Jetmeck

iTrader: (3)

What steering wheels were available on 89 GTAs other than the radio control ones ?

FrankieRider2

The only other steering wheel used on GTAs in '89 was on cars equipped with the U1A factory CD player. Those cars used the standard four-spoke, leather-wrapped NP5 Trans Am steering wheel instead of the NK4 wheel with the radio control pod in the center.

Jetmeck

iTrader: (3)

No kidding a factory cd player was available in 89 ?

I believe you meant 3 spoke leather wrapped wheel ? Thx

GTA Jim

Yep.. I don't know about Camaro, but the U1A CD player became an option for the third-gen in 1989... I scored one for my 1990 GTA so I could listen to CDs and keep the car 100% stock... These radios are HARD to find. It took me many years of searching

okfoz

The 2 choices for steering wheels in 1989 were....

THe standard Pontiac style 4 spoke steering wheel, they used the design on everything from Grand Prix, Bonnevilles and sunbirds. Be warned however the wheel is slightly different for each model, although they are similar they are indeed different.

For example the Grand Prix has a square back where it meets the column, the Bonneville has about a 1" different offset, so the wheel is slighlty closer...

John

Jetmeck

iTrader: (3)

Anybody have a a pic of the 89 4 spoke wheel ?

Is it the plain looking one like the standard firebird and formula got ?
Does it have two grey horn buttons, one on each side ? 88-89 used this wheel ?A pic would be nice ?

What year did they quit using the three spoke wheel ?

Jetmeck

iTrader: (3)

[QUOTE=GTA Jim;3113903]Yep.. I don't know about Camaro, but the U1A CD player became an option for the third-gen in 1989... I scored one for my 1990 GTA so I could listen to CDs and keep the car 100% stock... These radios are HARD to find. It took me many years of searching QUOTE



Yeah I doubt I'd be able to find one and I'll bet it would be expensive. Never saw that radio before your pic. Back then nobody had any CDs....lol.

Besides I have got the steering wheel controls for the cassette, too bad Pontiac didn't have the steering wheel controls for the cd player. I am not real crazy about this
steering wheel with the radio controls but I have found the adapter to make it work with my aftermarKET RADIO.

Just can't roll with cassette player alone anymore

Thinking of putting a three spoker on but they weren't available in 89. The three spoker is much better looking than the four spoker if if it's the one with the two grey horn buttons like I saw for a 88 on ebay ? Guess you haven't got this dilemma with your airbag wheel ? I don't really like the airbag wheel much either.

Thx for any input or opinions on this........

Reid Fleming

iTrader: (2)

Beautiful CD Players. I think they look better than the later designs in the 4th gen cars. That one in your picture is ever so slightly different from mine. (See if you can spot the two differences)

Jetmeck

iTrader: (3)

Nice radio but I don't see the difference ? Where did you get it ? How much ? You two upgraded your speakers ?
What she sound like ?

Since you have a 89 obviously don't have the cassette deck what does your steering wheel look like ?

Do those play cd-r cds ? I am not talking about mp3 but just regular recorded at home cds ?

Jetmeck

iTrader: (3)

I just read somewhere on this site that their were only 100 third gens with that radio from the factory 89-92 so rare hardly describes it. I assume they came in other GM from that years ?

Mythos

The only differences I saw were

1. The radio presets buttons in the top pic are numbered and in the bottom there are white (presumibly lit at night) circles with no number identification.

2. Beside the Scripted Text "Auto" the bottom pic has styled letters "DNR". The top does not have these Letters.

3. The Scan button in the top Pic is replaced with a Button that has something to do with AM band, but the text is a little fuzzy and is hard to make out.

Reid Fleming

iTrader: (2)

Mythos, you surprise me. I didn't notice that one says "Scan" while mine says "AM-St" (AM Stereo/Mono). The other two are correct.

No, it doesn't play CD-R's or MP3's. Mine has a James Taylor CD stuck in it at the moment. Have to take it out and get it removed. I've heard that darn near all of the original CD Players have some sort of problem with them (CD stuck, doesn't play etc).

As for how does it sound. I have an aftermarket CD Player in my other car and it has better sound quality. But the Delco deck isn't bad (and I don't have to worry about it getting stolen....except maybe by TGO members ). The Delco is a little on the boomy side. Those EQ's are extremely sensitive to set. I have the stock speakers.

Jetmeck, The 1989 GTA 4 spoke steering wheel you're asking for is this one: LINK

Jetmeck

iTrader: (3)

Reid,

Your full of it, INFO that is....

Thx. I found that exact same pic of the steering wheel on ebay. That GTA on ebay has the cd player like yours and it has the cd stuck in it also.
Also I had one DELCO cassette deck that had the AM STEREO and it did sound considerably better, I don't know whay that feature hasn't lived on except there aren't many that listen to AM anymore.

okfoz

The 89 - 93 or 94 GM CD problems also include:
1) as the mech gets old it tends not to want to read, you have to keep shoving the CD in, and as it wams up it will eventually decide to read and then its fine, it really sucked on days colder than 50°
2) If your in an accident the player goes out of adjustment and then it does not work correctly, you have to be careful when picking them up at junkyards.

The nice thing about them is in many cases the Delco innards are universal through about 1995, you can buy a lter model player and then unassemble yours and then put in a newer mech, I find that the 1995 Riviera models work pretty well, although the metal case that encloses the CD player itself is about 1/16" narrower, but the holes line up and it screws together... but thats been my experience, and I am sure there are some bastard models out there that will not work.

oh yeah, here: This wheel was used in 88 & 89, the 3 spoke "Formula" Wheel was last ued in 1987.

John

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

The wheel in Johns car can also be had in leather. I have one in my car

okfoz

I believe that would be the Leather appointment package which included the Steering wheel, Shifter ****, and the parking brake handle. some of the earlier cars actually had a real leather shifter boot, but that was dropped and only vinyl was used after about 1987, not sure on the year.

The generic (non-leather wrapped) steering wheels seem to hold up better from wear though.

Also the Bonneville had a similar steering wheel that was available in different colors, such as Black, Red, brown, charcoal, etc. Essentially they are the same wheel except there is about a 1" offset difference which would bring it colser to the driver... The nice thing about the Bonneville steering wheel is it accomidates steering wheel controls, but with the above steering wheel configuration. The controls from a bonnevile, or Grand Prix will not work in a standard firebird wheel because it is not deep enough, thus the different offset. However the Grand Prix and the Bonneville steering wheel controls are interchangable for SIZE only, where the Bonneville had control for fan, temp, the Grand Prix only had control for Radio IIRC.

John

John

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

You are right about that! most peeps dont/wont take the time to clean and condition(sp) them properly.. I did some playin' with my moms brand new 91 cutlass leather wheel yrs ago. I found that cleaning them with a little soap and water followed with some saddle soap makes them last even better than the regular wheels.. It had 300,000 miles on it when she sold it and the wheel looked like it was maybe 5yrs old!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. I now have a set of the crazy brackets for the molded door panels!!! just need a set of grey nos arm rest pads now...

okfoz

I had a 1990 Riv with a leather Steering wheel, and my 95 has it too, both of them look(d) great. As probably bad as this sounds I like going to KFC and getting the wet naps that they hand out, and use them to clean the dirt spots off my interior... I do not believe they contain any alcohol, mostly soap and water. But it cleans it right up... I did that several times to my 90 Riv before I sold it and the guy that bought it thought the car looked like new, and it had 190,000 miles, I had recently replaced the drivers seat cover with a RH one from a junkyard, but kept everything else clean. Its amazing how little things help sell a car.

John