-market one, can the black piece be removed from underneath the steering wheel? (Black piece that has the airbag and horn connecter)...only because I can't fit the after-market steering wheel kit for the '96-'04. THANK YOU in advance...