Anyone fitted an aftermarket steering wheel??

Well I got me a Mountney steering wheel with panda boss to replace the original panda steering wheel which is a bit cracked.

I've not had a problem replacing the steering wheel itself, but i've been having problems figuring out how to wire the horn button to the contacts on the column. The only way I could figure it out is by passing a wire from the contact on the horn button, through a hole in the boss (that had a bolt through it when it came?), and soldered it to the contact. Problem is there's the issue of having enough 'free wire' so that when I turn to full lock the wire goes with it, but also when i tried going for a run with it, it was ok until the wire was pulled free from the contact on the steering column. Needless to say it was rather embarrassing driving home with the horn going off every second on it's own because the loose wire was making contact!

I've rewired it and it seems to be holding for now. I just wondered if anyone else has had this problem? Or am I being a typical girl and completely missing something really easy?

Thanks!

Vicky

Hi Vicky

This does not sound right. Without seeing it its hard to say how it should fit. I have fitted a few to other cars and they all have their own small quirks. I would not expect to have to solder to the contact. I suspect you should have run that wire to the bolt that you removed, the back of the hub then making contact with the contact on the column.

Cheers Damon

See that's what I thought at first. The original bolt that came with it, when i fitted the boss, didn't make contact with the contacts on the steering column, in fact it hit the ring that the boss turns. Plus if you conect a wire to the bolt then the horn goes off constantly , which is why i removed it. I'm starting to think the boss I got with the wheel is the wrong one.

I'm looking at one on ebay that is suitable for Panda's up to 1985 - is there a difference in the boss from an 85' model to an '87? Here's a picture of it, it has a contact ring on it similar to the original Fiat steering wheel, which i don't have on my current boss!

Thanks

Vicky

The mk1 Panda (up to 11/84) uses a different boss to the mk2 (85-). As the picture is for up to 85 it should not fit yours. It sounds like you have a fiat hub for I'm not sure what? I think the back should look something like this...



cheers Damon

I have just ordered one of these boss kits

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Steering-Wheel...QQcmdZViewItem

and I have a 1988 panda this should fit your car aswell.

Make sure the boss can collapse in an accident (some are show use only).

I have just finshed fitting it and its great. If the boss is show only there will not be a canceller on the back.

Good stuff! Well i'm waiting from a reply from a seller on ebay about a boss, but if he doesn't do them then I will get one like yours. You know now you've said that maybe the boss i'm using that came with the wheel is a show one as i've noticed it doesn't auto-cancel anymore - except once in a blue moon. Better get a new boss quicksmart methinks!

Slightly off topic but I noticed in the above pic that you have a ciggy lighter socket, which reminded me that I wanted to find out about where to get one from? My CL doesn't have one there's just a round plastic disc where I think you could fit your own (or just where the newer models have theirs), and I just wondered if you knew how I could do this? Whenever I look for car ciggy lighters I'm never sure if i'm looking at a complete replacement unit or just the push in part!

Thanks

Vicky

It's a wiggle in part... and Ebay is a good place to start looking... check uno,X 1/9 and panda bits... they all use the same item

something like this...

little green thing

Thanks Tony, I shall keep an eye out for one now I know what I'm looking for!

Vicky

Ok, so I got one of those Ektor boss kits as Fiat Nutter recommended, and it fits to the steering column it's just too small for the steering wheel!

I can't believe how much work this has become just to change a steering wheel! Assuming the boss is correct for the car, is the steering wheel wrong? I thought u could fit any wheel to a car as long as you go the right boss?

Just so there's no confusion on anyone else's part here's some pics to illustrate:

Boss kit fitted:



Steering wheel whole in comparison to boss:



Boss that came with wheel compared to Ektor one:



And also, horn push botton and connector from boss - how do they fit??





Help, anyone???

Vicky

If you read the eBay listing it tells you that its for a 74mm PCD (IIRC) wheel. The classic Mountney PCD is much larger than most other aftermarket wheels, e.g. Momo, etc. That Mountney wheel you have is found in the likes of Minis and MGBs. You have 2 options:

1 - Get a different wheel with the correct PCD
2 - Get another boss with the larger Mountey PCD.

Yep I just realised that after re-reading the listing! How stupid am I!?

Still, assuming then that the horn push button remains the same, how does that connector attach to it?

Thanks,

The Dumb One.

The button has 2 spade connectors, one for the red wire (live) and one for the black wire (earth), when those are fitted, i think the button will click into place on the correct size steering wheel

Hi Vicky,

You now have a number of options (here comes the bleeding obvious),

1. Demon Tweeks sell Mountney classic boss's from £14.40
2. Buy a Momo style wheel
3. adaptor plate to mount classic to momo (I'm trying to find where I saw one, I think it was the Demon Tweeks catalog)

cheers Damon

(please see my pm)