SC- 1st Gen (1992-2000)

steering wheel airbag adapter?

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Old 05-31-14, 05:47 PM
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Default steering wheel airbag adapter?

I just installed a 2000 RX300 steering wheel and was expecting its airbag to plug straight into my existing wiring, both being single-stage. The plugs are slightly different shapes, though. Is there an adapter for that, or do I need to get the wire for the RX300 wheel and splice its plug onto my wire?
Attached Thumbnails steering wheel airbag adapter?-steering-wheel-old-.jpg   steering wheel airbag adapter?-steering-wheel-new-rx300-.jpg   steering wheel airbag adapter?-p1000925-airbag-plug-mismatch.jpg   steering wheel airbag adapter?-p1000926-airbag-plug.jpg  
Old 05-31-14, 06:29 PM
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https://www.clublexus.com/forums/7679877-post3.html

the single stage RX300 is the only plug and play with the toyota yellow adapter (the connectors are different).
If you don't have the adapter you can make your own by making the 2 different harnesses into one
Sounds like my problem.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/1228753-post7.html

you can actually buy a connector from Curt @ Elmhurst Toyota that takes care of airbag connector without any splicing...

From Curt Aigner...
09082-00760 HARNESS ab adapter list 25.00 cost 20.00
I had read those threads before but was foggy on the info, thinking the adapter was referring to 2-stage to single-stage...
Old 05-31-14, 10:50 PM
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oldManTan
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wait so if i have an IS airbag it won't work even with an adapter? i'm not sure what year it is though, i think 2003
Old 06-01-14, 12:29 AM
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Originally Posted by oldManTan
wait so if i have an IS airbag it won't work even with an adapter? i'm not sure what year it is though, i think 2003
I'm not entirely sure. I was a bit confused by the "only RX300" plug 'n play comment, too. I thought several other models have compatible single-stage airbags. Then again, I also thought the airbag connector was going to be the same on both...

Aside from that little hiccup, the only things I've run into are:

1) The cruise control lever needs to be switched over. I was hoping for the same experience as one of the other guys where the newer one worked despite the extra pin, but it doesn't function at all on mine. I'll work on swapping that tomorrow.

2) The front screw on the lower steering column shroud is impossible to put back in due to the different shape of the 3-spoke airbag. No biggie, as it's secured plenty solid with the plastic clips and two lower screws.

3) Two of the four star-head screws holding the SC airbag on were incredibly difficult to get free. It took three people working on it and a lot of stripped metal. It was the top one on each side.

I have a Momo steering wheel in my other car and this RX wheel comes darn close to that smile inducing feel. The improved hand positions transform the driving feedback as much as the look transforms the overall cabin.
Old 06-01-14, 12:47 AM
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scENFORCER
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That looks like a 99+ SC wheel/airbag rather than an RX wheel. The RX wheel I have is wood grain, and yes it was literally plug & play into my '99 SC400. Perhaps older model SC's had different connectors?
Attached Thumbnails steering wheel airbag adapter?-photo-1-small-.jpg  
Old 06-01-14, 12:53 AM
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There are a bunch of different RX wheels, from what I've seen. I thought the wood ones like your's were all 2-stage airbags from '03 or so?

Mine is definitely from a '00 RX300. This is who I bought it from:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx3...-part-out.html

The fact that your SC is a '99 and mine is a '94 probably explains the plug 'n play differences and why a newer airbag matches your's but not mine. I bet Lexus switched connector styles somewhere during that period. You can see the difference in shape in my 3rd picture up above.
Old 06-01-14, 01:00 AM
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^ yea thats probably it, i should edit my post in the other thread to not confuse people..
Old 06-01-14, 01:09 AM
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I was just about to head back over to that thread and post an update, too.
Old 06-01-14, 01:45 AM
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You need a Toyota "SPX Adaptor" cable. I can't remember what P/N it went by but this was made available for some reason to adapt these different types of airbag connectors... presumably during a model refresh, transition or warranty repair when a revised airbag was available. Weirdly, I had to buy mine from SPX directly. It's been a while since I did this.
Old 06-01-14, 09:07 AM
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Thanks. From what I've been able to find, SPX is the company that made the #09082-00760 harness that Curt @ Elmhurst carries. I'm not sure if SPX is still in business, but the part is discontinued. All the linked pages on their site are down (the whole toyota. subdomain is), but maybe it's still the same company with nothing obviously automotive about it.

http://www.supraforums.com/forum/sho...Airbag-adapter
http://www.l-tunedparts.com/product/?id=3097
http://www.mr2.com/forums/archive/in...p/t-48662.html

This thread has the most useful information:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/4927772-post57.html

Basically, '99-01 switched to the smaller single-stage plug, so anyone with an earlier SC will either need the adapter or a splice job. I wanted to preserve my SC airbag, since it has $30 or so in value for sale/trade, but if it costs me $30 to buy an adapter, I might as well just cut its plug off and splice.
Old 06-01-14, 01:02 PM
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I switched the cruise control units this morning, but haven't taken it out on the highway to test it out. I can't imagine there will be any issues, though. It's a straight forward swap, being identically shaped units and mounting points. The only size difference is the "head" portion of the lever that is visible outside the steering wheel. You can even get the rubber gasket/cover thingie off the RX head and onto the SC one to fill the hole, but it takes some stretching and prying.

The SC unit's ground wire is soldered to one of the metal pieces, while the RX's is secured to a tab with a spade connector. So, you'll need to snip (or de-solder) the wire and crimp on a spade terminal.
Old 06-01-14, 02:01 PM
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I bought my adapter off of l-tunedparts.
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