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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 258
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OP
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 258 |
Does anyone know if I can replace the stock steering wheel in my 99 SVT with a Momo? I really like the look of the Racer and Champion models... However someone told me it's illegal to remove the airbag if it was factory equipped... Is this true? I see newer cars that come with airbags with aftermarket wheels all the time in the car mags... If anyone can shed some light on this it'd be greatly appreciated. Also, do Momo make an adapter for our cars or would I be fabricating my own?
Thanks.
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99 SVT #2336
Silver Frost/Midnight Blue.
Performance:
B&M Short Shifter.
Leda Coilovers in the mail!
Asthetics:
No ding strips.
Silver vinyl sunstrips fr + rr.
PIAA Superwhite 9005 + 9006.
Clear corners w/blue bulbs.
APC Sidemarkers w/blue bulbs.
White interior accents.
Silly stuff:
Hoodliner removed.
Mobil 1 5w-30 Synthetic.
Sunoco Ultra 94.
99 SVT #2336
Silver Frost/Midnight Blue.
Leda Coilovers.
K&N Drop-In Air Filter.
Quaife ATB Differential.
B&M Short Shifter.
PIAA Superwhite 9005 + 9006.
Dyno Proven: 180hp/164lbft.
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,086
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Posts: 1,086 |
Semaj,
I don't know about it being prima facie "illegal" to remove an airbag or steering wheel from a vehicle so equipped, but I doubt any dealer mechanic will do so due primarily to liability issues.
Unfortunately due to our highly litigious society, any mechanic or dealer who removed an airbag from a vehicle, irregardless if it was done at the request of the vehicle's owner, could open themselves up to a major lawsuit should that same vehicle become involved in an accident wherein the occupants are injured or killed.
Any competent (read; unscrupulous) lawyer could successfully argue the injuries or deaths were the result of the airbag's being removed or otherwise rendered inoperative.
Remember just a couple of years ago when it was reported that airbags themselves were injuring & killing occupants of vehicles, mainly children & small stature adults?
The federal government who imposed these regulations in the first place refused to allow dealers to either deactivate the airbag devices nor were they keen on adding on/off switches for them. Though the latter eventually became the accepted solution, at least for the passenger airbags in trucks, but not passenger cars.
So, I guesss what I am saying is I seriously doubt you'll be able to replace your factory steering wheel with a MOMO or any other aftermarket wheel unless you can find someone to do it for you & lawsuit be damned.
I would advise you not to try it yourself as deactivating or removing an airbag is probably not something a novice or shade tree mechanic can safely perform.
1999 SVT Contour, #2140 of 2760, Tropic Green - Medium Prairie Tan
Koni Sport struts; TSW Blade wheels; Nakamichi, a/d/s/, Boston Acoustics, Infinity I.C.E.
1989 Saleen Mustang, #89-0408, too many mods to list here
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 258
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OP
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 258 |
Thanks for the detailed reply... Deactivating the airbag isn't actually too hard (had to replace front bumper on a previous ride and had to disconnect the sensors), just a case of doing things in the right order and being very, very carefull. So basically, if I went ahead and did this, don't let anyone else drive my car... Right? Well, either that or write up my own liability waiver for people to sign... Heh heh.
Thanks again. Now to find that adapter, maybe...
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99 SVT #2336
Silver Frost/Midnight Blue.
Performance:
B&M Short Shifter.
Leda Coilovers in the mail!
Asthetics:
No ding strips.
Silver vinyl sunstrips fr + rr.
PIAA Superwhite 9005 + 9006.
Clear corners w/blue bulbs.
APC Sidemarkers w/blue bulbs.
White interior accents.
Silly stuff:
Hoodliner removed.
Mobil 1 5w-30 Synthetic.
Sunoco Ultra 94.
99 SVT #2336
Silver Frost/Midnight Blue.
Leda Coilovers.
K&N Drop-In Air Filter.
Quaife ATB Differential.
B&M Short Shifter.
PIAA Superwhite 9005 + 9006.
Dyno Proven: 180hp/164lbft.
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 332
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 332 |
Yes, illegal for any dealer/shop to remove airbag. You can legally make just about any mod to your car except over-tinting, emissions, lights, or sound in some areas and get away with it.
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,003
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,003 |
Ok, all the naysayers thru?
Here is how to do it. Call any tuner from the back of Max Power U.K. and ask them for a MONDEO hub adaptor. Make sure you get the right adaptor as some come with Momo bolt pattern and some come with Nardi/Personal bolt pattern. Adaptors are available to make the hub work either way so don't sweat which one you get, just get the right adaptor and you'll be all set.
AFAIK, the mondeo and 'tour have the same hub bolt pattern. I think there is a FAQ about disarming the airbag; otherwise check the old archives.
I HATE exploding steering wheels and long for the day that a good five point harness is DOT legal.
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Alex S.
95 SE MTX
Midnight Red w/all options
Susp: Koni, Eibach, Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 205/50Z/15
Motor: KKM, ASP, Magnecor, +4's, Grizzly Street clutch, SVT flywheel, SVT rear motor mounts, resonator removed, TH fix, EGR restrictor, Ported MAF, Mobil 1
Audio: Kenwood eXcelon X815, Infinity Reference speakers
Other: Badgeless, KKM pedals, 885 fog bulbs
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 336
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Posts: 336 |
Hold on...You mean to tell me that a 5 point harness is NOT DOT legal? That if I remove my seat belt and put in a better restraint system, that I am no longer legal? WTF? That is such a load of malarkey. Why is this the case? If I want to be really safe, why would DOT argue? This just seems strange to me...
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The Mark
'98 SVT #464 of 6535
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What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an
endangered plant?
The Mark
#464 of 6535
A Few GS-ish mods
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,003
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Posts: 1,003 |
It's cause they THINK they know better. We all KNOW that proper restraints would make a big difference but they (Sabelt, Willians, OMP) are not certified DOT legal. The only one I know of that IS legal is a certain Schroth harness that is not a "hard" rear connection but one that has a tention device between the fixing point and the harness. This allows you to stretch and reach your glovebox if you want (unlike any 5/6 point harness) but it locks up if pulled too fast. Sounds too much like a factory part for me though.
And yes, I have friends that have received tickets for their "not DOT legal" harnesses. Back on topic though, anybody gonna mount a MOMO wheel in their Contour?
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Alex S.
95 SE MTX
Midnight Red w/all options
Susp: Koni, Eibach, Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 205/50Z/15
Motor: KKM, ASP, Magnecor, +4's, Grizzly Street clutch, SVT flywheel, SVT rear motor mounts, resonator removed, TH fix, EGR restrictor, Ported MAF, Mobil 1
Audio: Kenwood eXcelon X815, Infinity Reference speakers
Other: Badgeless, KKM pedals, 885 fog bulbs
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
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The 5/6 point harness not being DOT legal has to do with extracation issues in most states. EMT/First Response crews usually aren't prepared to deal with them, or if the car gets particularly crunched, it makes it VERY difficult to get you out. Add that to the possibility of the car catching fire? Well, let's just say you've got a mess on your hands then... I still want one, but I think I'll just trust my driving ability to keep me out of situations that would require a 5 point harness...
Nick
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'00 SE Sport
2.5L V6 MTX
T-red, Badgeless
Knauberized
Custom Mesh Grille
Sony Xplod Black Face headunit
Sony 280 Watt bridged amp
Kenwood 10" sub in Q-logic box
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