Re: How to Remove Steering Wheel Trim and Wires
Posted by HH56 On 2015/6/16 15:54:11
It sounds as if you have the system with 3 wires up the column to the turn signal switch. One to the flasher and one wire to the right and left turnsignal bulb looms. If the colors are faded mark the wires and plugs before removing the wires.
The wires go into what are called Wade connectors and it can be a real pain to remove the terminals from the plugs without breaking the old plastic. The single circuit with a wire in - wire out connectors are still available new but I don't believe the ones with 3 or more wires like those used there are available so be careful.
The metal wire tabs have a hole which slide over a sharp edged "button" on the spring contacts. Those are positioned on either side of the tab. The buttons are beveled on the insert side to let the tab come in and slide over but on the inner side the edges are sharp and do not let the hole slide back out. If the connecter has never been apart and buttons are still sharp and springs still have tension the thing can hold very tightly -- which I guess is the purpose to not let the wires fall out.
Best I can suggest is get something thin and slightly narrower than the tab to work up on either side of the wire to push the spring tabs back far enough the button comes out of the hole. You will have to twist and pull gently on the wire at the same time so the button doesn't go right back in the hole. Might have to work one side and then the other back and forth.
Here is a photo of the tab and spring contacts. You can barely see the buttons. Another showing how they fit together to hold the tab inside the plastic housing. Keep in mind in normal use the spring portion is compressed and not at the angle the forceps caused so the buttons are really forced into the hole.
Attach file:
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The wires go into what are called Wade connectors and it can be a real pain to remove the terminals from the plugs without breaking the old plastic. The single circuit with a wire in - wire out connectors are still available new but I don't believe the ones with 3 or more wires like those used there are available so be careful.
The metal wire tabs have a hole which slide over a sharp edged "button" on the spring contacts. Those are positioned on either side of the tab. The buttons are beveled on the insert side to let the tab come in and slide over but on the inner side the edges are sharp and do not let the hole slide back out. If the connecter has never been apart and buttons are still sharp and springs still have tension the thing can hold very tightly -- which I guess is the purpose to not let the wires fall out.
Best I can suggest is get something thin and slightly narrower than the tab to work up on either side of the wire to push the spring tabs back far enough the button comes out of the hole. You will have to twist and pull gently on the wire at the same time so the button doesn't go right back in the hole. Might have to work one side and then the other back and forth.
Here is a photo of the tab and spring contacts. You can barely see the buttons. Another showing how they fit together to hold the tab inside the plastic housing. Keep in mind in normal use the spring portion is compressed and not at the angle the forceps caused so the buttons are really forced into the hole.
Attach file:
(23.35 KB)
(20.36 KB)
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