Fiat Abarth and Alfa Romeo steering wheel spacer installation

Not only Fiat: this guide also applies to all Abarth 500s and other cars of the FCA group

With very small differences, same procedure is valid for:

Alfa Romeo: 4C, Mito, Giulietta, Giulia, Stelvio, 156, 147, GTV .

Fiat: 500, 500X, Punto, 600, Panda 169, Doblò, Ducato.

The biggest difference is the way to remove the airbag from the steering wheel, because depending on the vehicle, ther is different number and position of the hooks that hold the airbag on the steering wheel. Older vehicles don’t even have hooks, they have bolts.

After airbag is removed, it changes nothing: splined shaft number and shape of connectors are nearly the same.

The procedure can be summarized in a few steps:

• Disconnect the battery
• Remove the airbag from the steering wheel
• Pull the steering wheel out of the car
• Insert the spacer onto the steering column
• Refit the steering wheel to the spacer
• Re-insert the airbag into the steering wheel
• Reconnect the battery

WARNINGS:

1) Carry out the entire procedure with the battery disconnected: pull negative terminal out and wait 30 min.
2) There is no need to cut and extend the wires: they are ALL long enough to be easily reconnected even at the end of the installation.
3) Don’t worry about keeping the steering wheel straight during installation: both the steering wheel and the spacer are made in such a way that they are inserted on the steering column without the possibility of misalignment. There are 3 markers in the spline so if you try to insert the steering wheel or spacer crooked, it just doesn’t fit.

AIRBAG REMOVAL ON FIAT 500

Chech the video  you can find it on the product page.

1) Remove the 2 plastic covers that are located behind the steering wheel, respectively above and below the indicators/wiper levers. Start by unscrewing the 2 screws at the top end of the bores visible from the bottom. Then separate the lower cover from the upper one by unlocking the joints on both sides. A lot of force can be needed and great care must be taken so as not to break the joints.

To remove the upper cover, unscrew 2 more screws identical to the previous ones, but which are located between the cover itself and the light switch, and must be unscrewed from the bottom, like the previous ones. Visualize them well beforehand by putting your head under the steering wheel.

2) Remove the airbag: use a flat screwdriver, no wider than 3 mm and no longer than 10-12 cm, and unlock the 3 clips (at 3 o’clock, 6 and 9 o’clock positions of the steering wheel) by inserting the screwdriver into the 3 rear holes of the steering wheel, made visible by removing the covers referred to in point 1. Be careful not to accidentaly scratch the dashboard with the screwdriver handle. it can help to unlock the steering wheel adjustment and rotate time by time to have the airbag’s spring access hole always down. Leave the ignition key on so that you can rotate the steering wheel during operation.

AIRBAG REMOVAL ON ALFA ROMEO MITO and GIULIETTA

1) There are 2 holes in the rubber part on the sides of the steering wheel, behind the spokes, which can be accessed from underneath. Insert 1 flat screwdriver vertically from underneath, entering 65 mm, then, turn the screwdriver 90° to operate the release spring. Do this from 2 sides. It can be very difficult to find the 2 springs, it takes patience and many attempts.

AIRBAG REMOVAL ON ALFA ROMEO 4C

2) Insert a flat screwdriver, long enough, until you reach the release springs, which are of the staple type, like levers. Take your time and familiarize yourself with the movement, after a few attempts you will begin to feel the elasticity of the spring. It means that you have spotted it: press a little harder and the corresponding side of the airbag will go out by a few mm.

REMOVING THE STEERING WHEEL

3) Once the airbag is unlocked, disconnect all connectors on it and on the steering wheel. They all have a release lever/rivet, so don’t force them, especially the airbag ones. Disconnect and leave them pending from the clockspring.
Place the airbag unit on the rear seats, where there is no one.

4) Unscrew the central nut of the steering wheel, without pulling it out completely, first make sure that the steering wheel slides along the steering column. If the steering wheel has never been disassembled, it may be a little hard to pull out and pulling it could suddenly pop out, and could, in addition to hurting you, tear the wires.

5) Once you have made sure that the steering wheel slides on the steering column, remove the nut and the steering wheel itself, smoothly sliding the wiring harnesses through the square slot.

INSTALLING THE STEERING WHEEL SPACER ON THE STEERING COLUMN

6) From now on, proceed in reverse, with the difference that you have to install the spacer first: insert the aluminum part of the spacer into the column.
There may be some play before tightening the nut. Slide the cables into the square slot just above the flat mill. Attach the aluminum part tightening it to a torque of 60 Nm. See photo below.

7) Attach the steel part to the aluminum part, using the Allen screws provided. Tightening torque 10 Nm, be careful not to strip the aluminum threads by using too much force.

REASSEMBLE THE STEERING WHEEL

8) Slide the steering wheel into the steel hub of the steering wheel spacer, passing the wires through the quadrangular slot, as originally, and screw the central nut back on at 60 Nm.
9) Reconnect all connectors to the airbag unit and steering wheel. There is no way to go wrong because they are all different and each has only one possible orientation.
10) Pre-align the airbag with the steering wheel “in sight” and push it into the wheel’s housing. It takes is the same force as when you press the horn hard. Make sure there are no wires pressed between the rear of the airbag unit and the steering wheel’s internal frame, otherwise your horn may sound perpetually once you turn the key. You should hear a reassuring “clack” every time one of the 3 clamps clicks. It is still suggested to take a look at the videos on the internet.

Reconnect the battery.

If you did everything right:

• there are no warning lights.
• The stalk levers returns automatically, as before.
• You don’t hear noises or clicks when you turn the wheel.
• Steering effort feels as prior the installation.
• The steering wheel buttons, if available on the car, must all work immediately.
• The horn works.
• The existing steering wheel adjustments (both tilt and depth if available) works.
• No break-in period is necessary and the steering wheel, when driving, must be as straight as before.
• It may be that at idle the steering wheel vibrates slightly more than before, due to the greater distance from the engine, which is the source of vibrations.

END.