Hi everyone,

I have purchased a celebration model US spec wood steering wheel for my 94 XJS. Before I dive in and try to do this myself, is there anyone here who has experience removing the airbag and steering wheel who could help me through the process?

 

1. Disable the firing pin with the special D shaped tool. Have you made one of those.
2. Once disabled, you should be able to access the bolts that hold the wheel to the column. I recall an un-disabled firing pin blocking access to one of the bolts, so being extra careful won't help. The firing pin screw needs to be fully turned in. I think that allows some small hinged door to open. It's very straightforward.

 

Remove the bolts from these two holes with 13mm socket. Turn wheel 90 degrees each way to access.

Second bolt hole

Turn wheel upside down, pry open this flap with a flat head screwdriver

Use JD159 (impossible to find) screwdriver bit or hammer a small socket to make shift socket into the “D” tool that fits around this “D” shaped screw and turn counter clockwise 12 times (until stops)

Slide this metal bracket over to access third bolt, turn “D” (arming pin) clockwise a few turns while holding bracket open and arming pin will hold open bracket for you

Exposed third bolt, undo with 13mm socket. Once loosened, remove airbag. Once removed smoke cigarette and pat yourself on the back.

Use large socket to loosen and remove steering wheel

Slides off fairly easily, wheel puller not required

Use a thin flat head screwdriver to remove old horn buttons to put in new steering wheel

It’s a single piece, no wires

Your new beautiful wood steering wheel, as the XJS always should have had.

 

once the 2 bolts have been removed will the airbag lift out so you can get to the pin and third bolt?

 

once you have removed the 2 bolts, then you have to turn steering wheel upside down, open third flap, which reveals arming pin. use JD159 jaguar tool (or homemade mashed socket) to disarm airbag by turning 12 times. This allows access to sliding mechanism, which reveals the third bolt required to remove airbag.

like disarming a bomb except more complex

 

Josh;

Was there a part number associated with the wood wheel that you purchased?

 

Mike,

the part number for a US Wood & Leather airbag wheel is HHF9181AALEG

Cheers

Paul

 

I believe that’s the part number there in Paul’s post. Hard part to find though, they were only available on a select group of celebration models. I found mine through Coventry West, and frankly I was lucky. I searched for months.