Steering wheel cover issue

[George Doogle]

The top half of my grey '01 steering wheel looks like someone held on with a deathgrip and twisted their hands backwards and forwards. Now the sticky stuff from inside the steering wheel cover is coming out around the threads and leaves black stuff on your hands. (It took a while to figure out where the stuff was coming from.) I'm wondering if anyone else has resolved a similar problem and how they did it. Will a wheel cover from somewhere like Wheelskins take care of it? Would the cover be installed over the existing wheel cover? If so, I'm not sure how much of the lumpiness can be smoothed out plus I'd sort of expect the sticky stuff to eventually come out between the threads of the new cover. I'm leaning towards trying to find one at a junkyard.



Anyone have an grey '01 steering wheel they want to sell?



Thanks

 

[Kirk Risseler]

George, glad to hear someone else has this problem! I thought it was just me! It was a REALLY hot summer and i thought my steering wheel was melting. Mine hasnt progressed as bad as yours, but it does have the death grip look to it. Have ne clue what the heck it is.

 

[Brandon Hovater]

I had a previous car that did that so from now on I put a cover over my wheel.

 

[Bud Williams]

I got an inexpensive cover at Walmart...works fine...

 

[Chris Joyce]

I have an 01 and my steering wheel is the same too...I may look into a cover.

 

[Dreman]

I haven't done it yet, but I'm thinking about removing the cover, cleaning everything off, then installing one of those cheap, perforated wheel covers as a padding, then reinstalling the cover. I would put a cover over the whole thing, but that black gunk will probably still make it through to your hands. My wife won't drive the Trac right now since the steering wheel is oozing black stuff.

 

[Steve McKellop]

George, keep my wife out of your truck!! Kidding, she ruined the steering wheel on her Mustang twisting on it like that. Still like that. She ruined it, she drives it, she can live with it ...... must not bother her though, drives ME nuts!



They have new ones on eBay occasionally for $100-$150.

 

[John G]

I bought a new one from the dealer who is a sponsor for this site.



It made driving much more pleasant again.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

Though I am sure you are all out of coverage, there was/is a TSB on this.



If within coverage, it was replaces for free. The replacement wheel is built slightly different and in my case, never peeled up to the day I sold it...



www.car-parts.com has many listed...

 

[EddieS'04]

You can get some nice slip on covers from most parts stores. For $10 to $15. Wheel skins start around $50.

 

[David Ponder]

There was a guy on E-bay selling NOS "Prairie Tan" steering wheels for the Sport Trac, and I missed out on them.. Mine (2001, job2) is doing the same thing. I bought a stering wheel cover for now, but would like to replace it if I can.

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

Check this out on eBay motors.

 

[Roger Batts]

I remember this TSB. This may be what you're looking for.



TSB 07-4-3 LEATHER-WRAPPED STEERING WHEEL - LEATHER COMING LOOSE



Publication Date: February 13, 2007



FORD: 2000-2005 Thunderbird

2000-2007 Crown Victoria, Focus, Mustang, Taurus

2005-2007 Five Hundred, Freestyle

2006-2007 Fusion

1999-2003 Windstar

1999-2008 F-Super Duty

2000-2005 Excursion

2000-2007 E-Series, Expedition, Explorer, Ranger

2001-2003 Explorer Sport

2001-2007 Explorer Sport Trac

2001-2008 Escape

2004-2007 F-150, Freestar

2005-2008 Escape Hybrid

2007 Edge

2004-2007 F-650, F-750

LINCOLN: 2000-2002 Continental

2000-2006 Lincoln LS

2000-2007 Town Car

2006 Zephyr

2007 MKZ

2000-2007 Navigator

2003-2005 Aviator

2006-2007 Mark LT

2007 MKX

MERCURY: 2000-2005 Sable

2000-2007 Grand Marquis

2005-2007 Montego

2006-2007 Milan

2000-2007 Mountaineer

2004-2007 Monterey

2005-2008 Mariner

2006-2008 Mariner Hybrid





This article supersedes TSB 04-24-3 to update the vehicle model years.



ISSUE:

Some vehicles equipped with leather-wrapped steering wheels may exhibit the leather coming loose from the spoke area.



ACTION:

Apply Motorcraft Instant Gel Adhesive to re-adhere the loose leather to the wheel spoke. Refer to the following Service Procedure.



SERVICE PROCEDURE



NOTE: IF RE-ADHERING LEATHER TO THE FRONT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL ONLY, OMIT STEPS 1 AND 6. STEERING WHEEL/AIR BAG ASSEMBLY REMOVAL IS NECESSARY ONLY WHEN REPAIRING LOOSE LEATHER ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL.







CAUTION: AVOID SKIN CONTACT WITH MOTORCRAFT INSTANT GEL ADHESIVE.







Remove the steering wheel (ONLY NECESSARY TO REPAIR BACKSIDE OF STEERING WHEEL). Refer to Workshop Manual Sections 211-04 and 501-20B.

Fold loose leather out of the way.

Apply Motorcraft Instant Gel Adhesive evenly over the wheel spoke.

Fold the leather back into its original position.

Smooth the leather, tuck in for neat appearance, and apply pressure until the leather is bonded to the wheel spoke (apply pressure for at least 30 seconds).

NOTE: THE ADHESIVE SHOULD BE COMPLETELY SET AFTER 5 MINUTES. DO NOT PULL ON THE REPAIR AREA.







Reinstall steering wheel.



PART NUMBER PART NAME

TA-19 Motorcraft Instant Gel Adhesive





WARRANTY STATUS:

Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage

IMPORTANT: Warranty coverage limits/policies are not altered by a TSB. Warranty coverage limits are determined by the identified causal part.

 

[Dreman]

The slip-on covers may help with the feel of the wheel in your hands, but they don't do anything for the black gunk that's coming out through the stitching. It will have to be removed and cleaned up.

 

[George Doogle]

Glad to know it's not just me with the issue. I'm not convinced that a cover is the best option either.



On Ebay, are there steering wheel models that are compatible that might be listed under a different year, make or model? Or should it specifically say '01 Sport Trac?

 

[Dreman]

I think that any Sport Trac wheel from 01-05 should fit. I don't know if any other Ford wheel will match. You might be able to physically attach the wheel to the steering column, but the air bag may not be compatible.