July 28th, 2019 - Installing a JDM Honda Access Momo Steering Wheel in a 1990 Honda CR-X EF8 SiR dubbed "Project PRO.2"

July 28th, 2019 - Installing a JDM Honda Access Momo Steering Wheel in a 1990 Honda CR-X


When I found myself finally ready to install my Honda Access Momo steering wheel, I decided to Google it to see if there were any "gotchas" other people had run into before I began.

To my surprise, I found a shocking lack of information about how to go about installing one. Obviously, they aren't particularly difficult but for someone just starting out or learning, the whole adventure might be a bit daunting. I decided to ask online to see if anyone else had seen a write-up on one and to check to see if my plan/theory was solid.

The replies I received were less than helpful.

"Just try it out, worst that will happen is the horn will go off." Gee, thanks.

With that, I decided I would write up how I installed mine to give back to the "community". So with no further ado... here is how I installed a JDM Honda Access Momo steering wheel onto my EF8 SiR project car.

Basic Automotive Electrical Systems For The Horn

Disclaimer: This is EXTREMELY basic and it's only the info relevant to installing the steering wheel. 

In order to understand how we will be installing the Honda Access Momo steeing wheel, it will be necessary to understand at least the basics of the electrical system as it pertains to the horn system on a CR-X. 

You need power source (positive) and a ground (negative) connected to one another with something in between (the horn diaphragm) in order to complete the circuit and honk the horn. 

To do this "on demand" when you want (and not have your horn constantly honking), you need to interrupt that circuit using a switch. When you hit the switch, the circuit is completed and your horn honks. 

In the case of the CR-X, the car side of the circuit is always positive, or "hot" in electrical lingo, so  the steering wheel side is what is grounding and completing the circuit.

A couple things to note:
1) As a general rule, a red wire is almost always a positive wire.
2) As a general rule, a black wire is almost always a negative wire.
3) Pay attention to the symbols near plugs. Grounds will usually have a triangle symbol on them.

Installing the JDM Honda Access Momo Steering Wheel 

I've had the wheel for over a decade but decided to install it this summer because I found a hub for cheap on Yahoo Japan and frankly, this seemed like a good time.

Note: An argument can be made for going with the Momo bramd steering wheel hub because it's designed to collapse in the event of a collision but that's a debate for another post. 

Installing the hub was pretty easy. Take the centre section off the steering wheel to expose the wiring and to access the mounting holes. Then simply fit the centering ring on the wheel, orient the hub so that the mark saying "Top" is, well, at the top and secure the hex screws.

An examination of the wiring on the steering wheel itself was revealing. A blue forked connector was attached to the green/yellow wire as well as a female spade connector. 

On the solid red wires (a sign of a positive connection) an odd male/female combo connector was attached.

On the horn pad/center horn button assembly are two male connectors.   

Green/Yellow wires (negative) and Solid Red wires (positive)
I'm an idiot and cut off the fork connector in this photo but you can see part of it near the top. The blue bit.

Horn pad/centre horn button assembly.
Note the triangle-shaped "Ground" symbol on the other connector near the top of the pic.

So we can determine from the presence of the forked connector and the color of the wires that the green/yellow wire is the ground, and the red is the positive. Since we know the car-side of the circuit is positive from the wiring diagram in the OEM (Helm) manual, we connect the single female wire from the hub to the male on the red wire's combo male/female connector.

We can then connect the fork connector from the green/yellow wire to a ground, such as behind on of the hex mounting screws.

Secure the female positive to the male positive (red wire)

Secured the forked connector to the wheel behind one of the hex screws.
Note the male/female combo connection on the red wire and the blue forked connector.

Close-up shot of the male/female combo connection with the wire from the hub connected.

The female end of the green/yellow wire will eventually connect to the ground connector on the horn pad/centre horn button assembly shown in the photo above.

But what about the single positive connector on the horn pad assembly? Where is the wire for that?

There isn't one. You have to make it yourself. Sounds silly, I know, but because the Momo Honda Access wheel has three horn buttons, it needs an extra wire that isn't included in the aftermarket kit or on the wheel itself (unless you're lucky and yours came with one already attached).

For my jumper wire, I simply ripped the wire from a used hub I had purchased a couple years back (the hub didn't fit the CR-X properly and didn't come with the hex screws). And as a bonus, this wire was red too!

I attached a male spade connector on the other end of the jumper wire, and then connected that same male connector to the female end of the male/female combo connector found on the red wires on the steering wheel.

Connect the green/yellow wire female end to the horn pad assembly making sure that it's connected to the male connector with the ground symbol beside it.

Create a male to female jumper wire for the positive connection to the horn button

Connect the jumper to the positive connector of the horn button

Now we're ready to install the steering wheel. Remove your old wheel, making sure to note where the 12 o'clock position is on the splines. 

Since my hub was brand new, it had no grease on it where the horn contact arm attaches. I checked the manual and all it said was that in the event of a squeaky steering wheel, apply grease to the horn contact surface on the steering wheel, but it didn't say what kind of grease. 

I checked online and with a mechanic friend of mine and they recommended a little dielectric grease for the contacts. I happened to have some of this Honda Lithium Dielectric Grease in my garage, so I tried it. I don't know how it will be since the car is not on the road currently, but I will try and remember to update this page when I can report back my findings. 

I should also note that for years I'd been reusing the centre steering wheel nut when replacing my steering wheels. Apparently, according to the shop manual, they should be replaced. For the extra $5ea, I figured what the hell and picked up a couple from the dealer. 

Also, I recommend testing the horns before attaching the wheel and securing the horn pad assembly. 

Just in case...

Finally. Installation of the JDM Honda Access Momo Steering Wheel

Having a computer in the garage really helps with looking up torque
specs and solving problems when they arise.

New steering wheel nut (actually recommended to be replaced
when changing steering wheels according to the Honda shop manual).

JDM Honda Access Momo Steering Wheel.

Remember, this blog was written in chronological order so, you will need to click OLDER POSTS to move forward in time, and click NEWER POSTS to go backwards.