Technical Abarth steering wheel

mikem1989 · Jul 8, 2015

Hey guys just wondered if anybody on here knows if this Abarth steering wheel still fit my 2009 multijet bravo?

eBay item number 291349859848

Any help would be much appreciated.

mikem1989 · Jul 11, 2015

I'm going to attempt to fit a Abarth steering wheel. I'll take some pics along the way and if all goes well I will put a guide together.

I just have a quick question.
From what I have read, it advisable to disconnect the battery for 24hrs in advance to minimise the airbag going off in my mush.
What codes am I going to need upon reconnecting the battery and where can I find them?

Oh n also when disconnecting the battery will just the negative terminal do or do I have to completely disconnect both terminals?
Someone once told me never to bother disconnecting both as it can cause more hassles but I really don't want an airbag ruining this unfortunate thing I call a face.

bradgibbs · Jul 11, 2015

mikem1989 said:
I'm going to attempt to fit a Abarth steering wheel. I'll take some pics along the way and if all goes well I will put a guide together.

I just have a quick question.
From what I have read, it advisable to disconnect the battery for 24hrs in advance to minimise the airbag going off in my mush.
What codes am I going to need upon reconnecting the battery and where can I find them?

Oh n also when disconnecting the battery will just the negative terminal do or do I have to completely disconnect both terminals?
Someone once told me never to bother disconnecting both as it can cause more hassles but I really don't want an airbag ruining this unfortunate thing I call a face.

Yup, did mine a while back. Took it off because i didnt have the clock spring that supported the controls. However i've recently replaced that, and today proxi aligned it to re-enable controls. Just waiting to buy a fiat 500 airbag (not a fan of the abarth logo bag) to fit my wheel.

I usually just give it a few minutes mate, I personally wouldn't wait 24 hours before removing the airbag but each to your own. I just disconnect the battery (negative terminal only will do), test a few things in the car see if theres anything working lol, then remove.

First time I was a nervous wreck but tbh, people whack their horns in temper so it's not gonna go off with a bit of force.

After that it's a simple off and on job. You'll need a 24mm socket to remove the nut that holds the wheel in place.

What codes are you referring too?

mikem1989 · Jul 12, 2015

bradgibbs said:
Yup, did mine a while back. Took it off because i didnt have the clock spring that supported the controls. However i've recently replaced that, and today proxi aligned it to re-enable controls. Just waiting to buy a fiat 500 airbag (not a fan of the abarth logo bag) to fit my wheel.

I usually just give it a few minutes mate, I personally wouldn't wait 24 hours before removing the airbag but each to your own. I just disconnect the battery (negative terminal only will do), test a few things in the car see if theres anything working lol, then remove.

First time I was a nervous wreck but tbh, people whack their horns in temper so it's not gonna go off with a bit of force.

After that it's a simple off and on job. You'll need a 24mm socket to remove the nut that holds the wheel in place.

What codes are you referring too?

Glad to hear from someone that has done it successfully

The code I was thinking of was for the head unit. To get the radio back on after taking the battery off for a period of time. Did you need it?

Also what year is your Bravo and the year the Abarth steering wheel is from?
From what I've researched, some years are incompatible. My Bravo is a 2009 and the steering wheel I'm getting is from a 500 2012 so I'm unsure it will work.
Only one way to find out!.....

bradgibbs · Jul 12, 2015

mikem1989 said:
Glad to hear from someone that has done it successfully

The code I was thinking of was for the head unit. To get the radio back on after taking the battery off for a period of time. Did you need it?

Also what year is your Bravo and the year the Abarth steering wheel is from?

From what I've researched, some years are incompatible. My Bravo is a 2009 and the steering wheel I'm getting is from a 500 2012 so I'm unsure it will work.

Only one way to find out!.....

Ah I replaced my head unit with an aftermarket one so can't answer, however I used to remove the HU before and it never asked for any codes when plugging it all back in...

My bravo is an 08
Unsure on the wheel I just brought it randomly one day lol
I think it's the airbag connectors. I read a while back some older bravos 07, had a square single plug in the back (I think ) where as newer ones had the two stage round plugs like the 500 air bag

When I opened mine thankfully it was the two round plugs, so I think I'm good. As I say though not got to the airbag bit yet it's still a work in progress for me so if you find out lemme know but I'm pretty sure it should be fine.

Mozes · Jul 14, 2015

First of all, good luck!

Second, is your Bravo a manual or auto?

I own a 2011 automatic, but without the shifters, and I would like to change my steering to one with the shifters. I'd rather it would a Bravo steering wheel and not a 500.

A friend who has done so, was unable to get the shifters to work.

mikem1989 · Jul 14, 2015

Mozes said:
First of all, good luck!

Second, is your Bravo a manual or auto?

I own a 2011 automatic, but without the shifters, and I would like to change my steering to one with the shifters. I'd rather it would a Bravo steering wheel and not a 500.

A friend who has done so, was unable to get the shifters to work.

I have a manual.
I would not know how to go about getting the shifters to work with an auto.
That sounds far too specialist for me.

Sorry I can not be of help.

Matthewr1990 · Jul 14, 2015

Are the autos electrical shifting? As in up and down gear? Could you not splice the gear wire and feed them to the apropriate paddles? That way the ecu thinks the input is still coming from the selector?

mikem1989 · Jul 15, 2015

Just tried to remove the steering wheel...
Failed miserably.

Could not even get the airbag module out. I read you can get it out with a torx screwdriver. Go through the small hole mark in the side of the wheel then your working blind to undo the retainer clips.
Half hour of trying, didn't manage to release the clips. Dissapointed.

All I did was make 2 holes in either side of my steering wheel

Maybe there is a specific tool for this? Or I'm going to have to pay someone who know what they are doing :/

Matthewr1990 · Jul 16, 2015

mikem1989 said:
Just tried to remove the steering wheel...
Failed miserably.

Could not even get the airbag module out. I read you can get it out with a torx screwdriver. Go through the small hole mark in the side of the wheel then your working blind to undo the retainer clips.
Half hour of trying, didn't manage to release the clips. Dissapointed.

All I did was make 2 holes in either side of my steering wheel

Maybe there is a specific tool for this? Or I'm going to have to pay someone who know what they are doing :/

Use torx drivers on either side and literally squeeze as if you're trying to push them together behind the steering wheel. The airbag pops off then

bradgibbs · Jul 16, 2015

mikem1989 said:
Just tried to remove the steering wheel...
Failed miserably.

Could not even get the airbag module out. I read you can get it out with a torx screwdriver. Go through the small hole mark in the side of the wheel then your working blind to undo the retainer clips.
Half hour of trying, didn't manage to release the clips. Dissapointed.

All I did was make 2 holes in either side of my steering wheel

Maybe there is a specific tool for this? Or I'm going to have to pay someone who know what they are doing :/

The first time I did it, it took hours. Honestly for the life of me I could not get the nack. Just keep trying, squeeze the prongs inwards. Torx screw drivers are the best to use.

I find pulling the bag forward from one side as i do it helps, as when one side releases it comes forward a bit to stop it popping back in.

Keep trying! Once you do it, it's easy.

Fergie · Jul 16, 2015

There is a video on YouTube of how a guy removes the wheel from an abarth 500.

mikem1989 · Jul 16, 2015

Thanks for the advice guys.
I've watched the YouTube video several times. Even used the same type of screwdriver he uses...

But I just cannot get the knack!

Had another go today. At it nearly an hour. No luck.

mikem1989 · Jul 17, 2015

Had another go today. Still not managed it.
Felt like just ripping it out! Inside the car it was roughly a million degrees and I was getting hot under the collar. Seriously lost my patience with it now.
Going to have to take it to a professional. I take it pretty much any local garage with have a proper tool to get it out?

bradgibbs · Jul 17, 2015

mikem1989 said:
Had another go today. Still not managed it.
Felt like just ripping it out! Inside the car it was roughly a million degrees and I was getting hot under the collar. Seriously lost my patience with it now.
Going to have to take it to a professional. I take it pretty much any local garage with have a proper tool to get it out?

It really does take patience.

Push inwards. The prongs themselves are just like little metal bars, hence you need something with a flat head.

It's a nack. Once you feel the lever start to push inwards, pull the airbag towards you, like prise that side outwards you'll feel like you're pulling it but you'll just help release it and stop it locking back in. Then do the otherside.

Matthewr1990 · Jul 17, 2015

When I did it I just squeezed really hard and the whole airbag just popped off I didn't need to touch it.

bradgibbs · Jul 18, 2015

I tried that matt for ages lol, i kept expecting the bag to just pop forward and be done with it. It wasnt till i gave it a bit of a tug did it then come loose. Weird.

Fergie · Jul 18, 2015

At least it never exploded ?

Am I right in thinking some bravos are a straight swap with the 500 while others aren't? Any way of telling without taking it off?

mikem1989 · Jul 18, 2015

Fergie said:
At least it never exploded ?

Am I right in thinking some bravos are a straight swap with the 500 while others aren't? Any way of telling without taking it off?

No mate, not that I've found out.
That's why I am trying to take mine off, to see what connectors I have behind there.... Its turned out to be a ball ache of a job :bang:

Fergie · Jul 18, 2015

I might check eper sometime and see if that sheds any light.

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