MAKE SURE THE WHEEL IS STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU START
Don't mix up what screws go where
Tools Needed: 10mm socket/wrench for battery, T30 Torx for airbag, 14mm Socket with extension for wheel hub, #2 Phillips screw driver. steering wheel puller is optional (i did not use one)
Time: 30 mins
Skill: Easy but cautious

1. Disconnect Negative Battery but make sure you have your radio/navi codes. Wait a few mins.
2. Remove cover under the bottom back side of the wheel. Then pop out the harness that connects the single blue to single red wire. Then squeeze the tabs to separate.
3. Remove the 2 covers above the steering controls on the back side of the wheel to expose a T30 torx screw. Remove the screws.
4. Carefully lift out the airbag a little to expose the wire harness. Make a note of where the wires are located in the guides for later
5. Slide the yellow harness release to separate the harness and remove airbag
6. Disconnect cruise control and radio wires. The green is for cruise and grey for radio incase you forget
7. Remove the two screws that hold the plastic wire retainer and remove
8. Remove the two screws that hold the black bar at the top and remove that part
9. Using a 14mm Socket with extension remove the center bolt.
10. Use a marker to make the top center of the wheel hub to help you put the new wheel on center.
11. Using either a steering wheel puller, or just carefully bracing yourself and pulling the wheel off as straight as you can. This may seem like its tough if your doing it by hand but a very slight wiggle while pulling should release it. Be sure to not damage the teeth of the wheel hub.
12. Remove the wheel and carefully release wires through the opening in the center of the wheel. And be gentle around the SRS disc that is behind the wheel.
13. Now with the wheel off, remove the two screws that were behind the black bar and remove the wheel backing
14. Now remove the steering wheel controls
15. You are done with the old wheel

Now to reassemble the new wheel

1. Lightly screw on the steering wheel controls
2. Place the airbag in the new wheel and align the button spacing and tighten screws. Then remove airbag
3. Put the backing on the new wheel and use the two top screws to hold in place
4. Put the black bar back in the top of the wheel
5. Put the plastic wire guide back on
6. Place wheel close to the wheel hub and alight the SRS disc with the new wheel and guide wires through center opening
7. Align the wheel and center on the hub. Push on with medium pressure, it will wiggle a little.
8. Put the center bolt back on and tighten
9. Reconnect steering controls and put the wires back in wire guides. Remember the single blue wire goes on the left hand side and under
10. Place the airbag almost in the wheel and using the slider, reconnect the yellow harness. Keeping the red wire going to the right of the wheel, clip the wires in the proper wire guides. The yellow one clicks in from the bottom and make sure its locked in nicely
11. now place the airbag in and from the underside reconnect the blue to red wire and click the harness into place
12. Put the torx screws back in the sides. If its a new wheel it will have new screws to use.
13. double check on the bottom that the yellow harness is snuggly fit in the holder and the red and blue harness is as well
14. replace the 3 covers and reconnect battery
15. enjoy gripping that woodgrain

PM me if you need any clarification

 

i'll need this later

 

 

We need pics.

 

few min=15min, 3 was risking it, capacitors not even dead

 

Its really easy, you don't really even need pics. Ill try to put some up if they are still in my camera phone.

Murdaz: I got the 3(few) minutes from the service bulletin for servicing the faulty steering wheel control recall. That procedure requires the wheel be taken off. If I did not read that on a TSB I would have also been skeptical.

 

I'll need this in about 2 weeks tops.

 

please post pics it would really help! thanks!

 

you guys do know there is a CL side on this forum as well, right? Have a peek at this thread for pics:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...8#post11910608

 

Took about 20 minutes total - could have been done in 15 or less. Not hard at all. No wheel puller used.

 

Looks nice!

I didn't need a puller either. You just need to work it a bit.

 

mine came off very easily. pulled with a tilt to the left, then to the right and off it came. srs module on the inside didn't come out of the column either. was very easy, although I half expected some difficulty.

 

man where did u get the wheel i need one

 

The internet should have it...



maybe eBay?

 

not on ebay...

 

ebay - $99 plus shipping.

see above.

 

Nice! Looks like you used the MDX wheel? The mismatch doesn't look that bad, right?

 

^ahhh i was looking for a tl wheel

 

correct. mismatch isn't bad at all - i used leatherique, which lightened the color of the leather a fair amount. only really noticeable when the sun is directly on the wheel. passengers have not noticed the difference in color either. looks like it's supposed to be there actually.

 

Is this the 2002 MDX steering wheel you bought from Ebay and treated with leatherique to install in your 2002TL? I have a 2002 Type-S and i really would love the woodgrain and leather without dropping $450..
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ACURA...Q5fAccessories

 

no, that one appears to be much darker than the one i did

 

But the 2002 MDX wheel should work if I can find the correct color, right?

 

yes, and it could just be the photo of the one above making it look darker

 

Since this is the main steering wheel DIY from the list, I figured I'd post my experience.

I bought a MDX wheel for $99 on eBay: perforated black leather & brown wood. It fits perfectly, but there are two screws from the TL wheel that are too small for the new MDX wheel. You could get new screws for that, or just use the T30 torx screws (the new wheel should come with replacement ones).

Other than that, the MDX wheel installation is the same. This info is scattered in some other threads, but I figured I'd include it here since it will be most frequented.

 

These Steps should work also with the 3G Wheel too right?

 

which years of the MDX wheel will fit our cars?

 

any info on later model wheels fitting? even without functioning buttons?

 

not sure I used the 02 MDX no problem

 

What he said. Exactly. I did same just last week. Heck-of-a deal from the MagAuto guys on eBay.

 

So I was lucky enough to win the black one on e-bay last night (O8U97-S3V-210) and will be installing it in my 02 TL once i get it.

Anyone have pictures of how the black one looks in the TL? I am curious about the color difference between the MDX black wheel and the TL black air bag. I am wondering how significant it will be.

Thanks all!

 

Is there a brackish blue wood steering wheel I can get somewhere ???

 

You'd have to create that one yourself.

 

Laaaame thanks

 

For 99 bucks you can get a bran new mdx wood grain wheel. Just tape the leather and paint the wood parts whatever color you'd like. I've seen this done many times.

 

Is there a special kind of paint I should use ?

 

Does anyone have a pic of a 2000 or 2001 steering wheel to post here -with the airbag removed? It needs to show the detail of the wiring/connectors. Let's just say I need one since I forgot to take a pic before disconnecting all the wires. I have it re-installed, but I have been unable to hook it all back up the way it was. I've seen good pics of a 2003 CL - which is similar, but not the same. Thanks in advance.

 

There is a pic in this thread

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-1999-2003-98/steering-wheel-removal-install-question-712039/

 

I placed a bid & waited 5 days. 1Hr before bid was up, someone out bid me by a few bucks. I should have paid more attention. Now I can't find a black woodgrain wheel. What luck

 

No one really bids on anything anymore till the last 30 seconds.

 

So for a 2000 TL, would the 01, 02 and 03 MDX wheels fit, or do I need to get just the 03?