350z steering wheel on 2003 fx35

OK, so everything worked out flawless during the installation of the new steering wheel and 08 clock spring. Eveything works well and functions as it should. I did not get around to powering the wire for the illumination of the steering wheel controls yet but I will. Anyhow, I went for a test drive and when I was turning out of my culdesac the ABS kicked on and Slip light was flashing. WTF??? I turned around and it did it all again on the way back. Eventually the VDC SLIP lights stayed on and now I am able to drive it but still have some kind of trouble code. I tried to align the steering wheel as best I could but I am wondering if this is some kind of calibration issue? Iv'e never had this problem before. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Dan
 
My experience with taking the steering wheel off was when I drive into the garage I don't turn steering wheel at all. I try to drive in straight and stop and park. don't tweak it even a little. When re-install, just have align it as straight as possible. Once you got the steering wheel on straight, the next thing to do is get an alignment and that will fix the problem. I had that happen a couple of times. I guess its normal if you take the steering wheel off and its not re-installed exactly when it was.
 
I'm pretty sure I got the new wheel pretty close to where the old wheel was. I centered the wheel first, then removed it and installed the new wheel. Then I backed out of the garage and when i turned the wheel and began to move fwd, the slip kicked on. Did it again about 25ft further. Very strange! Maybe the clock spring had something to do with it, I don't know? I am going to take it to recalibrate later in the week and I will report back.

Thanks,
Dan
 
You mean when you got into the garage, you move the wheel a little to straighten out and then take the wheel off? If so, I got me in trouble before. I drive it in straight and I don't move the wheel once it in and then take the steering wheel off. For whatever reason, the steering wheel movement while the car is not moving has been given me problems as you're having. Speaking from my experience of taking the steering wheel off 5 or 6 times already.

---------- Post added at 08:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:17 AM ----------

I'm pretty sure John (Turbocad) and Adam (GetLuckiFX) are the only members I know of have taken their steering wheel off. Hope that I can chime in with their experiences.
 
Hmmm that is strange. Like Andy said, the key to a successful wheel removal is double checking your car's wheels are straight. I also tend to put blocks securing the wheels, so that while I'm removing the steering wheel I won't even do a slight turn. A good practice is also marking a top of the wheel mount with a sharpie to see if it shifted at anytime.

I almost feel like the SLIP/VDC is a separate issue that in some weird coincidence appeared after you dealt with the wheel, but could be wrong. I took steering wheels on all my cars and yet never encountered a single issue, following my precaution steps.

Wish I could be more helpful. But hopefully you will get the problem resolved this week, like you said. Keep us posted.
 
I'm pretty sure that by upgrading to the new clock spring i threw off the calibration and now have to do a 0 point calibration. You guys only removed the steering wheels and re-installed the factory clock springs I changed both the wheel and upgraded to a new 08 clock spring. I will keep you guys posted.

Thanks,
Dan
 
I installed 08 clock spring into my 03 without any problem. I still think it is where you set the steering wheel onto the clock spring. There are arrows marked on the clock spring, make sure that are line up and when set the steering wheel onto the clock spring making sure that alignment hasn't changed. If you try to make the steering wheel straight and ignore the arrows alignment on the clock spring you will have this problem. I know it hard to keep the arrows aligned while try to install the steering wheel onto it as you cannot see it. I'll suggest to get an alignment done once you feel that the arrows on the clock spring lines up and your steering wheel is straight show fix your problem.
 
Well the traction control system does have a steering angle sensor. So if you misaligned it, I guess you could trigger the slip light since the wheel position won't match up with the angle of your tires.
 
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The clock spring will only align with the steering wheel a certain way because the main plug of the clock spring has to line up with the bracket in the steering wheel. I am going to try the recalibration first and see how that goes. LOL

Dan
 
la_fx35 said:
The 06+ FX steering wheels comes with illuminated buttons. The illuminated buttons would have the function label on the button rather then on the top/bottom of the button on the aluminun piece. If the 350Z steering wheel is illuminated, you have to get an 06+ steering wheel clock spring to replace your 03 one. The 03 - 05 FX clock spring doesn't have the pin to power up the buttons. I have modded my 03 with an 07 steering wheel with illuminated buttons.

Here is the 07 steering wheel and 06+ cluster in my 03.
View attachment 287353

---------- Post added at 12:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:22 PM ----------

And you have to add your own power source to to power the buttons.[/QUOTE

Hey man how's it going. I know this is an old thread but I'm trying to do this as well. I tried to find the write up on the forum but for strange reason couldn't.
Click to expand...
 
Since the 03 - 05 steering wheel not lighted, the connector doesn't have power to the illumination pins. You will have to power it yourself. What I did was I stick a + and - wire into the connector to provide power to the 07 steering wheel illumination pins. I also added a voltage regulator and set it just enough to light up the buttons on the steering wheel. I took the power source from the the clock illumination wire (be sure its the illumination wire and not the constant 12V clock wire since you only wanted the buttons to light up when you turn on the clock illumination is on.

I don't remember which wire is the clock illumination wire. Pull the clock and test the wire at the clock connector. The wire that give you 12v when your headlight or parking light is the wire you want to connect to the voltage regulator so the steering wheel only light up when your headlight or parking light is on.

08.jpg 09.jpg 10.jpg 11.jpg 13.jpg
 
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la_fx35 said:
Since the 03 - 05 steering wheel not lighted, the connector doesn't have power to the illumination pins. You will have to power it yourself. What I did was I stick a + and - wire into the connector to provide power to the 07 steering wheel illumination pins. I also added a voltage regulator and set it just enough to light up the buttons on the steering wheel. I took the power source from the the clock illumination wire (be sure its the illumination wire and not the constant 12V clock wire since you only wanted the buttons to light up when you turn on the clock illumination is on.

I don't remember which wire is the clock illumination wire. Pull the clock and test the wire at the clock connector. The wire that give you 12v when your headlight or parking light is the wire you want to connect to the voltage regulator so the steering wheel only light up when your headlight or parking light is on.

View attachment 603074 View attachment 603075 View attachment 603076 View attachment 603077 View attachment 603078
Click to expand...
Thanks man!!! I really appreciate it. I going to install this on Sat. Where did you get voltage regulator from.
 
la_fx35 said:
The 06+ FX steering wheels comes with illuminated buttons. The illuminated buttons would have the function label on the button rather then on the top/bottom of the button on the aluminun piece. If the 350Z steering wheel is illuminated, you have to get an 06+ steering wheel clock spring to replace your 03 one. The 03 - 05 FX clock spring doesn't have the pin to power up the buttons. I have modded my 03 with an 07 steering wheel with illuminated buttons.

Here is the 07 steering wheel and 06+ cluster in my 03.
View attachment 287353

---------- Post added at 12:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:22 PM ----------

Hey man sorry to bother you. My steering convert went bust from a busted clock spring. Had to order new which i should have done from the jump. Where did you get the terminals for the end of the + and - wire. Want to jam power wire in the connector like OEM with terminal tool.
Click to expand...
 
I jammed a wire into the empty slot on the connector and then zip tied it to the rest of the wire to prevent it from coming lose.
 
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