Manaray

Ok, the 2001 airbag is dual stage so it DEFINITELY won't work w/o some MAJOR sugery...

Well I looked a '98 airbag today and the connecter is DIFFERENT. What dpakman91 described is the exact same issue I was having with doing a different airbag even if the connectors were the same...that is why I wanted to find out the electrical specs on both airbags. If the electrical specs are the same, I can just change out the connectors.

I also noticed that the SC's cruise control looks like it'll fit in the GS wheel (bolt in) but there will be no rubber cover and the angle might be a bit odd...personally, I like the GS's cruise control stalk better...it's smaller and shaped a little differently. Also, I'm already used to the angle of the GS's...

Well now it's just up to the airbag.

SC300TURBO, how did your buddy hook up the airbag on the TRD wheel? Which kind of connector does it come with or does it come with a "universal" one...I'm thinking if it came with universal one, the single stage airbags might all have the same voltage/amperage....hmmm....

LexRX

Manaray, there was someone on CL who put a 2001 airbag on his 2000 RX w/o any modifications. If memory serves me correct, the new body style ES (2001) came out with the dual stage airbag, but the RX (which was refreshened in 2001) didn't get this new feature until 2002. So the 2001 RX airbag which looks like the newer ES/SC/GS/RX airbag should have a single yellow connetor for the airbag.

I have yet to try this with a 2001 RX airbag b/c I haven't found one to buy yet, other than at the dealer. I've bought a 2002 ES airbag...and yes...definitely won't work unless you just sit the airbag in place and don't hook it up....that's bad.

dpakman91

manaray, hopefully your airbag didn't just go off like my buddy with the acura. i am trying to remember here and i don't quite remembe 100%, but i BELIEVE what he ended up doing to get the air bag all squared away (successfully) is having to actually with some type of wiring harness (again, i don't remember completely) "tricking" the car into actually thinking it has a different airbag...or something. oh well, i don't really remember totally, but maybe it will be of some help.

Ryan

Manaray,

I assume that you are trying to do a GS transplant because of:
1) More availability/cheaper than 99-00 3-spoke wheel
2) Wood wheel in 2001

For those of you not familiar with this, the 99 and 00 SC400 came with a 3-spoke wheel.

Just trying to understand why you didn't go for the late model SC part Manaray.

I've got to say, 3-spoke + wood shifter in 99-00 ... now that is a beautiful thing!

Ryan

Manaray

I didn't go with a '99 SC wheel because I didn't have one. I had this GS wheel already...

It should be the same though. I think the 3-spoke SC wheel and the 3-spoke GS wheel are the same as are the airbag connectors. I'm sure the '98 SC has the newer style connector (not the dual stage, the single stage with a newer connector)

LexRX - Do you have a picture of the 2001 RX wheel? When you say looks the same, you mean with the chrome Lexus emblem on the airbag, right?

dpakman91 - well I have my feelers out for information on the voltage/amperage of the GS airbags (and now I'm interested in the '01 RX system too)...hopefully, I can get some answers...

dpakman91

sounds good, hopefully you can get it all wired properly...the last thing i nice set up like the one you are intending needs is an airbag disaster...best of luck...

LexRX

Manaray, here (click on image for a larger view) is a link to a couple pictures of the RX wheel I bought almost a year ago, and one of the 2002 ES airbag that I had purchased on ebay thinking it would be the same as an '01 RX airbag. It looks the same, with the chrome "L" in the middle, but as you can see it has two plugs on the back instead of one like on my (and I'm assuming all other non-dual-stage Lexus airbags) airbag.

The picture I have posted below is of an IS300 airbag. The connector on that airbag is what mine looks like on my RX's 2000 original airbag - single plug. I don't know anything about OHM's resistance or voltage/amperage for the RX or GS's airbag wiring. I would like to know but haven't been able to find out. One of the reasons I have not yet changed my wheel and airbag to the newer style. The dealer won't help b/c they don't want it done...certainly understandable.

As I said before there was a CL member (jmezo) who changed his wheel and airbag on his 2000 RX to the wood/leather one from a 2001 RX with a 2001 RX airbag. He said everything hooked up okay and the airbag wiring fit correctly. Here is one of the threads from a while back when he was around:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=Airbag

Manaray

LexRX, thanks for the photos and the information! Very helpful!

LexRX

You're welcome. I'm just glad to have someone with half a mind (that's a compliment no matter how it sounds) with a similar issue as mine. I've been working on this for a while with what limited resources and information I can gather.

BTW, when I refer to the group of 4 vehicles that have the three-spoke wheel, I am referring to 01+ YM. If not, I try to specifiy year and model.

I believe that the steering shaft would be the same for the RX/GS/ES/SC, so the wheel (my wheel, or any Lexus 3-spoke 01+ wheel) should mount onto each one (SC,RX,GS,ES) with no problem. I did notice a subtle difference between the three-spoke wood/leather wheels that Lexus uses for it's vehicles. Which is the bulges at 10 & 2 o'clock are on some models (like the RX) and not others (like the SC). I also took note that the wiring harness for the cruise and horn (the wires for both come together to a single 6-pin wiring harness) on the 2001 wheel will fit the wiring harness coming from my 2000 RX's wiring.

Another thing is, while I had my OEM 2000 airbag removed from my vehicle I studied the 2000 RX's steering wheel frame vs. the 2001. I wish I had taken a picture of the 2000, but the general design is VERY similar, but not EXACTLY the same. I believe the differences to be negligible.

Finally, if you need some closer, macro type, picures of my 2001 wheel to check for fitment, or something else relating to the general makeup of the wheel, let me know. I can snap some high-res. pictures and post them on my yahoo-photos page relatively quick.

I think the main piece to the puzzle is to find out for sure whether or not the 2001 airbag is in fact dual-stage or not. I don't think that it is, but have not real evidence. I believe Lexus did not come out with this feature until the 2002 YM, except for the ES, it began with the new body style. This should make the difference on the connectors on the back (on the ignitor) of the airbag. The single-stage airbag should have only once connector just like the IS airbag I posed above.

Auto Net Performance.com sells 2001 RX airbags. I emailed and asked for a picture of the back of one. They were unable to supply a photo.

dpakman91

if i were to want a three spoke wheel for my 1996 sc300, would i be going through the exact same trouble you guys are? sorry if you are doing this to the same car i have, but i couldn't find what year cars you were doing this to.

LexRX

dpakman91, Manaray has put a '98-'00 GS wheel onto his '92 SC. This three-spoke wheel looks the same as the '98-'00 SC and '99-'00 RX steering wheel. For this reason I suggested that the 2001+ wood/leather wheel used from the GS,ES,RX or SC may work as well, as long as a 2001 airbag swap is possible. That's the short of it.

dpakman91

thanks for clearing it all up...in order to put one of those wheels in my sc, how much am i looking at spending OTHER THAN on the wheel itself?