Dr4688

I am ready to pull the trigger on a Caravaggio wheel and horn pad. I contacted my local dealer and 2 others around town. Not one of them will install the steering wheel. I can have it done privately without any resistance.

The dealers state that they are not allowed to install aftermarket or modified GM parts and it will void the warranty if there are any issues. Has anybody had any issues with the Caravaggio steering wheel and the electronics attached.

I know a lot of you have already installed it. What would you do if something went wrong? Just curious. Ihave already made up my mind on what to do,

Thanks

Keith

Steve Garrett

Keith,

I don't have a Caravaggio steering wheel. My dealership put on my first aftermarket flat bottom steering wheel and will be putting on a 2nd one this Friday from Apsis. Send a PM to Glen e-he can help you do it yourself. If you're not mechanically inclined (like me), skip the dealership and a garage should be able to do it.

RicK T

Dealers are VERY different. Some will install any aftermarket part you want, some won't install anything driveline related and some won't even install cat back exhaust. Just the way it is.

If you fill in your profile with city and state where you are maybe someone can recommend someone close.

Dr4688

Not too worried as to whom installs the wheel. My local dealer will not repair anything that has to do with the wheel components or airbag. Thats my only dilemma. I already spoke to Glen today on it. Just wanted to hear from other forum members about their thoughts.

stingraymyway

A dealership won't do it for fear of liability if something goes wrong in the event of an accident.

bbrown450

all depends on the dealership, I have always gone to them for the installation of my aftermarket wheels. Not sure who you were getting your wheel from but John Caravaggio goes so far as to get his parts from GM !!! There is not much to go wrong on these to begin with and in most cases , unless you have him make you one , he uses your existing air/horn pad. Hope this helps

runutzzzzz

Lets say you get into an accident with the "aftermarket" steering wheel. The airbag doesn't pop, who does the lawyer go after? The person that "Improperly installed" the steering wheel.

Glen e

Everything in this case is a genuine OEM C7 GM product, airbag and all, it is just a re wrap of the rim of the wheel. I don't see a "misfire" being a problem at all. You need to take the wheel apart to see how it's made to be foolproof. If the airbag does not deploy, it's a GM airbag with connectors that cannot come loose with a double snap clamp. Once installed, the airbag system runs a check every time you start the car. I'm sure theta can add more here.

If a dealer does not wanna mess with it, they are just playing it safe, nothing wrong with that. Find another dealer or DIY. I swapped it in 15 min.

onyx_z71

The airbag has been re-covered with this mod and its effectiveness has been altered because of that. You think any GM dealer wants to be associated with that?

Glen e

So don't buy the horn pad if your worried....I asked that question of john, and he sent this pic of his pad deployed:

Steve_R

Regardless of potential warranty issues, or what-if liability guessing, many dealers aren't in the business of installing custom aftermarket parts on anything. That's not their core business, which I see no problem with. Find a different installer or DIY.

dwward

I assume you mean besides Steve Bell's dealer?

What we have here is one dealer playing it safe. Sounds like at least some others are willing to do the work, so I would contact another local dealer. If no local dealer will do it -- and DIY is not an option -- I would expect there are other shops in your area who do such work? I would try any of the body shops who heroically install steering wheels weekly, and without irrational fear.

blasted_concrete

As easy of a swap as it is, with all the recalls..... No way a dealer is covered under GM. It would fall back on the dealers general liability policy if there was an issue. I don't see any self aware dealers willing to do it. Too many lawsuits currently and potentially with recalls. I can't see too many willing dealers. Just too many gold diggers out there.

~BC

onyx_z71

The airbag may work great with John's cover, but the last thing I would expect any dealer to say is "Sure I'll install your modified airbag."

onyx_z71

A steering wheel and airbag are 2 different parts.

runutzzzzz

I 100% agree with you but here in the Good Ol' USA with all these lawyers, do you really think they wouldn't go after the dealer that installed it to IF the airbag doesn't deploy? Chances are very slim but what IF it happened? Some dealerships don't want to find out.

Agreed, find another dealership or DIY.

Crossed Flags Fan

In this day and age any dealership would be taking a HUGE risk installing a safety related part that's not absolutely a 100% genuine manufacturer part...

Sin City

Airbag failure anytime in the future is law suit city.

I can see their point. No need to take the risk for the reward.

Mike Mercury

exactly. The problem is not with the dealer and their negating to do this install; it's with 90% of the USA lawyers that cause the dealer to act this way.

bbrown450

Mine did ....twice !!!