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My horn is stuck. Had to pull the fuse. Seems to me like this is the opportunity to change the steering wheel to something more appropriately sized. This thing is too darn big. Any options out there that allow me to continue using the secondary restraint system? (Airbag
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My horn is stuck. Had to pull the fuse. Seems to me like this is the opportunity to change the steering wheel to something more appropriately sized. This thing is too darn big. Any options out there that allow me to continue using the secondary restraint system? (Airbag
C6 wheel can be retrofitted and could be made to have a functional airbag. Even the steering wheel controls can be made to work.
Obviously it's personal preference and perhaps a function of what a person is capable of / interested in doing, but I think the C5 wheel is hideous (regardless of any aftermarket trimming) and there is a lot more potential in the C6 wheel's shape.
C6 wheel can be retrofitted and could be made to have a functional airbag. Even the steering wheel controls can be made to work.
Obviously it's personal preference and perhaps a function of what a person is capable of / interested in doing, but I think the C5 wheel is hideous (regardless of any aftermarket trimming) and there is a lot more potential in the C6 wheel's shape.
Are there different versions of the wheel? Which is easiest to do, ie fewest buttons/least wore chopping?
Are there different versions of the wheel? Which is easiest to do, ie fewest buttons/least wore chopping?
There are some different options, I'll try to outline them real quick:
2005 - ugly, 4-spoke, skip
2006~2011 got 3-spoke, same wheel as Cobalt and Solstice
2006 had no steering wheel buttons
~2007 could start getting right-side buttons including volume, track/skip, and a button called "1-6"
~2008 (maybe?) you could start getting left-side bluetooth hands-free call buttons
2012-2013 got a refreshed 3-spoke wheel the looks light years nicer.
it came in a bunch of different options for material type (leather, alcantara) and stitch color (blue, black, red, yellow, white(?))
could come with or without left-side buttons but they all have right-side buttons
all 2006-2013 steering wheels could have paddle shifters for auto trans or none for manual
These wheels are all the same in terms of fitting them to a C5. If they have buttons you can just not hook them up. The horn needs to be hooked up but that will be only 2 wires.
Wow. How do u know all this? And which ones w no buttons allow me to use the airbag?
Been doing C6 steering wheel stuff for more than 2 years. At the moment I have 4+ C6 steering wheels...
I've also developed a device that interfaces to the steering wheel and sends signals from the buttons wirelessly to a separate device, which connects to aftermarket head units.
All 2006-2013 wheels use the same airbag. However, the C6 airbag (dual-stage) doesn't work on the C5 (single-stage). So we take out the C6 airbag internals, and stuff in the internals from a different single-stage airbag. These can come from a mid-2000s Express Van, Silverado, maybe others.
One other point, the C6 wheel doesn't attach to the C5 steering column. The "upper steering shaft" where the wheel attaches can be swapped out for a C6 piece (2006-2008), or there are several other cars where it can come from.
[QUOTE=MetalMan2;1608147909All 2006-2013 wheels use the same airbag. However, the C6 airbag (dual-stage) doesn't work on the C5 (single-stage). So we take out the C6 airbag internals, and stuff in the internals from a different single-stage airbag. These can come from a mid-2000s Express Van, Silverado, maybe others.[/QUOTE]
What sort of testing have you done to verify that the airbag will deploy in the event of a crash with this modified configuration?
What sort of testing have you done to verify that the airbag will deploy in the event of a crash with this modified configuration?
You make it sound as though people like me go around intentionally deploying airbags "for science" haha
Now, before you go and think I don't take a safety feature like an airbag seriously...
I, nor anyone else I've seen publicly, have "tested" this airbag configuration. Honestly I'm not sure how you'd even go about achieving that without a majorly destructive "test".
The yellow connector which plugs into the C5 airbag is keyed. For example, I don't believe it'll plug into either igniter on the C6 dual-stage airbag. BUT it fits/plugs into the GM van/truck airbag... sure it could be a coincidence, but I don't think it was an accident.
The C5's airbag module accepts the igniter resistance of the van/truck airbag as evidenced by a lack of fault codes.
The above, plus the fact that the Corvette is a GM product like the van/truck where this other airbag comes from, helped me feel safe enough to have run it now for more than 2 years.
We do, in fact, have evidence that this airbag arrangement has successfully deployed. Maybe I should have led with this point?
I realize my tone is a little bit defensive, but I took your inquiry as a bit of an offense (as in: you made your Corvette unsafe by changing out factory parts, I hope you tested it for your own safety). Hope you'll forgive me if your intent was purely inquisitive.
Replacement steering wheel options?
