1986 300e steering wheel removal w/ airbag
 

My turn signal switch needs to be replaced.
I have an air bag, I cannot figure out how to remove the airbag, or the steering wheel.
On the back side of the steering wheel are two holes that seem to be allen bolts, but when I loosen them they seem to have nothing to do with either the air bag or the removal of the steering wheel. How can I remove the air bag, and then remove the steering wheel???? I have a 1986 300e.

First--disconnect the battery, then the electrical plug for the airbag. On the 126 the plug is under the passenger kick panel. This eliminates accidently discharging the bag.

Second--The 2 holes on the back of the steering wheel likely have T30 torx head screws. You'll either need a short handled T30 driver or a socket head. Screws are longer than you'll think, but the bag should loosen. Two prong electric plug pulls right out. Lay airbag flat with the finished side up. You're there, a few small screws on the metal plate and you are where you need to be.

Third--if you need to remove the wheel to fish the connecting wire through the column, it's a 10mm allen head screw. Socket with 1/2" drive breaker bar and an extension will be nice to have for this. Spare pair of strong hands to hold wheel firm would be nice. Clearly mark the wheel position before you remove it so you don't have to remove it again (and again) to straighten it.

A few tips from an ametuer--fully extend steering column and open front windows and sun roof before disconnecting battery. More space to work and the sun roof is a great place to run a work light. If you're going to do this kind of stuff, buy the CD manuals for your chassis from PartsShop. The steps will seem foriegn when you see them on computer, but make sense as you work. Worthy investment, the savings in labor cost on this job will pay for the CDs, torx driver, and allen head sockets.

Hope this helps--good luck.

horn contacts
 

Make sure when you change the switch that you also change the the horn contact pins along with the new switch. You might want to take them off of the old switch. I did my switch without knowing about the contact pins and now I don't have a horn. The only place I can find the pins are at the stealership, of course the pins have to be ordered, so I'm still without a horn until they come in. A more experienced/advanced tech on this board can tell you how and where they go.