Jeep Steering?

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Ankors - 15 Aug 2004 22:12 GMT

Hello - quick question to Jeep Grand Cherokee owners.

Question is for various reasons I wish to replace my standard air bag
equipped steering wheel with a smaller aftermarket one. I cannot find
any source for a replacement steering wheel that will fit a 95 grand
Cherokee, and no one seems to know if it is possible to get hold of
one.

Has anyone at all any knowledge on this?

Any help / ideas greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

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Carl Saiyed - 15 Aug 2004 23:36 GMT

I have two ideas for you..

1. Buy an aftermarket steering wheel from an auto parts store. This
steering wheel may look funny.

2. Find a way to deploy the airbag in the wheel you currently have. Put
the steering wheel back together w/o a new airbag. This will allow you
to keep a factory look.

I dont know how safe either way will be, but the risk is up to You.

HTH

Carl

> Hello - quick question to Jeep Grand Cherokee owners.
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Thanks.

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Chris Phillipo - 16 Aug 2004 04:00 GMT

> Hello - quick question to Jeep Grand Cherokee owners.
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Thanks.

Chances are if all JGCs from that year had airbags, no one is going to
make a steering wheel for it.

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Ankors - 16 Aug 2004 20:33 GMT

Thanks for the suggestions.

Well the airbag in this steering wheel has been deployed - not that I
am fussed about having a new air bag. But I hate these large ungainly
steering wheels, and as with all high miles jeeps the steering is very
vague. I've put smaller steering wheels on vehicles like this before,
and in my opinion it makes the steering feel a hell of alot better -
as well as the interior look better.

I found one site that claimed to do aftermarket wheels for Jeeps, and
I have emailed them to ask them if they are sure they will fit - no
reply as of yet, we will see tho.

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Erik Litchy - 17 Aug 2004 01:23 GMT

> Thanks for the suggestions.
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> I have emailed them to ask them if they are sure they will fit - no
> reply as of yet, we will see tho.

sounds like worn tie rods or something. my 1989 jeep has 219k miles on
all the original front end parts with no play at all. I prefer its
steering over just about anything I have owned.

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Steve W. - 17 Aug 2004 18:55 GMT

Replacing the steering wheel to correct for worn and possible damaged
parts! GREAT IDEA.......
You must live in a state that doesn't require vehicle insurance, since
having a deployed airbag in
a vehicle in most of those states will guarantee you no insurance.
And in fact open you to lawsuits if your involved in an incident.

Signature

Steve

> Thanks for the suggestions.
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> I have emailed them to ask them if they are sure they will fit - no
> reply as of yet, we will see tho.

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Ankors - 22 Aug 2004 08:21 GMT

> You must live in a state that doesn't require vehicle insurance, since
> having a deployed airbag in
> a vehicle in most of those states will guarantee you no insurance.
> And in fact open you to lawsuits if your involved in an incident."

I hope I am missing something here! Has this country slid so far that
someone is willing to sue me if I decide not to have an airbag to
protect myself? I am struggling to see the logic on that one!

What would the basis of the lawsuit be? I guess they could sue me for
the trauma of putting them through doing additional injury to myself?!

Ahhhh...our great freedoms...

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Steve W. - 24 Aug 2004 13:51 GMT

Real easy, shows negligence on your part. Here is one way it could
happen.

Your driving down the road and get involved in an off center head on (or
other accident that should set off the airbags)
Due to the fact that YOU did not have the airbags repaired and
functional you have severe injuries. The driver of the other vehicle
also is injured very bad. Insurance company steps in and sees that your
air bag should have deployed BUT didn't, (they will ask why?) when it is
discovered that you didn't repair it they can refuse to pay any of your
medical bills due to negligence on your part. The other persons
insurance can also use the fact that YOUR vehicles bags didn't deploy
against you because you didn't repair them and KNEW they wouldn't work.
They can go to your insurance company and say " We think your guy was
at fault and you will have to pay for our client" then Your company will
say NO. Court case ensues and they WILL use the fact that you didn't
have the bags replaced to show your negligence. Then YOUR company will
go after you because of it as well (check and I'll bet your getting a
small discount on insurance because your vehicle should have bags) They
can say you attempted to defraud them.

AND YES this country has slid that far into the grips of lawyers.

Signature

Steve

> "
> > You must live in a state that doesn't require vehicle insurance, since
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Ahhhh...our great freedoms...

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Dave - 24 Aug 2004 15:09 GMT

I don't know about other states but here in new jersey it is illegal to
operate a motor vehicle with deployed airbags. The vehicle is deemed unsafe.
As far as the insurance point of view, they will not claim the accident was
your fault because of deployed airbags. Airbags that have been previously
deployed DO NOT cause accidents and no one would be stupid enough to claim
they do. If the other driver caused the accident he/she would be charged
with causing it. You will however will be fined for not repairing the
airbag. Your insurance will still cover you for the personal injury but they
might drop you later. Your whole scenario is a little ludicrous and shows a
lack of knowledge on your part. I know since I have already talked to an
insurance company on this topic.

> Real easy, shows negligence on your part. Here is one way it could
> happen.
[quoted text clipped - 38 lines]
> http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
> -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

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Chris Phillipo - 24 Aug 2004 21:48 GMT

> Subject: Re: Jeep Steering?
> From: "Dave" <dbs58@nospam.hotmail.com>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> lack of knowledge on your part. I know since I have already talked to an
> insurance company on this topic.

Well just about everywhere else the insurance company can choose not to
pay and the other driver's insurance company can choose to sue, and they
will win even if the other driver is at fault because you now have no
insurance to cover your legal costs.

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Steve W. - 25 Aug 2004 02:07 GMT

I didn't say that the airbag caused the accident. Learn how to read.

I said that IF you were in an accident and it was sufficient to cause
the airbags to deploy and yours DIDN'T BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T REPAIR THEM
that the insurance company will want to know WHY they didn't. When they
determine that you were driving a vehicle that had bags already deployed
AND NOT REPAIRED they WILL TAKE YOU TO COURT. GUARANTEED.

I KNOW this because I have seen it happen. Twice. Once to a friend of
mine who was the person hit by someone in else who didn't repair the
airbags after they had an accident (they had the vehicle "repaired" out
of pocket because the driver had been drinking)

The second time was one I went to as an EMT. the SPs wondered why the
vehicles airbag didn't deploy when the person hit a pole at over 55.

This kind of thing happens more than you think., and lawyers and
insurance companies love it.

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Steve Williams

> I don't know about other states but here in new jersey it is illegal to
> operate a motor vehicle with deployed airbags. The vehicle is deemed unsafe.
[quoted text clipped - 49 lines]
> > http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
> > -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

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Chris Phillipo - 24 Aug 2004 21:45 GMT

> Subject: Re: Jeep Steering?
> From: dmccall@gmail.com (Ankors)
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Ahhhh...our great freedoms...

Actually what you need to worry about is your insurance company not
paying you and you not being able to collect if you are injured by
someone else.

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Ankors - 29 Aug 2004 00:50 GMT

So well - thanks for the comments. At least this has got me motivated
to look into this.

I'll admit I am shocked as to the logic behind it being illegal NOT to
replace airbags. But then again I am not a native of this country so I
am often stunned by some of the laws I come across.

So after some research I can report:

1) There is NO federal law requiring deployed airbags to be replaced.
(hence there are numerous companies such as these guys
http://www.hicksairbagcovers.com/ selling replacement airbag covers.

2) There IS a federal law allowing passenger and drivers side airbags
on any vehicle to be made inoperable, after sale.

3) There does seem to be a few state laws passed that deployed airbags
should be replaced (as per above posted reported) I have been unable
to confirm this for CA where I live.

If state law contradicts federal law as it would in point 2, then does
state law always overrule federal law?

So no further along - guess I will have to bite the bullet and ask my
insurance company. I'll report back my findings.

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Steve W. - 29 Aug 2004 14:48 GMT

You might want to reread the Federal laws. While they don't state that
you must REPLACE the bags they do state that there are only two legal
ways to shut off the bags.
1. Using either a factory or retrofitted on/off switch which must have
a light and instructions for use.
2. Full deactivation ONLY WITH NHTSA approval and that requires you to
submit a request and show a reason why.

Sorry.

State laws that are the same or stricter than Federal laws are legal as
long as they do not violate the Constitution at State or Federal level.

Oh and FYI California usually has MUCH tougher laws than other states
with regard to vehicles. I would almost bet your vehicle will not pass
inspection since it will have trouble codes stored in the computer and
that is grounds for failure (I believe this is true in other states
also) NY just put these same rules in effect as well. They plug into the
computer and read the codes.

Oh and never assume ANYTHING is legal just because someone is selling a
cover.

Signature

Steve Williams

> So well - thanks for the comments. At least this has got me motivated
> to look into this.
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> So no further along - guess I will have to bite the bullet and ask my
> insurance company. I'll report back my findings.

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