Hi all

My steering wheel has started to degrade slightly - being a 7 year old car parked in the sun at work.

Are there any suggestions for products to clean and protect it?

Cheers

I just bought a steering wheel cover. Turns out I much prefer the thicker wheel.
Can't help you otherwise sorry.

These steering wheels are fairly cheap. I would suggest finding a good condition one and replacing it

I put a Wheelskins cover on my old 380 (base plastic steering wheel), best cover out there by miles, see here: http://wheelskins.com/
Less than $100 delivered and a wide range of colours & patterns to choose from.
I've done three steering wheels now using these covers (380, Ford Laser, Hyundai i30), every one was top quality and looked almost factory once fitted.
As ocnav says, it also gives you a nicely thicker steering wheel which feels really good in the hands.
All three of the ones I fitted have lasted for many years with almost no wear, as long as you look after them.
The only real downside is they are labour intensive to fit, each one took me about 2 hours, but then you get the satisfaction of a well done DIY.

The basic Supercheap Leather-look Steering Wheel Cover (http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/SCA-Steering-Wheel-Cover-Leather-Look-Grey-380mm-diameter.aspx?pid=126394&menuFrom=1021734#Recommendations) is also nice. Its chunky, has a perforated leather look, fits very snugly to a Magna steering wheel, and its cheap.
I've fitted them to a couple of my previous cars and have been happy with it.. even on a steering wheel where the grip is loose, you couldn't tell with it fitted.

Checked out the following thread if serious restoration is wanted/needed: http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=104554

There's been brand new 380 leather steering wheels on ebay recently for $75. Might be worth checking if there's still some listed?

Edit : $55pp http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mitsubishi-380-Leather-Steering-Wheel-New-Genuine-with-Cruise-Control-Black-Nos-/251994936627?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&fits=Make%3AMitsubishi%7CModel%3A380&hash=item3aac119533

There's been brand new 380 leather steering wheels on ebay recently for $75. Might be worth checking if there's still some listed?

Edit : $55pp http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mitsubishi-380-Leather-Steering-Wheel-New-Genuine-with-Cruise-Control-Black-Nos-/251994936627?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&fits=Make%3AMitsubishi%7CModel%3A380&hash=item3aac119533

Good find, that's cheap as!
If I still had my 380 I'd be buying one of these for sure.

For protection, should have put a sun shade up. Simple as that really

Ones it's damaged not much can be done to correct the damage really unless you go re-trimming or follow TreeAdeyMan's advice.

The Verada GTVi wheel I had fitted to my car was already pealed a bit at the top from the sun, I just put a sun shade up each time it's in the sun. It hasn't gotten any worse and has been on for over a year now.

How does a new steering wheel work with the air bag?

You would use your existing airbag

You would use your existing airbag

Yes. I took mine to Paceway Mitsubishi (Dealer) here in Perth and told them what I needed. Paid $150.00 and waited 45 minutes and it was done.

Or you can do it yourself, but I didn't want the blood nose and head ache if it decides to go bang on me half way through

You have to disconnect the battery when doing this so that there is no risk of the airbag exploding while handling it.

There's been brand new 380 leather steering wheels on ebay recently for $75. Might be worth checking if there's still some listed?

Edit : $55pp http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mitsubishi-380-Leather-Steering-Wheel-New-Genuine-with-Cruise-Control-Black-Nos-/251994936627?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&fits=Make%3AMitsubishi%7CModel%3A380&hash=item3aac119533
Just had one of these delivered this weekend, fitted it in around 20 minutes and it works perfectly, just needs some leather conditioner as they have been stored since 2008.

Rob, do they come with the control buttons for the audio system too?

Yes they come with the audio controls and the cruise control arm and switch, really good value.

Sorry you paid $150 for 45 mins work when changing over a wheel is about 15 mins work so in effect you have just paid $600 per hour, wow, I can think of many trades you could score for that price.

People have this weird thought that air bags just go bang for the hell of it, they dont or they would do this while you are driving. There is more chance of an airbag deploying while fitted than there is of one going off once removed. There is a shorting connector on the plug which gives a dead short across the pins to prevent accidental deployment. ALl you need is a Torx 30 and a 17mm socket, job done.

As for those ones on fleabay, they are all gone now

Sorry you paid $150 for 45 mins work when changing over a wheel is about 15 mins work so in effect you have just paid $600 per hour, wow, I can think of many trades you could score for that price.

People have this weird thought that air bags just go bang for the hell of it, they dont or they would do this while you are driving. There is more chance of an airbag deploying while fitted than there is of one going off once removed. There is a shorting connector on the plug which gives a dead short across the pins to prevent accidental deployment. ALl you need is a Torx 30 and a 17mm socket, job done.

As for those ones on fleabay, they are all gone now


I take it you now have some NOS wheels now Mal ?.:D

ALl you need is a Torx 30 and a 17mm socket, job done.


And a 10mm spanner to disconnect and reconnect the battery.