i posted this on fiesta guides a while ago for aw3k so thought i would post it on here

if you fit a mk3 steering wheel into a mk3.5 you will lose your steering lock+airbag ,here's how to do it without losing your steering lock or self cancelling indicators

first you will need a few parts

mk3 steering wheel xr2i/rsturbo/rs1800 all non airbag
mk3 ignition barrel housing


tools

15mm socket and a short extention + ratchet
t15 torx driver+t25 torx driver
no.3 philips screwdriver
cable ties

now for the fun bit

first disconnect battery and go have a cup of tea/ciggie leave for at least 20mins to allow air bag to discharge

start by removing the plastic cowl from around the steering column to gain acsess to the rear of the steering wheel

next disconnect wires from wiper/light stalks and remove stalks (1 philips screw on top).

next if you feel on the back of the steering wheel you will find two torx screws holding the airbag to the steering wheel , remove the screws and pull the airbag gently towards the rear of the car

next remove the wire that connects the air bag to the loom and the airbag is now free (put in a safe place rubber side up

next job is to remove the steering wheel ,make sure the wheels are straight and the steering lock is on remove the 15mm bolt that holds the steering wheel on.

turn key in the ignition to the accesories position to release the steering wheel ,being careful not to turn the wheels ,pull the steering wheel gently towards you and it should come off (dont force it ).

you should now be looking at the end of the steering column ,there is a small white tapered spacer(do not lose this as its very important to the function of your steering )

next job is to remove the pats sensor from around the ignmition barrel ,its held in place by 1 philips screw

next remove the ignition barrel , to do this you need to put your key to the accesories position again and then depress the retaining pin in the top of the ignition housing (do not force ) .

you now need to remove the ignition switch,it just clips in place onto the housing

now remove the cast housing that contains the steering lock it should just pull free

RE-ASSEMBLY

NOW REPLACE THE MK3.5 STEERING LOCK/IGNITION HOUSING WITH THE MK3 ONE

PUT THE WHITE TAPERED PLASTIC SPACER OVER THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE YOU REMOVED IT FROM JUST NOW AND SLIP THE STEERING WHEEL ONTO THE SHAFT (MAKE SURE THE WHEELS ARE STILL STRAIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS STRAIGHT ) AND REPLACE THE 15MM BOLT THAT HOLDS THE STEERING WHEEL ON AND TORQUE TO THE RECOMENDED SETTING .

NOW REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH,IGNITION BARREL AND PATS SENSOR WHERE YOU REMOVED THEM FROM ALSO REFIT YOUR WIPER STALKS AND POLUG THEM BACK IN NOW CHECK EVERYTHING WORKS BEFORE GOING ANY FURTHER(CHECK THAT THE CAR STARTS AND THE WIPERS/LIGHTS ALL WORK AND THE STEERING LOCK WORKS AT THIS POINT).

IF EVERYTHING IS OK NOW IS TIME FOR THE FUN PART

YOU WILL HAVE NOTICED THAT YOUR AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS NOW ON

TO SOLVE THIS YOU HAVE TO FOOL YOUR CAR INTO THINKING THAT THE AIRBAG IS STILL FITTED , TO DO THIS TRACE THE AIRBAG WIRE DOWN UNTIL YOU FIND WHERE IT JOINS THE LOOM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN AND REMOVE IT

NOW THERE WILL BE A SMALL YELLOW PLUG THAT PREVIOUSLY CONNECTED TO THE REAR OF THE AIRBAG ON THE WIRE THAT YOU REMOVED

YOU NEED TO REMOVE THE SMALL PLUG AND SOLDER ON A 15AMP FUSE AS THIS FOOLS THE CAR INTO THINKING THE AIRBAG IS STILL FITTED AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THE FUSE WILL BLOW NOW RECONNECT THE WIRING TO THE LOOM AND CABLE TIE IT TO THE STEERING COLUMN IN A WAY THAT IT IS NOT GOING TO GET TANGLED

TURN ON IGNITION AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT SHOULD COME ON FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND THEN GO OUT AS NORMAL

NOW REPLACE THE PLASTIC COWL AND YOU ARE READY TO GO.

AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 50MILES RE-TORQUE THE STEERING WHEEL TO AVOID ANY NASTY ACCIDENTS AND ENJOY YOUR NEW LEATHER STEERING WHEEL .

*****WARNING****** DO NOT REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL ON A MK3.5 WITH TWIN AIRBAGS

*****WARNING******DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE AN AIRBAG WITHOUT HAVING HAD THE BATTERY DIS-CONNECTED FOR AT *LEAST* 20MINS AS IT MAY GO OFF IN YOUR FACE AND THATS NASTY

*****WARNING***** NOT DECLARING THIS TO YOUR INSURANCE COULD LEAVE YOUR INSURANCE NULL AND VOID IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT <INFORM THEM> CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED

hope this is of use to somebody , decided to write it after fitting a frst steering wheel to my mk3.5 1.1 then thinking "wait a minute ,thats not right , no steering lock

i accept no responsibility for any injury occured due to airbag going off

Gav

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Thats a really good guide Gav, ive thought about swapping mine for an aftermarket wheel but always thought, i cant be arsed to self cancel all the time!

So i may use in the not to distant future!

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RIP Ben. Gone but not forgotten.

SportKA - I've driven one and its deffinately a Girls car

Ford Fair 2010 0-60 7.45 secs Trek 4100

Save the trees, wipe your arse with a Cosworth

I could do with a new steering wheel as mines had a battering.

But I like the idea of having an airbag, even if it isnt 100% it will work

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Daily isn't so Special. And it makes me sad.
Need space and time and I'll crack on with Jams si!

Catch me on Facebook as I'm rarely on here.

Nice guide there mate, very useful

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i now need to reverse this guide as im fitting an escort gti wheel to the car and have promised the frst wheel to someone , i knew this little guide had helped a few people off FT as its also posted on fiestaguides.co.uk so thought it may help a few bodys on here as well ,
Gav

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ive already fitted a escort gti wheel to mine and looks great wiv my cossie interior

iv got a mk3.5 twin airbag,can i still put a mk3 wheel on

I'd like to put an aftermarket steering wheel on my Fiesta 1.6 16v PRO (Si) , but mine has twin aribags......here i read that is recomended not to do this in case of twin airbags...why?