1998 - 2000 Toyota Rav4 Remove Airbag and Steering Wheel DIY

This video shows the process for removing and replacing the airbag and steering wheel in a 2000 Rav4. The process is the same or similar for many late 90's and early '00's Toyota models. Some steering wheels are interchangeable between these models.
Thanks for watching! I hope this video was helpful.
Good luck with your repair.

[@L35inColorado]

It is absolutely essential that you 1.) Disconnect the battery and 2.) Wait at least 90 seconds before fiddling with the airbag...otherwise, it might explode because it has a back-up power supply for 90 seconds (in case of an car accident). TIMESTAMPS: 00:14 Disconnect battery 00:52 Remove Torx (T30) screws for airbag 03:04 Remove airbag and disconnect electrical connection for airbag 04:28 Disconnect cruise control 05:13 Remove steering wheel nut (19mm) 06:42 Make matchmarks 07:17 Remove steering wheel (method shown is removal by hand) 08:48 Information regarding the clock spring 09:28 Steering wheel on the bench for parts swapping 13:20 Install steering wheel 15:42 Reconnect cruise control 16:17 Fasten steering wheel nut (torque is 25 ft-lbs) 17:00 Reconnect airbag 17:40 Reinstall Torx screws (torque is 78 INCH-lbs) 18:04 Reconnect battery 18:16 Check SRS continuity Thanks for watching, good luck with your repair!

[@onurdogan26]

Hey my cars 1996 rav4. Cruise control is not my cars i want make but why?

[@kriskarr3686]

Great precise easy to understand video with the needed small details. I'm replacing the cruise control on my wife's 1999 RAV4. This will be very helpful. Thank you, keep up the good work!

[@L35inColorado]

Nice! Thanks for watching : )

[@satyra8952]

Yo I have to remove the steering wheel for my friend tommorow. Very good tutorial, actually really cool that you uploaded this. Very helpful 🤝🏽

[@L35inColorado]

Thanks for watching! : )

[@HighMarkWater]

Coming in from Westcliffe, CO. This is the most professional, informative, precise, and helpful car video I have used on KZbin! You’re the best. Just swapped a Vibe wheel onto my 01 Rav with this video and it made it so much easier! Thanks for doing this! Love your bull bar and wheels! Shoutout for helping the sis keep hers clean too!

[@L35inColorado]

Westcliffe, cool! I'm glad the video helped! Thanks for commenting :)

[@ojong20521]

L35, fantastic video. You are indeed a born teacher. Your voice is clear, calm, instructions are clear well articulated and it doesn't seem you are pushing any product. Probably, as of March 27,2021, the best video in terms of narration, clarity of the video and presentation. I learned alot!

[@L35inColorado]

Wow, thanks for your comment! I just try to share with others what I have learned so that we can all work on our cars and save money and add skills. Thanks again! : )

[@hardlyworkin3603]

Great job of covering the wheel. You are multi talented. Your Rav looks excellent. The combination of the color, the black/aluminum wheels, black hood and grille are an excellent trio. Like all the others, another stellar tutorial.

[@robdude1969]

😀 great work through. Cheers to you and your Rav!

[@megatonesilva6546]

Excellent video. Thank you so much. Can I mention that there is also a torx size T-27 that is also slightly smaller than the T-30 which could also strip out the screw........plus, leaving the nut on the steering column shaft will prevent the steering wheel from flying off the shaft if you are hitting the wheel with your fist.

[@L35inColorado]

Great tips, thank you!

[@dougwachs]

Like others have commented this is a great video - you are a born teacher. Your helpful tips were spot on! Thanks for the video - this airbag was recalled and I wondered how long it took to replace - I hope you have a wonderful career!

[@L35inColorado]

Thanks for your kind words : ) Yes, my airbag was recalled, too -- the driver's side is very easy to replace, but the passenger side takes a little more time. Thanks for watching!

[@RazoE]

Great video! Put one of these on my 92 Supra as it looked better than the Camry looking steering wheel it came with.

[@awong160]

Great video, very detailed. I'm using this to swap over an IS300 steering wheel to my 91 MR2 :)

[@L35inColorado]

Very cool -- Good luck!

[@JE-ed6te]

Excellent, thank you 🙏 so much 🙂

[@L35inColorado]

Thank you, and thanks for watching! : )

[@DennisKing1938]

Hey your video was very helpful I have a question I have a 2000 RAV4 and the cruise control lever the engage button broke in your video I was trying to see how difficult it would be to replace it.

[@L35inColorado]

Its not difficult to do yourself -- you can see in the video what the swap looks like (its around 09:58) But I don't think you even need to remove the whole steering wheel to swap out the cruise control levers -- I bet you can just remove the airbag, leave the steering wheel in place, then disconnect the electrical and ground for the cruise control level, remove the 2 screws, and pull the lever out, and swap in your new lever. You can usually find these levers at the junkyard, too, for just a few bucks. Good luck!

[@DennisKing1938]

@@L35inColorado I've been looking for replacements new runs 300 to 125 and some junk yards I've checked out don't even have it,but thank you again for the input

[@PrimeZelot96]

The horn in my car doesnt work, where should i start?

[@user-khalil107]

Peace be upon you and good evening. A question I couldn't find anyone to help me with I trust you and I know that you are the only one who can help me and have the correct information. the problem is the heavy steering wheel Is the steering system for a 1998 RAV4 (car steering wheel)? The same steering system as the 2003 RAV4 (car steering wheel) I mean, are they equal in terms of ease of moving it by hand? I mean, is there a tangible or clear difference in ease of movement and ease of moving the steering wheel between the two models, or are they equal? Because I notice that the steering system in the 1998 RAV4 is somewhat heavy, which is heavier than the steering wheel of the 2003 RAV4. I don't know if it is heavy in nature. Or is there something wrong? Please help me on this matter Because I have not found in my entire country someone with a quarter of your experience and skill Greetings and respect

[@L35inColorado]

Yes, the steering on the 1998 Rav4 is normally much stiffer than the steering on the 2003 models, in my experience. Both models have hydraulic power steering, but the older Rav4's do have a "stiffer" feel, and that is normal. If you'd like to flush the power steering fluid on your 1998 Rav4, here's a DIY: www.rav4world.com/threads/diy-power-steering-fluid-flush.173969/ Refreshing or flushing the old fluid will help the steering feel a little better, but understand that the Rav4 just has a very "stiff" feel to the steering, and that is normal. I hope that helps : )

[@user-khalil107]

@@L35inColorado Thank you very much. Yes, this was very helpful. Thanks again

[@benhunt1077]

Hi there I couldn't help notice the bull bar on Rav ,Looks mean . Where can I get one of those

[@L35inColorado]

Thanks! We got this grille guard almost 20 years ago when the Rav4 was new. It is by "Manik". I don't think its available anymore, but I think you can still find the "Black Horse" grille guard -- for example, here is one: www.ebay.com/itm/Fits-1996-2000-Toyota-RAV4-Grill-Brush-Bumper-Guard-Black-By-Black-Horse-/301677622569?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c1#viTabs_0 I'm not positive about the Black Horse guard, but my Manik guard comes in three parts (the center part, then each headlight guard). It is easy to install, too. Good luck!

[@benhunt1077]

@@L35inColorado thank you so much for link that the design I was looking for but the cost for shipping to 3 times more than the actual cost I live in New Zealand so am a take the design to a local engineering shop have them fabricated it 😁. Cheers

[@rouge0449]

I got a squeaky steering on my 99 Rav. Any tip w/o pulling the wheel off?

[@L35inColorado]

Is the squeak from the engine compartment, or from the interior?

[@rouge0449]

@@L35inColorado It's in the interior. Not sure where to spray with WD-40.

[@carlos16alva]

Do you think it would be possible to swap out my rav4 96 steering wheel with this one. do I need additionally pieces?

[@L35inColorado]

That's a good question -- I don't know because I don't have a '96 to test it out on. Obviously, the airbag from the '96 four-spoke wheel will not fit the '98+ three-spoke wheel because they are shaped differently. I would think that the clock springs might be different, too. According to this seller on eBay, the three-spoke wheel will fit a '96 "by using the OEM Toyota airbag adapter harness (from clockspring to airbag)": www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-Toyota-3-Spoke-Red-Stitching-Complete-Steering-Wheel-Corolla-S-Celica-MR2/265024357172?fits=Year%3A1996%7CModel%3ARAV4&hash=item3db4aec334:g:Fv4AAOSwqgJgC8di#vi-ilComp Perhaps you can message that seller and ask about your situation -- they might have a steering wheel that will work for you, or at least be able to answer your question definitively. Good luck!

[@carlos16alva]

Thank you so much for this throughout anwer. I wish more people were like you, thanks again.

[@L35inColorado]

@@carlos16alva You're welcome!! Good luck : )

[@user-khalil107]

Hello 👋