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Steering Wheel Switch Removal

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Old Aug 12, 2024 | 03:46 PM
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Steering Wheel Switch Removal


My right side buttons are messing up. I think they’re just gunky and need cleaning under the contact pads.

How do you remove the switches? Can I do with airbag installed or do I need to pull everything to access?

I’m lazy and would rather not take it all apart. Also don’t want to leave pry marks being rough and removing wrong way. Been a few years since I was in there

TIA
 
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Old Aug 12, 2024 | 05:37 PM
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behind the steering wheel, there are two plastic, removable tabs.

there is a bolt there that hold the Air Bag onto the hub.
they must be removed, so the air bag can be removed.

for safety reasons, lift off both Negative battery terminals, you don't want to accidentally have that that pop you in the face.

the switches pop out, but are a bear to mess with to get out.
the ribbon cable connectors are Tender, be very careful to release the latch so the ribbon will release from the Hub. I broke one with Fuzzy eyesight before I got some good reading glasses.

I haven't seen a way to clean them, I just bought another steering wheel off fleabay and it worked for me.



 
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Old Aug 12, 2024 | 05:40 PM
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IF, you have to replace the steering wheel,
you are going to need a puller to get it off the shaft....

big heavy, thick pullers cannot get under the hub, there is precious little room to work with there.


 
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Old Aug 12, 2024 | 06:24 PM
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On my 01 with the cruise only buttons, they are press-fit into a foam molded socket, along with the leather wrapped into that socket. My switches contain 2 plastic clips that snap into the bottom of the foam socket to help them from popping out. I would asume that the full redundant switches are similar. I'll snap a pic in a few of my old switches.





One of the clips are broken from being forced.





 
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Old Aug 12, 2024 | 08:16 PM
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Thanks all.

I knew better than trying to be lazy. All the switches on eBay look worse than my current buttons. So I’ll try cleaning first. Free is always better…initially at least
 
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Old Aug 13, 2024 | 05:28 AM
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The switch body does separate into 2 halves to possibly clean the buttons, but you have to remove the whole unit from the steering wheel first. On a side note, I found this site claiming to restore the switch faces.


https://autobuttonrepair.com/product...sion-steering/

https://autobuttonrepair.com/about/
 
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Old Aug 15, 2024 | 05:05 PM
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Are you having the issue where you press one button, say volume up, and the response is as though you pressed a different button like Mode? I have that occasionally...
 
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Old Aug 15, 2024 | 05:47 PM
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Originally Posted by oharal
Are you having the issue where you press one button, say volume up, and the response is as though you pressed a different button like Mode? I have that occasionally...
it’s done it a few times. Typically I just have to push the button (Vol +) a little harder or towards bottom of the button.

It’s only done the Mode select on 95F+ days when humidity made it feel 100F. Which GA has a ton of days like.

I’m going to do a ton of maintenance tomorrow to my fleet of 4 cars, so hopefully will have a good result to report back on this switch. Have to fix AC in 2 cars, couple of oil changes. Tons of fun
 
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