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Steering wheel sun damage

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by hkmb, Oct 18, 2016.

  1. hkmb

    hkmb Senior Member

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    I'm about to, sadly, say goodbye to my Gen II Prius. I'll be selling it in a few weeks.

    It's the model that was sold in Australia as the base Prius (there were only two trim levels here - the base and the i-Tech) - about the same as a Prius II or Prius III in the US.

    I'm just getting it ready for sale, and there's one thing I'm not sure how to address.

    The sun in Sydney is pretty brutal. (This is a fact to which my red-and-white stripey tummy will attest: the sunscreen ran when I was at the beach at the weekend.) So the top 1/5 of my steering wheel has faded. It's the basic foam-rubber steering wheel, not a leather one. It's gone pale grey, and it's kind of soft and almost crumbly.

    I've found loads of stuff online about how to rescue a leather steering wheel, but nothing for this kind of wheel.

    Does anyone have any ideas about how to restore it?
     
    #1 hkmb, Oct 18, 2016
  2. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    Sorry, I don't have any suggestions on how to restore it. The new buyer may not care, or they can put a cover on it.

    Did you ever use a sunshield / Heatshield in your car?
    The Prius chat shop has a very nice one. You might consider using one in the future.
     
    #2 Coast Cruiser, Oct 18, 2016
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  3. magnumrtawd

    magnumrtawd Member

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    How about an after market steering wheel wrap.(cover)
     
    #3 magnumrtawd, Oct 18, 2016
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  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Here in the States, from a place like TLS Auto Recycling, an A-grade used steering wheel is about $60. Probably you've got similar sources there, if you wanted it to look nice and stock.

    -Chap
     
    #4 ChapmanF, Oct 18, 2016
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  5. hkmb

    hkmb Senior Member

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    Thanks for the suggestions. A replacement wheel is probably the best idea, as I do want it to look stock. The trouble is, most people here (myself included) don't bother with sunshades most of the time - battling the sun here is a fool's errand. I've tried sunshades on the inside, and an Uzbekistan flag on the outside, and neither really worked. Also, you get so much sun on the wheel when you're driving that a sunshade would only be a partial solution even if it did work.

    So I suspect that any Gen II wheel I can get from a recycler will have been subjected to seven years of sun too.

    Hmmm.

    Thanks anyway, everyone.
     
    #5 hkmb, Oct 18, 2016
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I guess one driver's routine could involve a lot more time inside garages or parking structures than another's. The big recyclers here do tend to provide descriptions of the condition of the part ... if they're reputable and say it's in good or very good condition, it might surprise you.

    -Chap
     
    #6 ChapmanF, Oct 18, 2016
  7. hkmb

    hkmb Senior Member

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    I'll certainly have a check. Thanks!
     
    #7 hkmb, Oct 18, 2016
  8. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    #8 exstudent, Oct 19, 2016
  9. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    I would install a wheelskinz steering wheel leather cover. That is the first
    Thing I install on any car i buy. Its the best. Looks awesome and feels so
    Comfotable you want believe it
    Forget stock on a g2 Prius that has a horrible steering wheel. Its like a cheese grater. All that white dust u see in the dashboard is skin from the cheese grater
    Steering wheel.
     
    #9 edthefox5, Oct 21, 2016
  10. hkmb

    hkmb Senior Member

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    But if I don't have a stock steering wheel grating my skin, what will I do for cheap parmesan?

    I think you're right though. I've had a look at leather covers, and they do seem to look quite good.
     
    #10 hkmb, Oct 21, 2016
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