Steering wheel removal

[Ray]

Could anyone advise me on how to remove my stearing wheel.
The horn intermittently works depending on where the steering is i.e. when going straight it doesn't work but does work going round bends. It failed the MOT last year on it so i was going to try and rectify the fault.
I've removed the 18mm nut in the centre of the wheel behind the horn button but the wheel wont budge.
Also when refitting it does anyone know the torque settings for the nut?

[Monty]

the steering wheel can be difficult to remove, leave the nut on by a few threads and pull like mad on the wheel, try hitting and rocking outer side of the wheel to free it. Other wise u might need a wheel puller.

[Fubar1764]

Both Monty and I have had some experience with pulling wheels off!
Monty's 100% spot on. Don't remove the nut. If you do, you'll bonk yourself in the face when the wheel doesfinally give. Also, when trying to remove it, wiggle vigorously (yes, I know I should write for Lotus repair manuals). Don't be afraid of destroying a part of the column or wheel, you're not that strong nor are the parts that weak! After removing the nut, it took me about 2-3 minutes of progressively more vigorous wiggleing to get the bugger off!
Finally, you might just have a wire whose insulation has stripped off. There are 2 wires connecting the contacts from the horn button to the wheel. When the 2 leads touch, they complete the circuit and the horn goes off. Again, I'd look for frayed wires that need more electrical tape sheath.[/i]

[johnbenk]

HI.

Have you had your "Wheetabix" for Breakfast.

After undoing the "nut" but NOT Removing get BOTH HANDS on TOP of wheel and PULL towards you with your wrists facing you and your hands THROUGH the wheel. This action pulls the wheel off the taper spline and the wheel will move off its mount. It MUST BE PULLED FROM THE TOP It helps if you pull the driver seat forward so that your knees are bent and you use your "body" as the fulcrum point with your HEAD ON THE
HEADREST. This way YOU are NOT moving but the short "jerk" of the hands DO ALL THE WORK.

This "trick" of the Trade was shown to me by a LOTUS MECHANIC.
time taken two seconds.

[Enright]

The horn intermittently works depending on where the steering is i.e. when going straight it doesn't work but does work going round bends. It failed the MOT last year on it so i was going to try and rectify the fault.

Do you really need to take the wheel off? I had a similar problem but wheel removal wasn't required.

I found that if you remove the upper and lower plastic steering column shrouds (7 screws from below), you can access the mechanism quite easily. Only thing is, the upper shroud forms a complete circle round the column so has to be cut. This is no big deal - you never see it anyway as it's covered by the lower shroud.

Behind the wheel you can see a brass ring, and a pip which protrudes through the top of the aluminium casting and rubs against it to make the circuit.

Over time the ring gets mis-shapen and only connects at certain points. THIS is your problem.

So what I did was to bypass the pip. I bent a paperclip into the right shape to make a new sprung metal connector, covered it in plastic insulation to just leave bare ends, and securely cable-tied it to the aluminium casting. It's never caused any trouble since.

Here are some pics:

[M100 TWO]

Ray, whatever you do - DO NOT hit down on the steering column, because all you will do is collapse the steering column which it is designed to do, resulting in heavy steering and a replacement of the column.

[Doug]

do not drive with the steering wheel off either



Neil, did you use your ALDL paperclip for that repair? Now how are you going to check the trouble codes

[Enright]

Ah of course, now I remember - THAT'S where it went! No wonder I got a mobile lottery number generator next time I was able to afford a new paperclip.

[max and andy]

Thanks for the tip on removing the steering wheel .Its been a big help .I just hope the alarm fitter didn't bend anything before i had chance to sort him out with the tip . Cheers guys Max & Andy

[roy666]

Hi all.. I know this is an old post but thought I would use it: I want to do the same here with my S2 steering wheel and I have exactly the same horn problem (only sounds when the wheel is off centre by 60 degree or so). How does one get the centre horn button out/off..and is the troubleshoot the same solution process as the SE horn issue? cheers Mike

[Tuga2112]

Hi all.. I know this is an old post but thought I would use it: I want to do the same here with my S2 steering wheel and I have exactly the same horn problem (only sounds when the wheel is off centre by 60 degree or so). How does one get the centre horn button out/off..and is the troubleshoot the same solution process as the SE horn issue? cheers Mike

dont the S" have airbags ? if they do, i would be extremely careful

[roy666]

Thanks Tuga... but No; no airbag in the S2. I'm assuming the horn button must twist ... very much like the SE button. But I can't get it to move around. Come on Guys..what's the solution?

[Saltire]

Mike, it’s some years since I had the steering wheel off, and my memory is flaky to say the least. I’m not in front of the car at the moment, but IIRC, I didn’t need to twist the horn push to remove it. I think it lifted straight out with the aid of a trim tool.

I’ll check for you once I’m back home later.

PS: Do you have the optional Nardi wheel?

[roy666]

J - its the standard steering wheel that came with the car...which i think is the Nardi

[exeterjeep]

From the workshop manual.. (not usa with air bag!!!)
press centre horn, turn counter clockwise to release from bayonet type fitting.

[Tuga2112]

press centre horn, turn counter clockwise to release from bayonet type fitting.

that perfertly describes the removal process of the original SE centre cap.
i thought the topic was the S2 which has a different steering wheel

i would add to the description "anti-clockwise by roughly 30 degrees", i can put a video on facebook showing that faster than it takes me write this message.

[roy666]

Tuga.. I agree... I think that description is for the SE steering wheel... I've yet to come across any removal instructions that are specifically for the S2 standard steering wheel.

[dapinky]

Just to clarify (or add confusion!) - there were 4 steering wheels used on the Elan:-

Plastic rim 'standard' wheel on the NA
Leather rim 'standard' on the SE & S2
Airbag wheel (GM parts-bin special) for the Fed
Nardi - 'optional' on the S2

Although I think it would be fair to say that most S2's went for the option, not all of them did..... as such, a 'standard' S2 is the same as an SE....... and I've never dismantled a Nardi so can't help if it's one of those!!!

[exeterjeep]

Just been out removed the horn push on my S2 (ot a Nardi..) just as described above. Did, make a lot of noise!!!, but it came out easily.
I note that the horn push part number seems to be the same for SE/S2 assuming it is not the Nardi.

[Saltire]

J - its the standard steering wheel that came with the car...which i think is the Nardi

This is the optional Nardi wheel on my S2:

IMG_1986.jpeg

To remove the horn push, remove the leather-covered piece which covers the wheel spokes by levering forward, using your fingers from behind the wheel. The horn push will come away with the leather piece.