Mazda steering wheels for the Protegé

[MazKid]

Just got myself a '94 LX last Monday. As all Protegé steering wheels, the padding at the top of the wheel rotates around the metal inner ring. Ofcourse I'd just take my '79 RX-7 wheel out of my 323 and put it in the Protegé but the LX has cruise control, and the buttons are ofcourse on the wheel.

So I ask, what other Mazda wheels will work in the Protegé(meaning horn and cruise)?

I don't want to get one with the airbag in it. I guess I could just take the airbag out of any other Mazda wheel that has the cruise buttons(626/MX-6, possibly 929/Millenia), or if there were wiper-stalk mounted cruise controls that could work too.
I'd prolly never use cruise, but I know the one time when I could really use it I'd like to have it.

[CBlaze]

I was gonna try to poke a hole in my wheel with a syringe full of crazy glue...not sure if that'll werk though

[MazKid]

Nah, the syringe would get glued together before you could get it in the wheel...or the syringe would get glued to the wheel.

[whistler]

i have an mx5 steering wheel... if u'd like...but it doesnt have the center part...and the cruise control buttons are on the wheel itself...coz its the one that has an airbag....

ill post a pic if u'd like to see.

[Tweeaks]

Why dont you just try to relocate the buttons? I think cablemirc (not sure) put an MX-3 wheel, then put his buttons on the MX-3 wheel. If anything im sure you could mount the buttons to another steering wheel w/o cruise. Even if you get a wheel with cruise you might have problems with the wiring.

[MazKid]

Guess I'll try to put the buttons on a wheel at the junkyard next time. I wouldn't mind a '92 MX-3 wheel with the squared key emblem, it would match the emblem on my Protege.

[mike_moss]

Not all of them do that. Search some JYs and you'll find one.

[Gro Harlem]

its not normal for the rubber to seperate from the metal ring of the steering wheel....

my mx3's original wheel had that problem so i got another one at the yard that wasn't ****ed up. Works fine for me, when it was installed.

[JGSlayer]

yeah my steering wheel is fine too, i think it happens to people who leave there cars in the sun and try to twist the grip part... thats my thought

[Tweeaks]

Just so you know, the cruise control buttons come off with 2 screws, then all you will have to do on your new wheel is cut a slot in it like the factory wheel. I would seriously try and relocate the buttons, just extend some wires, and a custom button holder and it'll look good. Just so you guys know the 1st gen DSM wheels fit and look really nice, the only problem is the plastic ring for the turn signals dont work so you will have to click them on and off on your own instead of it clicking back to the middle on its own..

[MazKid]

Well, went to the junkyard with my dad yesterday, found a bunch of stuff, including a Protege steering wheel that looks to be NEW, it still has the pattern, no wear marks, no nothing. Also got the power lock relay I needed, MX-3 leather shift boot, stock Protege radio and trim, an extra power window switch(just incase), passive seatbelt spools(which didn't fix my seat belt light problem, so my dad has to order the switch, but these belts were in better condition), airbox bottom(mine has a broken mount), and a few other bits. Still looking for the passenger side splash gaurd(mine is completely missing) and trunk seal...

[lscrx]

...passive seatbelt spools(which didn't fix my seat belt light problem, so my dad has to order the switch...

You do know how to "hot-wire" the seatbelts so they won't beep anymore right? It's easy as hell, someone made a how-to... check the how-to board or PM me and i'll tell you.

[whistler]

http://www.projectmazda.com/howto/seatbeltlight/

Thanks to GroHarlem

[Scott D]

To fix my seatbelt problem, all I did was unplug the little plug under the console... the belt light stays on, but it doesn't beep. Took me like 2 seconds.

AAAARGH! I want an LX! I take so many road trips in my DX, and the lack of cruise pisses me off SO MUCH. I hate it when people have it, and just never use it. Our Van and Sebring have it, and I use it ALL the time. Bastards.

[protégébob]

To fix my seatbelt problem, all I did was unplug the little plug under the console... the belt light stays on, but it doesn't beep. Took me like 2 seconds.

you could have done the jumper wire (another 2 seconds at the most) and have the light off too. I hate having idoit lights on when i drive.