2003 momo steering wheel in a 97 lgt issues

[jospgut]

I bought an stering wheel froma 2003, everything fits fine exept the airbag connector, i was researching but no answer, i dont know to cut the cables and swap whit the legacy one, i dont want it to explote in my face. i found this
http://www.scoobymods.com/wrx_steering_ ... html?t=127 (http://www.scoobymods.com/wrx_steering_wheel_impreza-t127.html?t=127) but it is not explaining me how to swap them.. anyone?

[d1giPhux]

alright.. here is the best bet.. and make a DIY / writeup when you do it!

Take the airbag piece with the connector off the stock wheel.. and put it on the new one. Should be about 4 screws / bolts or something if i remember correctly.

[)2edline]

nah dude, it won't work, the airbag charges on the 97 are way larger than that of the newer years. It's whats stopping me from doing the 04wrx wheel with the new low power connector. Your best bet may very well be splicing.

[d1giPhux]

Really? i thought they were the same charges.. hmm. Damn. I know I saw somewhere how to do it.. anyone have the link to the DIY on swapping the charges??

[jospgut]

that what i was trying to do, the momo is smaller, than the legacy, i wanted to cut the cables, and exchange harnes but im a little scare about the deploying in my face!

[)2edline]

someone may bring into reference northursalia write up on swapping the wheels.

From his page, http://www.northursalia.com/modificatio ... ering.html (http://www.northursalia.com/modifications/interior/steering/steering.html)

he swaps a wheel into an older obs with the same connector as the 97. What he doesn't show is the splicing required, I emailed him with my questions and he walked me through on how to splice mine correctly, shoot him an email.

[httrdd]

that what i was trying to do, the momo is smaller, than the legacy, i wanted to cut the cables, and exchange harnes but im a little scare about the deploying in my face!

Disconnect the battery while doing this so the air bag cannot deploy. Afterwards you should stand clear of the air bag while testing it out. You might want to research more so you do not wast a expensive steering wheel! :shock:

[d1giPhux]

If someone figures out the wire splicing.. definitely post it up!

[)2edline]

I'll do that when i get to it. Must revive the legacy first!

[jospgut]

thank you guys, Im gonna do it and ill post steps!

[Huffer]

that what i was trying to do, the momo is smaller, than the legacy, i wanted to cut the cables, and exchange harnes but im a little scare about the deploying in my face!

Disconnect the battery while doing this so the air bag cannot deploy. Afterwards you should stand clear of the air bag while testing it out. You might want to research more so you do not wast a expensive steering wheel! :shock:

I'd wear a full face helmet...and wear hand protection. Honestly I would. Airbags scare the beejezus out of me. I only did my steering wheel swap because the plugs matched up.

[d1giPhux]

Why is it that some BD cars seem to have the proper connector.. and others dont? Whats up with that? Seems really random.

[mike-tracy]

They changed the airbags to low-power ones (old ones were designed for occupants NOT wearing seatbelts) in cars manufactured after Sept 1997.

[jospgut]

i talked to northusralia. he cutted the yellow cables and put the the way to fit it fine. ill try to do this.

[Okin DaVanh]

My 03 momo had 2wires and my old car(97 L) had 3. I'd still like to kno what happens to the 3rd wire.


I'll be taking mine off soon, so if Anyones is looking for a mint 1 pm me.

[)2edline]

i talked to northusralia. he cutted the yellow cables and put the the way to fit it fine. ill try to do this.

The dude is mad chill right? I emailed him and he got back to me immediately. <3

[jospgut]

yeah!

[wrxya33]

So what wires are needed? Do we leave the 3rd wire hanging? Also so the 03 wrx momo wheel bolted right one like stock with no modafications is it centered when the wheels are? Thanks for your help im gonna get a momo factory wheel if i can install it without buying anything else. Thanks guys

[d1giPhux]

When you do wire it up.. definitely take some pics.. i'm still interested to see the discrepancy.

[jospgut]

theres only two yellow cables on them, Im planing to cut just those cables, and no modifications needed, it fits perfect.. ill do it next week, im kinda bussy now, to much homework lol

[Matty2Hotty]

I did this on my 01 lgt with a 04 wheel with no wiring on the momo, correct you can't swap air bag units, the momo is alot smaller. I just unplugged my harness off the airbag(2 pins) and put it in the momo(2 pins) airbag. Scared the crap out of me turning the key on for the 1st time. Everything is working great though! Not sure about 3 wires though.

[BG5guy]

just bypass the airbag all together, thats what seatbelts are for lol. I did this in my 92 legacy and it was a pain. I blew 3 airbags before i finally got it right. Never again haha

i stripped 2 of 4 torx bolts holding the old one one and said fuck it..

so jdm momo wheel FS!

[ESSYMOND]

Is this true for 99 lgt's too?

[Okin DaVanh]

Is this true for 99 lgt's too?



No. From what I understand, 98/99 had a different set up which came with the 3rd wire.

[Matty2Hotty]

Yeah, 3 wires i dont know how you would do it... I lucked out and have 2 wires and was Plug and Play setup with my JDM momo. Always can try to fine a wiring diagram on it to see what wire is what.

[ouch1011]

I believe the 98/99 may have dual stage airbags so it sets off a lesser charge for lower speed accidents, and sets off both charges for high speed crashes. Thats just a guess though, I know some airbags are like that but I'm not sure if thats what the late BDs use.

[DarkPhoenix]

So what wires need to be spliced? Someone mentioned that they did it, but didn't post was needed to be done.

[httrdd]

Yea man I love splicing wires! :roll: So it could be done then to a 99 lgt?

[d1giPhux]

I've been wondering this forever.. my LGT is a 3 wire, and I have a MOMO wheel with 2 wire harness going to the airbag. I don't think ive ever heard anyone with an EXACT answer. People say they have done it.. but i've never seen proof.. not yet at least.

[httrdd]

Find me a wiring diagram for the momo wheel and I will se what I can come up with.

[d1giPhux]

Good luck on that.. i have NO clue where you would find one of those.

if anyone had the wiring diagram this problem would be solved already

[eekay]

Old thread! But, I'm essentially trying to do the same thing. I have everything working except the airbag. I've spliced the wires and tried two different setups but they both leave me with an airbag light on... Searching around for a DIY now but it's seeming a bit futile.

[derrick_]

that what i was trying to do, the momo is smaller, than the legacy, i wanted to cut the cables, and exchange harnes but im a little scare about the deploying in my face!

Disconnect the battery while doing this so the air bag cannot deploy. Afterwards you should stand clear of the air bag while testing it out. You might want to research more so you do not wast a expensive steering wheel! :shock:


Its likely a good idea, but the airbags have their own power source

[DLC]

Ugh, my 97 was made in April. Guess my JDM Legacy MOMO wheel won't go on unless someone makes a definitive writeup about this.

[DLC]

I did a little research and found some info on Cars101:

http://www.cars101.com/subaru_legacy_archive98_99.html

and most interestingly NHTSA, saying that Sept 1, 1997 was when the lower-power/two-stage were required:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/rulings/n114.html

This is not to say that cars made earlier than this date won't have the later connecter/airbag, but the farther you are from this date the less likely for this to be the case. I think I'm going to take mine of (04/97) and have a peek before I give up all hope (and look for an alternative).

[eekay]

1. Leave airbag unplugged.
2. Remove airbag light from dash
3. Open beer of your choice
4. Drink said beer
5. Call it a job well done

[eekay]

I did a little research and found some info on Cars101:
http://www.cars101.com/subaru_legacy_archive98_99.html
Not sure how accurate this is. I have, in my possession right now, a '98 (JDM year) 2.5GT Limited in Quick Silver Metalic and a manual transmission. Both of which were said to be unavailable according to cars101. :smt017

[mshriver]

1. Leave airbag unplugged.
2. Remove airbag light from dash
3. Open beer of your choice
4. Drink said beer
5. Call it a job well done

Wouldnt your horn also not work though? Could care less about the air bag, but I need my horn

[Okin DaVanh]

I think I'm going to take mine of (04/97) and have a peek before I give up all hope (and look for an alternative).


Swap over the charge on the back of the bags as well as the cruise control. That's what I did, and I no longer have an SRS light.

**Edit**

The link
http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin ... wap-42790/ (http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f77/my03-wrx-steering-wheel-installed-airbag-charge-swap-42790/)

[DLC]

That's some good info. Hope it works for mine.

[DLC]

Oh, and i guess if this works it means that one would not even need to remove the power from the vehicle, just have it off, and it avoids the most nerve-wracking part of the operation.

[eekay]

1. Leave airbag unplugged.
2. Remove airbag light from dash
3. Open beer of your choice
4. Drink said beer
5. Call it a job well done

Wouldnt your horn also not work though? Could care less about the air bag, but I need my horn
Horn still works. It is a separate wire from the airbag harness itself. At least, mine is. So, I just wired the horn and left it be.

[Huffer]

Wow guys, if you were just going to remove the SRS fuse and go airbag-less, you should just switch to a smaller wheel, without an airbag anyway. 320mm wheel gives a great driving feel.

[DLC]

Okay, for posterity this is what I found out today:

1997 Outback Limited Leather wheel has a bolt-to-bolt diameter of 5"
1998 Legacy L plastic wheel has a bolt-to-bolt diameter of 5"
JDM Legacy MOMO wheel has a bolt-to-bolt diameter of 4.5"

Guess I'm going to need to leave the wheel on the car when I sell it or find a 98+ owner to purchase it, then figure out which of the more modern WRX and STi wheels, or even Legacy GT and Forester, have compatible airbags.