Airbag/horn Pad Removal

[Garvensis]

Hi

I am trying to re-align my steering wheel, as it seems to sit a few dergees over to the right, when the wheels are in a straight line.

I saw an earlier topic saying to remove the two torx screws (one at either side of the steering wheel) and pull the horn pad out from the top.

The torx screws do not seem to come completely out of their housing and there is quite a resistance from the horn pad, when I try to pull it out.

Is there anything else I should be doing, before removal of the horn pad can be done?

Thanks

Gary

[Avensis luna 03]

Hi

I am trying to re-align my steering wheel, as it seems to sit a few dergees over to the right, when the wheels are in a straight line.

I saw an earlier topic saying to remove the two torx screws (one at either side of the steering wheel) and pull the horn pad out from the top.

The torx screws do not seem to come completely out of their housing and there is quite a resistance from the horn pad, when I try to pull it out.

Is there anything else I should be doing, before removal of the horn pad can be done?

Thanks

Gary

The proper way to do this is to get the 4 wheel alignment done on your car. Get them to make sure the wheel is set to dead centre and it will be sorted.

[Phoenix999]

The proper way to do this is to get the 4 wheel alignment done on your car. Get them to make sure the wheel is set to dead centre and it will be sorted.

I must say that this is the way I would have done it

[Garvensis]

The proper way to do this is to get the 4 wheel alignment done on your car. Get them to make sure the wheel is set to dead centre and it will be sorted.

I must say that this is the way I would have done it

OK guys

Thanks for the advice.

I would still like to remove the module anyway, so I can check if cruise can be fitted to my car, as per a previously posted topic.

Can you advise how to remove the airbag module anyway?

Cheers Gary

[Gooli]

Maybe this post could help you out?

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=94667

[jamesholden]

The proper way to do this is to get the 4 wheel alignment done on your car. Get them to make sure the wheel is set to dead centre and it will be sorted.

I must say that this is the way I would have done it

OK guys

Thanks for the advice.

I would still like to remove the module anyway, so I can check if cruise can be fitted to my car, as per a previously posted topic.

Can you advise how to remove the airbag module anyway?

Cheers Gary

I must admit i've not read the other post regarding cruise control, but traditionally you just pop off the right hand cover on the steering wheel to see if the connectors are available for cruise control to be installed, the main module and airbag 'cover' is left untouched.

[Garvensis]

The proper way to do this is to get the 4 wheel alignment done on your car. Get them to make sure the wheel is set to dead centre and it will be sorted.

I must say that this is the way I would have done it

OK guys

Thanks for the advice.

I would still like to remove the module anyway, so I can check if cruise can be fitted to my car, as per a previously posted topic.

Can you advise how to remove the airbag module anyway?

Cheers Gary

I must admit i've not read the other post regarding cruise control, but traditionally you just pop off the right hand cover on the steering wheel to see if the connectors are available for cruise control to be installed, the main module and airbag 'cover' is left untouched.

Hi James

Thanks for the reply.

I checked my steering wheel and there is not a right hand cover. The cover on the wheel is a single piece and not split and cannot be removed until the horn pad is removed.

There is a 2 piece shroud on the steering column, but removing this would serve no purpose.

Are you describing the whhel on a mark1 Avensis? Mine is a mark 2.

Regards

Gary

[Garvensis]

Maybe this post could help you out?

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=94667

Thanks Gooli

I downloaded the manual, but can't open it.

I have forwarded it to my work, so our IT guy can reformat it for me to read.

Best regards

Gary

[jamesholden]

The proper way to do this is to get the 4 wheel alignment done on your car. Get them to make sure the wheel is set to dead centre and it will be sorted.

I must say that this is the way I would have done it

OK guys

Thanks for the advice.

I would still like to remove the module anyway, so I can check if cruise can be fitted to my car, as per a previously posted topic.

Can you advise how to remove the airbag module anyway?

Cheers Gary

I must admit i've not read the other post regarding cruise control, but traditionally you just pop off the right hand cover on the steering wheel to see if the connectors are available for cruise control to be installed, the main module and airbag 'cover' is left untouched.

Hi James

Thanks for the reply.

I checked my steering wheel and there is not a right hand cover. The cover on the wheel is a single piece and not split and cannot be removed until the horn pad is removed.

There is a 2 piece shroud on the steering column, but removing this would serve no purpose.

Are you describing the whhel on a mark1 Avensis? Mine is a mark 2.

Regards

Gary

I know these instructions are for the Auris but they might help:-

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.p...t=0&start=0

[Garvensis]

The proper way to do this is to get the 4 wheel alignment done on your car. Get them to make sure the wheel is set to dead centre and it will be sorted.

I must say that this is the way I would have done it

OK guys

Thanks for the advice.

I would still like to remove the module anyway, so I can check if cruise can be fitted to my car, as per a previously posted topic.

Can you advise how to remove the airbag module anyway?

Cheers Gary

I must admit i've not read the other post regarding cruise control, but traditionally you just pop off the right hand cover on the steering wheel to see if the connectors are available for cruise control to be installed, the main module and airbag 'cover' is left untouched.

Hi James

Thanks for the reply.

I checked my steering wheel and there is not a right hand cover. The cover on the wheel is a single piece and not split and cannot be removed until the horn pad is removed.

There is a 2 piece shroud on the steering column, but removing this would serve no purpose.

Are you describing the whhel on a mark1 Avensis? Mine is a mark 2.

Regards

Gary

I know these instructions are for the Auris but they might help:-

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.p...t=0&start=0

Thanks for the link, James

The description seems very similar to the Avensis.

Unfortunately the Auris instructs us to "remove the torx 30 screws", which is where my problem lies, I can't get the screws to come right out of the wheel.

They just seem to spin (I can hear the thread 'click', as I turn it anti-clockwise, letting me know it has come free of its fixing), but will not retract from the housing, so when I tug at the horn/airbag module, I can see the screws moving around inside, as if they are still attached - very confusing.

If I coiuld free the screws fully, I am sure I could remove the module.

I am going to look into the possibility of getting my hands on a steering wheel from a higher spec Avensis, with the cruise control fitted, but will have to remove the existing one first, to check if the spare socket is fitted to my car, to plug the cruise into.

Any more advice on the removal of the Avensis airbag module will be very welcome.

Cheers

[Stephen St Ledger]

Hi I have a 2013 Avensis and want to straighen steering wheel. I can't see any torque screws when i removed the plastic covers on either side. I had a 4 wheel alignment done but steering isn't centred. Any photos would be great.

Thanks

Stephen

[alan333]

Start with the steering wheel straight and count the  number of turns one way to full lock, then the other way. If they're exactly equal then your alignment isn't set up correctly.

edit... you haven't fitted cheap front tyres have you?  I've had issues causing the steering not to be straight with two Toyotas, both due to crappy cheap tyres.

[Stephen St Ledger]

Checked the number of turns and they're both the same. The front tyres fitted are Deestone Expedite probably budget tyres fitted by dealer.

[alan333]

16 hours ago, Stephen St Ledger said:

Checked the number of turns and they're both the same. The front tyres fitted are Deestone Expedite probably budget tyres fitted by dealer.

That's the way it should be.  This shows that the steering wheel is positioned correctly (centrally) to the steering gear.  Say, to illustrate what I mean, that the steering wheel turns 1.5 rotations each way from straight ahead, but you need the steering wheel moved round a quarter turn for the car to drive straight - this means you'd have 1.25 turns one way, but 1.75 the other way.

Either your alignment is wrong or your tyres are causing a problem, or there are other issues with the steering/suspension set up (I assume you've checked tyre pressures etc).  Try swapping your front wheels to the rear and see if your symptoms change.

Here's a couple of threads from ages ago which might be worth reading...