kamileon

Hey i have a 2005 Scion tC and I'm getting tired of the basic looking steering wheel ever since the 06 came out with audio controls. To change to an 06 steering wheel it would cost me like $500 for the wheel and w/e for the radio on eBay and probably $50 for the wire harness for the audio controls to work.
I was wondering if i could install an after market Momo steering wheel for like $350 with the right hub. I live in NJ and heard about some states having cars without airbags is illegal ( so is driving without cat but they cant see that )

Does anyone know if aftermarket steering wheels are illegal to have in cars?
I don't want $$$ tickets

Yea yea some of you guys are gonna say removing OEM steering wheel is unsafe and bash on me, but i heard airbags get you more hurt. I wear my seat belt 100% of the time and the Momo hubs collapse during an accident.

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trialsindude

yep its illegal, picture this a cop pulls you over, and your car doesnt have a cat, he either didnt hear it or cant see the cat....

2nd scenario you have an aftermarket steering wheel, he notice that it doesn't have an airbag. I think in about 1992 cars started to come with airbags standard, atleast for the driver side.

Yes airbag can do more harm than good WHEN you are not wearing your seatbelt.

kamileon

Well so far i only had cops say my exhaust is loud, non asked about cat. I have megan racing midpipe and the small resonator looks like a high flow cat.
I dont think a normal cop would care so much about the steering wheel as long as theres no nos buttons on it. A a**hole cop can give you a ticket for almost anything if your on his bad side, i heard tickets givin for dirty headlights and air freshiners on rearview mirror.

scion07

i think it looks alright i would rather have the stock i like it and about the airbags ya only reason airbags can hurt you is if your not wearing your seatbelt cause u will be thrown forward into a airbag going 132 mph but if your wearing your seat belt it will hold u back in time the air bag will deploy then u will hit it and it will cussion ur head! so ya your mistaken on them hurting you part....

Jiggaman

iTrader: (1)

tell that to insurance company! thats why there is a flashing red light on the dash telling you to put your seatbelt on. Red blinking lights annoy me so i put it on anyways!

If a cop give you a ticket for a friggin aftermarket steering wheel, pull out ur nine and buss a cap in dat piggy's ****!(sorry )

Zebman

Your steering wheel is killing the ozone, i'm going to have to give you a ticket.

Tell a cop to shove it up his ___.

trialsindude

Once again you are comparing something that is visible and something that isnt.

scandalous

Yes, it is infact illegal [in most states, I believe] to drive with an aftermarket steering wheel. Most aftermarket wheels are not DOT approved and almost all have no airbags.

kamileon

I wonder if cops really enforce it.

KINGxOFxSKA

i doubt they do.

kamileon

Neothin gave me a good point of view. Unless i dont have rcing seats and a harness, its not a good idea to put in a af steering wheel because the stock seat belt wont restrain me from slamming my face into the wheel haha

JDZNate

I've been a cop for about ten years now and I have never heard of an after market steering wheel being illegal.

trialsindude

REMOVING any airbag is illegal, therefore aftermarket steering wheel is illegal.

jbae1221

well you can't turn off the light.. but you know you can turn off the beeping

Dr_Isotope

iTrader: (1)

This thread officially wins the Misinformation Thread of the Year Award. So everybody give it up for the MTOTYA.

It is not illegal for you to remove your airbag equipped steering wheel. It is illegal for you to pay someone to do it.

It is a supplemental restraint.

There is one person who will be ____ed about removing an airbag from an factory equipped vehicle: your insurance agent. If you get in an accident, they are within their rights to deny you any medical claim. And remember, one airbag out = both airbags out. The passenger bag will not deploy if the controller cannot sense a DS bag.

Legally, there is no issue.

trialsindude

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/adap...e_ask_Ques.htm

kamileon

Thank you!!!! Well you can make the controller sense that there is an airbag by probably putting in the right resistor.
And tC has 3 air bags stock not 2. Cant forget that knee bag.
Thanks for the info, I'm petty much just putting myself at risk for removing it.

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FIREDOG

im going to get one...

FLINT

just wear a helmet

CarbonXe

iTrader: (1)

You can turn the light off..Just get a soldering iron and pop that little sucker right off there