User talk:Talkstar

How to exchange your steering wheel on a 3rd Gen Jimny to another one

Background information

In my research I've noticed that all Suzuki vehicles uses the same type of spline connector for the steering wheel and steering column.

With that info on hand it should be physically possible to exchange any steering wheel between all Suzuki models.

• Depending on year of manufacture it may or may not be 100% possible to swap any existing airbags among the lineup as well.
• In my research I've observed that Suzuki cars manufactured until 2004 uses an rudimentary larger Airbag connector, similar to the connector used in Mitsubishi vehicles.

After 2004 the connector type changes to an smaller connector, similar to an Toyota connector.

While it is totally possible to splice an newer connector on to an older loom, I do not feel this is the right way of doing it. You are messing with the SRS system and subsequently altering the resistance in the system. If you are really unlucky, the whole system might not work the day you need it.

Prepare for Radio Controls (Optional)

Some newer steering wheels have radio controls built in into the wheel. This controls is not going to work with Jimnii standard Clockspring. To make them work, there is two solutions. One risky and one safer.

• Jimny uses an older version of clockspring. It is much flatter than Suzukis newer springs. Jimnii clocksprings are fully integrated into the indicator assembly with four screws. A newer model clockspring, which are stand-alone units, will not simply fit due to the different size and how they are set up to work.
  
  

• RISKY SOLUTION. PLEASE USE THIS IF NO OTHER OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE

To make use of any buttons on the steering wheel we must add two new leads to carry the information from the wheel through the clockspring and out on the other side of the clockspring.

1. Start by disassembling the clockspring.
2. Make note how long the original airbag cables inside the clockspring are.
3. Use fine guage leads, Kynar f.ex., and meassure two similar lengts of leads that is 400mm longer than the airbag cables.
4. Drill two small holes (MAX 2mm) on the backside of the clockspring next to where the airbag cables comes out.
5. Do the same thing on the front side, the face side, that sits directly behind the steering wheel.
6. Pull the leads through the holes on the back side. Leave about 200mm of slack on the outside, behind, the clockspring.
7. Securely attach the extra leads with cloth tape to the original airbag lead. Use small snippets of tape every 150mm for the whole inside lenght.
8. Pull the leads out on the face, front, side. Leave as much slack you can.
9. Coil everything back inside the clockspring. To center the spring: First turn all the way to the right untill you fell resistance. Then turn it about 2.75 turns back to the left and allign with the marks on the front of the clockspring
10. Assemble the clockspring again.

    Done! Now you have prepared your OEM Jimny clockspring for accepting steering wheel buttons.
    
    

• CORRECT SOLUTION. USE THIS FOR YOUR SAFETY!!

1. Get yourself a Liana or Vitara XL7 clockspring. They are 100% same as the Jimny spring and fit straight out of the box. Airbag connector is same as well.

   1B If you find a Liana Clockspring, make sure it has the extra leads for audio controls. Not all Lianas has Audio controls.My research shows only the top spec under last two years of production came with audio controls.

   1C All Vitara XL7 has audio controls AND leads for cruise control. So there is 5 aditional leads inside an XL7 spring apart from the airbag leads.

2. Inspect both clocksprings. OEM Jimny vs Liana/XL7. See that the tabs holding the clockspring on to the indicator canceller differ in height? OEM Jimnii has a lower profile than Liana/XL7. You have to cut or grind down, using a Dremel, your tabs on the Liana/XL7 clockspring about 3 to 4mm for it to sit flush with the indicator canceller. If you do not grind it down, your new steeringwheel will not seat properly and might damage your Liana/XL7 clockspring.
3. Swap the OEM Jimny for a slightly modded Liana or XL7 one.

   Done! Now you have prepared your Jimny for accepting steering wheel buttons.
   
   

Swapping the wheel

1. Make sure your wheels are straight and your steering wheel is straight before you start spannering away.
2. Start with taking off the Negative side on your battery and waiting 30 min before doing anything.
3. Undo the screws holding the Airbag in place on both sides of the wheel. It is an Torx T30 bit.
4. Unhook the airbag connector and horn lead. Take off the Airbag and store it somewhere safe.
5. Undo the steering wheel nut. It is an 17mm nut.
6. Unwind the steering wheel nut a couple of turns and let it be still attached to the column.
7. Wiggle the wheel a bit and pull straight outwards. It should come off pretty neatly. The still attached Steering wheel nut does not allow you to rip the wheel completly off and damage someting or hurt yourself. Neat, right?
8. Unwind the steeringwheel nut and take off the steering wheel. Store it somewhere safe.
9. -OPTIONAL- Unscrew and unhook your OEM clockspring if you want audio controls. Follow the guide on how to mod your OEM clockspring or just install an compatibe clockspring according to the guide.
10. Prepare your replacement steering wheel.

    10B.Inspect your standard Jimny wheel. Do you see it has two round holes at the back, on the mating surface to the indicator canceller? These two holes you need to replicate on your replacement wheel.

    10C.Holes sit exactly center on the wheel and they are 3mm deep.

    10D.Using a dremel make the holes.

    10E.Depending on what kind of replacement wheel you have chosen, you need to delete the indicator cancelling bumps on the new wheel. In my case, the replacement wheel being from a Swift, I need to grind down the areas marked in red with a grinder.

    10F.Your wheel is modded and ready to go back on! Congrats!!

11. Install your new wheel. Center the indicator canceling device into your newly made holes and check the fitment. Adjust if needed.
12. -OPTIONAL- Connect up your audio controls to your leads you made earlier or the Liana/XL7 clockspring. My Swift connector didn't fit so i chopped off the connector and crimped on some new universal shielded connectors. Attaced to each other and wrapped the connection with cloth tape.
13. Tighten the steeringwheel nut.
14. Attach Airbag connector and horn lead to your new airbag unit.
15. Tighten the two T30 Airbag securing screws.
16. Reattach your batterys negative side and test function. Keep your fingers crossed that airbag light goes out after some blinks.

    YOU ARE DONE!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

• OEM 3spoke.jpg

  1.This is what I started with; A leather OEM Jimny wheel. First I took the Airbag module off and undid the steeringwheel nut.

• Indicator canceller mechanism.jpg

  2.After taking the wheel off and the clockspring. This is whats left on the column. The indicator mechanism. Clockspring was screwed onto the mechanism with 4 screws. One in every corner. If you look closely you can also see how the canceller mechanism is working. It hooks on to two bumps in the white ring. There is two indentations at the back of the OEM Jimny wheel we need to replicate on the Swift wheel.

• Swift 3spoke front.jpg

  3.This is the wheel from a JDM Swift RS I purchased online. I already have an Swift Airbag unit so I didnt have to purchase another one.

• Swift 3spoke rear.jpg

  4.This is how the Swift wheel looks from behind. We need to modify two things. A) We need to add two cut outs in the centerline of the wheel. One North and one south of the splined steeringcolumn connection. This is for Jimny's Indicator canceling system B) We need to grind down the Indicator cancelling bumps on the Swift wheel.

• Swift 3spoke center.jpg

  We will find the centerline on 24mm from either side.

• 4mm deep.jpg

  5.We have to use an Dremel or a file to grind away 3.5 - 4mm of material so the indicator canceller conector bumps will fit properly inside the groove.

• Dremled.jpg

  6.All done.

• Grind off.jpg

  7.We need to grind off all parts marked in red in the picture. Grind it smooth.

• Grind off2.jpg

  8.We need to grind off all parts marked in red in the picture. Grind it smooth.

• Grinded down.jpg

  9.This is how it will look afterwards

• Grinded down2.jpg

  10.This is the other side after.

• Dremel down 3-4mm.jpg

  11.If you are changing your current clockspring for an XL7 or Liana one to obtain Radio controls. You need to shave off a bit of material on the locatortabs on your XL7/Liana clockspring. 3-4mm of plastic material is needed to shave off to make it sit flush inside the indicator canceller mechanism.

• Dremeled and flush fit.jpg

  12.This is how it looks when you hav completed the task. All flush with the canceller ring.

• Indicator canceller mechanism.jpg

  13.Time to line up your new Swift wheel with the indicator canceling mechanism. Check so you have your bumps located north and south of the column shaft.

• Mating surface under.jpg

  14.Wheel on and lined up. This photo is from underneath. A-OK!

• Snug Fit.jpg

  15.Looking great on the upside as well.

• 

  16.I crimped some small connectors on to the leads coming from the steering wheel controls. I took any unused leads on the XL/Liana clockspring and crimped on some corresponding female connectors.

• 

  17.XL7/Liana Clockspring mounted, Swift steeringwheel on, Steeringwheel nut tightened and Remote leads connected.

• Done.jpg

  18.Airbag cover on and you are Done!