confidence

ok, first off to cover my ***:
the airbag is an explosive device. be damn careful with it. also, i don't know 100% if this does work or not. i won't know unless i deploy the airbag. so if someone wants to send me another $200 to replace my airbag i won't be doing a test deploy. also, if you do this and hurt yourself in anyway, i'm not to be held accountable - in other words - do at your own risk
now on the tech
the JDM versions of these steering wheels are PnP for our EKs. however the USDM versions use a 4 wire plug and a 2 stage airbag explosive. from what i have found the 2 stages are 2 different explosive charges, one for a high speed impact and one for a low speed impact. by digging around i figured out the one we want to use is the charge with the yellow wires. its base connections are covered by a yellow plastic thing. it can be removed by prying with a small screwdriver here

and here

once the cover is off i suggest you remove the wires from the charge. this gives you room to work and minamise the chance of an accidental discharge. once they are removed they look like this.

go ahead and remove the black cover and the red wires as well. i took mine out and won't be putting them back in either. i will be using the yellow wired charge only.
once out you need to get another civic 2 wire connector to replace the 4 wire on the unit. i got mine from a junkyard car with an already deployed airbag. the conectors are the same for all 96+ civic, passenger and drivers side, as well as several years of Accords.
this pictures shows you which side is the power side and which is ground

i know the pic isn't very good, my camera doesn't have a macro function.
the yel/grn wire is the ground and the solid yel is the power. orient your new civic connector as shown and solder in. once done reinstall the wires into the airbag and replace the yellow cover.

your steering wheel is now ready for installation. once its installed it works just fine as far as i can tell. the SRS light goes on for 6 seconds and then off. the car throws no codes and everything seems fine.

kuja396

Nice writeup and props to you not getting blown up but why would you want to do this?

Eran

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kuja396 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nice writeup and props to you not getting blown up but why would you want to do this? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Because RSX's and USDM EP3's use a 2-stage airbags. They do not deploy with the same signal as the stock EK signal.

OP - Great writeup. If I hadn't removed the explosive from my RSX-S wheel, I'd be out in my garage doing this right now

kuja396

[QUOTE=Eran]
Because RSX's and USDM EP3's use a 2-stage airbags. They do not deploy with the same signal as the stock EK signal.QUOTE]

I do understand that. My question was why wouldn't you just replace your EK airbag with a EK airbag?

Eran

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kuja396 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I do understand that. My question was why wouldn't you just replace your EK airbag with a EK airbag?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Because an EK airbag doesn't fit in an RSX or EP3 steering wheel? Duh?

Harryflores

I would like to see if it works!... hope you don't have to get into an accident to find out !!

nice write up

Carbonyl

well considering the SRS light turns off, this probably means the airbag is giving off the right signal, and therefore should work. But we will never know unless someone wants to blow and airbag for fun. In any case, good work

confidence

i'm all for detonating the thing if someone will pay to replace it :D

jmaze

anyone know if this will work for 92-95 or are obds different for airbags too?

BlueIntegraBoy

iTrader: (5)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jmaze &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">anyone know if this will work for 92-95 or are obds different for airbags too?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The DC5/EP3 wheel wont bolt up to a 92-95 Civic.

B18EG6

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by confidence &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Is that gold plating on the contacts?

confidence

no, that is some kind of copper shell that is on them from the factory.

lamboextreme

I have a question regarding you steering wheel, Which car's srs reel did you use?

ifIexplode

I want an EP3 wheel in my car uber bad,
Maybe in the srping.
Anywho, nice write up

cb7tougeracer

nice man

confidence

you re-use your factory SRS reel

lamboextreme

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by confidence &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you re-use your factory SRS reel </TD></TR></TABLE>
well that's the thing i don't have it i bought it with an aftermarket steering wheel; and was trying to see wich one i should buy.BTW i have a 2000 civic.

confidence

needs to be one from an Ek. the EG and integra units are different. if you are smooth you can find one with the cruise control plug already in it.

lamboextreme

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by confidence &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">needs to be one from an Ek. the EG and integra units are different. if you are smooth you can find one with the cruise control plug already in it. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Would i be able to install the steering wheel without the cable reel? I'm trying to buy a s2000 steering wheel, but was wondering this. Thanks.

confidence

yes you can. however the reel is what turns your signals off after you made the turn. it also houses the wiring for your horn. this is why lots of people with aftermarket hubs/wheels don't have either

Agent_EM1

Nice Write up

sil80drifter

The original info regarding the airbag deployment is not quite correct -
this is the information taken from an official source -

To enhance the protection of the driver and front seat passenger during a variety of frontal impact collisions, the RSX utilizes varying airbag deployment power. The system, which uses a dual-stage inflator, automatically adjusts the deployment of the driver and front passenger's SRS airbags based on the severity of the crash. During a slower speed collision, the dual-stage inflator system is triggered in sequence, resulting in slower overall airbag deployment with less initial force. During a high-speed collision, both inflators operate simultaneously for full immediate inflation, to correspond with the greater impact force.

Source -
http://www.hondanews.com/searc...acura

I.e., not knowing which one is the slower inflator, it would be wise to connect both, as high speed impact are more dangerous. Connecting one (and not knowing whether it's the one for slow speed impacts or the "secondary" which may not even deploy the airbag correctly) is a a gamble. I would suggest soldering both connectors to the stock harness and let it deploy with full force, at least guaranteeing full and prompt deployment should you really have a high speed impact. During low speed, your belt should hopefully do the trick.
If you can find out what the wire polarity is like on both connectors, that would be great. Otherwise, it'd be best to connect them the same way - i.e. both left wires going to one wire on the EK connector, and both right wires going to the other.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

sil80

confidence

good find there sil80!
wish i had seen that when i decided to mod my airbag.
i guess there is only one way to find out if it really works...
i just don't want to do it; airbags ain't too cheep

eg6sirll

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18EG6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Is that gold plating on the contacts?</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes all the contacts in srs systems are made of gold , which has a high resistance to corrosion thus ensuring longevity and safety.

sil80drifter

How did you figure out which contacts on the RSX bag are positive and which are negative?
How did you figure it out for the EK?

sil80