Forum Discussion

bluwtr49's avatar
bluwtr49
Explorer II
Apr 05, 2017

VIP Steering Wheel Parts

I have had an ongoing issue with my VIP smart wheel behaving a bit erratic. For example using the button to change CC speed cuts the CC out. Sometimes the horn honk when turning the wheel...or maybe the windshield wiper comes on. That sort of thing and it's intermittent.

A couple of years ago I had the steering wheel pulled and the slip rings cleaned. After that it behaved fine but recently it's starting to act up. I'm OK with pulling the wheel and cleaning them again but I would like to do something with a bit more permanent result. In hindsight I did not use a dielectric grease or such and I'm wondering if that was an oversight.

Suggestions would be appreciated since I can not find a replacement slip ring assy.
Class A

4 Replies

  • bluwtr49's avatar
    bluwtr49
    Explorer II
    Apr 06, 2017
    Thanks for the replies. As mentioned earlier my wheel does not use the clock-spring but is the earlier model using a copper slip rings assy. I'm going to pull the wheel today and clean the rings and buttons...not a big job, and use some lube to keep the buttons moving free and possibly prevent any oxidation from occurring.

    Not sure if the grease should be dielectric or conductive. Once the wheel is off I should be able to figure it out. Depends if there is an insulator between the rings or not.
  • johnsonbert's avatar
    johnsonbert
    Explorer
    Apr 06, 2017
    My BIL with an 07 Beaver had a similiar problem and replaced the clock spring, that seemed to take care of the issue. That has been several years ago not.
    Hope this may help, Happy Trails Bert.
  • slickest1's avatar
    slickest1
    Explorer
    Apr 06, 2017
    After nothing but problems with mine I removed the two bezels with the buttons from the wheel and built a small box to enclose them and installed it on the side console. I removed the cladding off the steering column and re routed the wiring to the box. I had to put a horn button on the box as well. It works every time now and no more horn honking and wiper malfunction. I find it as handy to access as well.
    I made two small wood blanks to fit where the bezels came off the wheel and painted them black to match.
    It may not be every ones solution but works for me. That clock spring was nothing but problems for me.

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