I have a heated steering wheel in the max. Well the top part is starting to rip and peel. There is something that looks like wire webbed together on the front part poking though. Is this webbing part of the heater or can I just have the wheel recovered and retain the heater function?

 

I had the same problem. I put on a cover and it still heats up through the cover. The only problem is that it takes a little longer.

 

you're going to need to have your steering wheel recovered if you don't want to use an external cover. I think it costs ~$75 at an upholsterer.

 

That is what I intend to do ( have the upholsterer recover it) I just wasn't sure if the cover that is there and this copper webbing poking though is part of the heater function.