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Cheap Steering Wheel on Prime Advance?

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by jrodz09, Dec 6, 2018.

  1. jrodz09

    jrodz09 Junior Member

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    Hello everyone!

    Has anyone else been having this same issue with the heated steering wheel? First time I have had a car do this to me. Starting to look pretty ugly.
     

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  2. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    An unintended consequence of a heated steering wheel apparently that heat destroys the "pleather" that Toyota uses called Softex..
     
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  3. Diemaster

    Diemaster Active Member

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    then shouldn't the (non-moonstone) heated seats show the same marks?
     
  4. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    The seat heaters apparently spread the heat over a larger surface area than on the steering wheel. Engineers call it the principle of unintended consequences. Vinyl's start to soften at about 180 degrees Fahrenheit and droop at about 300.

    Natural materials like leather are a lot more heat resistant up to 400 and slightly beyond.
     
    #4 Georgina Rudkus, Dec 6, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2018
  5. jrodz09

    jrodz09 Junior Member

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    That sad part too is that there no heat up in that 12 o’clock position. :/
     
  6. Concerning the wrinkle...

    No...?
     
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  7. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Is this the same issue I have been seeing on PC on peeling steering wheels? Are they specific to "heated" steering wheels? Mine does not have heated steering wheel and peeling... at least NOT YET.
     
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  8. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    Could that be related to Sun UV damage?
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I like that.
     
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  10. upnorth

    upnorth Member

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    At 20,000 miles and about 1 1/4 northern Wi winters I do not see any damage of this kind on my steering wheel. I use the heated steering wheel a lot, every day this time of year probably through most of March. Thanks for pointing it out, will keep an eye on it.
     
  11. jrodz09

    jrodz09 Junior Member

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    I do have almost 60k miles, but I have owned around 10 cars and a couple with more miles than that and never had this degraded steering wheel issue. Do not know if it’s only affecting the heated steering wheels, but that’s what I am working with.
     
  12. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    I wonder if there is some kind of solvent or even hand cream involved?
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    There's been at least one other thread on this, and the common denominator was 4th Gen with artificial leather, not necessarily heated.
     
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