According to the installation instructions for the wood steering wheel, spoiler etc on 05/06 RL, the instruction calls for the PCM Idle learn procedures to be done. It sounds rather ridiculous to run the engine to 3000 rpm until the fan comes on which could be several minutes and then idle for another 10 mins... etc. For those who have done the DIY, was this necessary? What happens if the procedure is not done? Thanks in advance. Jason.

 

thats only if the battery is disconnected.
If you didnt disconnect the battery, you dont have to do that, and you dont have to disconnect the battery when doing the wheel. I watched the dealer do mine, they did it hot.

 

I disconnected the battery when I did the wheel, and did not have to perform the idle learn procedure-if there was an effect, I did not notice it for the two times I did the work (first time to install the wheel, second time to realign it). The instructions recommend a 3 minute delay between disconnecting the battery and disconnecting the airbag, which makes me think there is a capacitor somewhere in the circuit that needsd to discharge after the power is off. In any event, I would strongly advise NOT disconnecting the airbag without first disconnecting the battery-it takes a few more minutes, but it is worth the time given the possibility of the airbag going off in your face while you are working on the wheel. The likelihood may be remote, but I decided not to tempt fate. And since there is no impact other than a few minute wait, the cost of taking the low risk approach is very low.

 

After doing the wheel swap on our RL, I did the PCM idle learn thing.. I too found it strange, but hell, it's on the instructions and in the manual so I did it.

I know with other DBW cars, you can 'fool' the ecu in order to open the tb all the way by holding down the accelerator to the floor (with the car off, but the key on the on position). I wonder if we can do the same with the RL.

 

Thanks for the replies gentlemen.