General Air bag failure

[mss240288]

Hi All,

Was wondering if anyone else has had problems with the airbag warning light coming on intermittently? Was driving yesterday and after about 15 minutes of driving just came on. Has been intermittently happening since. Not too sure if this wet weather could have screwed something up.

 

[Matthewr1990]

Simplest way to find the fault is have the error code read from the cars computer. Pop down to your local garage and ask for it to be read unless you can get hold of a reader yourself. The light is just a general indicator there's a problem with the airbags and system somewhere. Trying to find the fault like this could take weeks as there's many airbags and many things that could cause it. It may be a common fault however so let us know the model and age of your car? Someone may be able to help. Like i said however getting the error code read would be first thing I would do.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

:yeahthat:

 

[mss240288]

Okay so I took it into the garage and they've told me the steering Squibb needs to be replaced and is going to cost me approx £400. Does seem right? I've called a few other garages and none of them have ever replaced one ?.

 

[neilshep]

Okay so I took it into the garage and they've told me the steering Squibb needs to be replaced and is going to cost me approx £400. Does seem right? I've called a few other garages and none of them have ever replaced one .

They may be right in that the fault is ASSOCIATED WITH the steering wheel airbag. As the airbag turns with the steering wheel, there is not a continuous wire connection, but a sliding one via the CLOCK SPRING , which I would suspect, especially as you say the fault is intermittent.

eLearn does not seem to give any guidance on airbag systems. ( Don't encourage people to mess with them? ), but I've attached the fault finding guide for steering wheel controls. Spot the first repair suggestion!!!!

 

[mss240288]

Hi Neil. Thanks for the info. Do you know if £400 is about to repair this? Judging by some garages response this isn't a common problem?

 

[s and b]

Hi Neil. Thanks for the info. Do you know if £400 is about to repair this? Judging by some garages response this isn't a common problem?

airbag clock spring failure is never common unless someones been messing with say fitting a new steering rack and allowed the steering wheel to go beyond the critical safety margin of the ribbon
anyway look here for guidance of what you require but you would need to confirm this is right for your car if you ordered one amd it is second hand
its a half hour job for garage to fit

eBay item number:
290983624905

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

As the airbag turns with the steering wheel, there is not a continuous wire connection, but a sliding one via the CLOCK SPRING ,

Thats not how a clock spring works. With a clock spring there is always a constant connection. Not sure where you got this sliding one from
mss240288 the squab is the main airbag unit. £400 for a new one sounds about right. Might not be the airbag unit though, all the computer is telling the operator is that there is an issue with the circuit somewhere between the computer and the airbag, that's all it is. Isn't nessecarily the airbag unit itself. It could just be a loose connection.

This loose connection (if that's what the issue is) could be in the clock spring as S&B has mentioned above, however you should never use a used one unless you've removed it and can guarante it's been secured and locked in the possition it should be in when he steering is dead straight. Just one turn out can result in dangerous consequences. Then new they're locked into place with a locking tab which is removed once it's fitted and all aligned up to make sure that this doesn't happen.

 

[s and b]

Thats not how a clock spring works. With a clock spring there is always a constant connection. Not sure where you got this sliding one from

mss240288 the squab is the main airbag unit. £400 for a new one sounds about right. Might not be the airbag unit though, all the computer is telling the operator is that there is an issue with the circuit somewhere between the computer and the airbag, that's all it is. Isn't nessecarily the airbag unit itself. It could just be a loose connection.

This loose connection (if that's what the issue is) could be in the clock spring as S&B has mentioned above, however you should never use a used one unless you've removed it and can guarante it's been secured and locked in the possition it should be in when he steering is dead straight. Just one turn out can result in dangerous consequences. Then new they're locked into place with a locking tab which is removed once it's fitted and all aligned up to make sure that this doesn't happen.

its designed to turn thats the point
its a clock spring but made of wire so it goes back to its original setting
as i said its bad practise to change a rack without locking the steery wheel in case the wheel gets turned and strains the cabling
i often remove these in the course of working ,the main thing is ideally to have steery wheel straight ahead before removal,you dont always need to gaffa tape it to stop it moving,you are probably thinking more torque steer sensors now these do need locking as they are factory set

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

you dont always need to gaffa tape it to stop it moving,you are probably thinking more torque steer sensors now these do need locking as they are factory set

You do ideally and no I'm not talking about torque sensors.

Only time you can get away without securing it really is if you're removing it from one car and placing onto anther in one go so know its not possibly for it to be moved by anyone else, or when in storage / being in the postal system if buying off of the internet.

 

[s and b]

You do ideally and no I'm not talking about torque sensors.

Only time you can get away without securing it really is if you're removing it from one car and placing onto anther in one go so know its not possibly for it to be moved by anyone else, or when in storage / being in the postal system if buying off of the internet.

when you go to work tomorrow get one and try turning it,you will find they are quite resistive
ive got one in the bin from some joe hammering the steering wheel on a punto
if i remember i will disect it for you tomorrow and take some photos
just to be clear best practice is to gaffa tape it if unsure but its not the end of the world even for bolivia if one forgets to do it
on my link im sure if you asked the seller to secure it he would do as its certainly cheaper than 400 notes the dealer wants but then im not a millionaire

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

when you go to work tomorrow get one and try turning it,you will find they are quite resistive

But then do you want to bet your life on it? I've dealt with a few that haven't been, and lets face it the last thing anyone wants is an airbag going off unexpectedly in their face, even Mexican's wouldn't be fans of that happening.

 

[s and b]

But then do you want to bet your life on it? I've dealt with a few that haven't been, and lets face it the last thing anyone wants is an airbag going off unexpectedly in their face, even Mexican's wouldn't be fans of that happening.

why would the airbag go off?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

why would the airbag go off?

sits down and opens the popcorn

Damage to clock spring cable due to being over tightened, IE a few turns in the wrong direction, then placed onto steering column where its turned a few more turns as full lock is applied, resulting in locks spring cable being stretched and / or damaged.



Its not rocket science, and I've seen if first hand on a Ford Escort so I know it can and does happen.



You seem to be adamant that I don't know what I'm talking about so whats your next question??

 

[s and b]

Damage to clock spring cable due to being over tightened, IE a few turns in the wrong direction, then placed onto steering column where its turned a few more turns as full lock is applied, resulting in locks spring cable being stretched and / or damaged.



Its not rocket science, and I've seen if first hand on a Ford Escort so I know it can and does happen, so don't choke on that popcorn over the fact I've managed to give you an answer.



You seem to be adamant that I don't know what I'm talking about so whats your next question??

fords were very primite

the fiat ones come as a cassette so very difficult to send them over the edge

if they do go over the edge you get what happens in post 1 the airbag failure light comes on showing fatal error this is because the airbag ecu detects an open circuit,these wires are now enclosed in a very strong protective material and as i said earlier on its very very rare that they break but if they do its just a wire making and breaking a connection,what you are proposing is the wire breaks free from this protection finds somewhere live connects to it and sets the airbag off



ok

 

[Freebo]

Guys, I have cleaned up your posts. Please keep on topic and stop bickering.

 

[mss240288]

Okay so the car is booked to go in next week but is there anyway I can get the cables/software to read what the fault is actually is. Reason being I had an airbag problem with my punto and they wanted to change the whole unit. Turned out it was a faulty rear light causing the problem

 

[s and b]

Okay so the car is booked to go in next week but is there anyway I can get the cables/software to read what the fault is actually is. Reason being I had an airbag problem with my punto and they wanted to change the whole unit. Turned out it was a faulty rear light causing the problem

have you actually read the posts since you asked this question of help a week ago

 

[mss240288]

Got a little bored with the bickering lol. Well I have since been told that £400 they quoted me was if it is the Squibb but there's no guarantee. I was just curious to see what the fault reads. I'll have a look on Google and try a get the bits from eBay or something

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Got a little bored with the bickering lol. Well I have since been told that £400 they quoted me was if it is the Squibb but there's no guarantee. I was just curious to see what the fault reads. I'll have a look on Google and try a get the bits from eBay or something

I thought you've already had the fault code(s) read and this is how you know it's the squab