I failed because my steering wheel's diameter is to small and there was no horn, not because I didn't have a speedometer or seatbelt on passengers side. :O

So my question is, what is the diameter of a steering wheel with no airbag? Can I replace it with a certain aftermarket steering wheel?

I looked underneath the hood and could not find a horn. Maybe you can point me in the right direction? Worst comes to worst I have an air horn I could use.

 

On your 89 or 91? For the 89, no air bag needed. For 91, an aftermarket, non-airbag steering wheel, will still fail regardless of size.

 

1989.

 

My stock 87 GTA steering wheel is 15", outside edge to outside edge. So maybe, 14", center to center?

 

Alright, what kind of stuff do I need to know to buy the right steering wheel? Is there a certain bolt sequence of some sort? I have never put on a steering wheel or taken off so I have no idea what to look for.

 

iirc the horn is inside the drivers side fender. am i right?

 

Got a pic of what you have now?

Chances are, you have an aftermarket wheel, that has that ring of like 10 little screws/bolts, on top of the steering wheel adapter, that is made to fit your stock steering shaft, then has the almost universal little pattern for almost all aftermarket steering wheels.

 

That's where my 87 is.

Chances are, after you pull the horn button out of the center of the steering wheel, you'll find a single wire coming up the center, that attaches to the horn button. I'd say either it isn't attached at the steering wheel or horn or the horn is missing

 

why would you fail for no airbag, in tx you can't fail a car for no airbag. that shouldnt be why he failed.

 

Um.....Yes you can in Texas. Airbags are a FEDERAL safety requirement & if you pass without one, in a car that originally had one, you SHOULD fail..... No way around that.

 

no it won't trust me (state inspector) and while it may fail a federal inspection, the STATE inspection is just that a STATE inspection, which means that if txdot doesnt say the car needs it to pass an inspection then it won't fail. Hell it doesn't even give you an option to fail a car for an airbag on the computer. However different state laws are different so, up north you may fail without them, but not here.

 

It's an 89 guys air bags started coming in 90s for these vehicles with the new dash.

 

Is your 89's steering wheel stock? or did it get replaced by a previous owner possibly?

If its stock I don't know why they would fail you, just saying..

But yeah, your horn is going to be inside your drivers side fender all the way to the front basically.

 

did u check the horn fuse? should be a relay somewhere too. just sayin...

 

If all else fails move to Washington state. No inspection necessary.

And a junk yard will have a steering wheel/horn button to fit even if you take it back off after inspection. Just get one from a gm car about the same year.

 

But if the fuse is out, then other things won't work like the power locks, remote hatch release (if equipped), dome light, cigarette lighter.

The relay is up under the dash in the inconvenient "convenience" center.

 

I do not know if there is a horn. There is none on my aftermarket steering wheel. Sorry I should have elaborated on it a little more.

I updated the OP with a picture of the steering wheel.

 

ok i can see the picture now, try this look into the center of your wheel there. there should be a little hole, stick a exposed wire into it and then ground the wire to the center nut on the column, hear your horn? if so then all you need it the wire retainer and a horn button.

 

Just make a LOUD "honk" when the inspectors try's to check its function!

 

find a crooked inspector. when i lived in VA all my friends went to this guy and just paid him for the sticker. i however was too cheap for that and kept my car registered at my parents house in FL.

 

In NY these cars are golden to "pass" with the right inspector. (I am an inspector so I "inspect" my own vehicles) after 1995 vehicles are plugged into the state computer via the OBDII connnector. Our law states that if a vehicle originally came equipped with certain specified parts.. ie an airbag, then it must be on the vehicle still. BUT most inspectors see an old camaro or firebird with another wheel on it and would usually have no idea if it was suppose to have an airbag or not.

I suggest to find a stock wheel and horn, fix the horn, get it inspected and then take it back off. I hate small wheels so I keep the stocker on there.. just my opinion.