Roger,
Before you jump into this procedure, make sure your wiper motor connection are good. Bad grounds are a common problem.
The wheel cover is easy. Just grab the top edge of the horn pad, and gently pull upward. It snaps on and off (4 snaps). There is a ground wire attached to the pad, so be careful not to damage it. Troubleshooting the VIP SmartWheel is a little more complex. VIP has a troubleshooting Guide that I believe I downloaded. It requires you to remove specified connectors and connect pins. There is a built in diagnostic mode once you do this. I don't know what your level of skill is in this area, so you must decide how much you are comfortable doing. The testing of the ribbon cable is the simplest. If you decide to troubleshoot the VIP module, it is located in the bottom right side of your electrical bay. It is well labeled and has four connectors attached. To eliminate the VIP module, turn on the ignition, locate the VIP module, and find the small hole on the face of the module. There should be a green light visible through the hole. If no light, you will have to troubleshoot the module.