AlfaRomeo 1 Report post Posted January 18, 2013 Right, here is a guide on how to fit steering wheel paddleshift to your Qtronic if you do not have the steering wheel paddles. First off, you need to either order a new wheel with paddles already on, or buy some paddles and retrofit them to your wheel. In my guide i bought a new Ti wheel with the paddles built in already. Secondly, you will need a new shift gate with the CANBUS node built in, to receive the signal from the paddles. This part number is 55344202 and costs around £181.39. This comes in black, but i believe the PCB on it can be removed and fitted to an original silver surround if necessary. Lets start with the wheel. This is how i did it, but please follow safe working practices when attempting this as the airbag must be handled with care. Here goes... 1) Right, put the key in the ignition slot and ensure the steering lock is not active. Leave the key in. It also helps to move the drivers seat all the way back at this point. 2) Remove the battery negative and leave for at least 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes, remove the battery positive. (not strictly required, but i'd rather there be no battery in place when disconnecting airbags) Place something non-conductive over the battery terminals to ensure there is no chance of power being re-instated accidentally, i used a thick dry towel. 3)Remove the steering column lower plastic surround, buy removing the 4 allen key bolts on its underside. Unclip it and remove, and move it to a place it wont get damaged. http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps45c9bf7b.jpg 4) Now you need to release the air bag module. The module is the center of the steering wheel that you press to use the horn. You will need a normal length, flat bladed screw driver for this. Get one with about a 6mm head, but no smaller than 5mm. Turn the steering wheel 45 degrees off center, and insert the screwdriver into the back of the steering wheel. http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...psde8254fd.jpg http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps4d61b442.jpg There is 1 hole on each side of the steering wheel, and you are working on the bottom one at the moment. The airbag module has clips that flare out, and by turning the flat blade 45 degrees, you push this clip off its seating and the airbag pops off that side (you may need to jiggle the module a little bit to get it to release). http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...psd16c7efb.jpg http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...psa25f02e5.jpg Once that side is released, turn the steering wheel 180 degrees so you can access the other hole in the same way, and do the same this side. The whole module can now be withdrawn. http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps4d61b442.jpg http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps34ee7e25.jpg 5) Now remove the 2 plugs on the airbag module, easiest using long nose pliers to squeeze the clips. Place the airbag somewhere safe & out of the way. 6)Now you can access the wheel securing nut under its plastic cap, which can be removed with a 24mm socket. Remove this, and then unclip the steering wheel electrical connector. http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...psf12db34b.jpg http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps827059c1.jpg http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps8ee48dec.jpg 7) Make a note of the steering wheel orientation, to ensure you put it back on the same way. Best to take a photo of if possible, but there are markings on the wheel and spline to aid you already. Also, the spline has flats on it to further ensure it gets lined up right when fitting so easy really. Remove the wheel by gently pulling it off the spline, and guide the 2 cables through the hole in the steering wheel. http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps827059c1.jpg http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps8aa4bca7.jpg 8) Fitting is needless to say the reverse of this, but when installing ensure the main nut is tight, the steering wheel control plugs are pushed all the way on (the left hand control white plug does not have a retaining lug so comes off when pulled), there is nothing going to cause annoying rattles etc. Then plug the airbag module in and push it back in until it clicks home. Clean up, re-instate the battery and your done. http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps302ca1a8.jpg This took me about 1.5 - 2 hours, but that included swapping over the wheel fascia's and not having a guide to show me how to release the air bag. A fairly easy job for any keen DIY'er Hope this is useful to anyone looking to remove there wheel to replace it or change the fascia. Once the wheel is replaced, re-instate the battery and replace the shift gate. This can be done as follows :- 1) Put key in ignition, depress brake pedal and then move gear selector into N. 2) Depress brake pedal, then depress gear selector button and pull down on chrome shaft below the gear knob and it will lower by about 20mm. The gear knob and chrome shaft will now lift off http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps9823b4ff.jpg 3) Using a small screwdriver, ease it underneath the metal base that the shiftgate is bolted too, and lift it upwards off of its clips. DO NOT prise it up as you will damage the soft surround that the metal sits on. Pull the screwdriver upwards and the metal base will unclip, it does take a reasonable amount of force to do this. http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps462b7787.jpg 4) Remove the electrical plugs from the shift gate and remove from the car. Remove the 4 allen key bolts holding the shift gate to the metal base, and fit the new gate in reverse order. http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps05edb194.jpg http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...psd933bdd4.jpg 5) Re-fit the gate and base to the car, ensuring you reconnect all the electrical plugs. Re install the metal base, and be patient with this step as its fiddly and takes some force to push it back into its clips. But make sure you have it lined up with the clips because you will bend them if you rush it and dont line them up. 6) Once clipped down, refit the gear knob and shaft. This is done by putting it back over the gear selector shaft, make sure the knob is facing forward and push it down firmly while holding the button in. Once it clicks into place lift the chrome shaft upwards until it clicks back into place and make sure all is secure. And your done. Go out, find some nice quiet roads or track and enjoy having steering mounted paddle shifters. All you have to do is put the shift selector into - + manual mode. This has been by far the best mod i have done to the car, being able to control the box via the paddles during 'spirited' driving is a huge improvement and really highlights how good this Aisin box really is. Hope this is useful http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps302ca1a8.jpg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leongsoon 8 Report post Posted February 1, 2013 This is awesome! Can the same be done for 156 Q-Matic? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Smaky 73 Report post Posted February 2, 2013 Nope. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leongsoon 8 Report post Posted February 3, 2013 Awww, bummer, would be nice if it did work though Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
