Technical Air bag squib - different FIAT models fit Scudo?

[Zog]

2004 window van. Having changed the steering rack, the air bag light's on.

A helpful garage man says it could be the "squib" - is the wheel's turned much with the rack off, it can break the squib. He'll look at the van tomorrow.

I've got a 9 1/2 year old wheel twiddler, who was "helping". Um.

Should it be the squib, will squibs from other FIAT models, or other makes (Peugeot, Citroen) fit the Scudo?

If it is the squib, knowing equivalent parts that will fit will increase my options. Help!

 

[Zog]

OK, these things are available second-hand at about £50, and new at about £190.

How do you fit them?

 

[T14086]

remove airbag, steering wheel, covers & refit in reverse order.

DISCONNECT BATTERY FIRST!

 

[Zog]

Disconnect battery, yes, sounds good. As an aside, does this mean that if I'm involved in a crash which "disconnects" the battery before any other significant impact, the air bag won't work?

Will disconnecting the battery muck up the radio or any other electrical thing?

Is a special tool or unusual size of spanner (or technique or tool) needed to remove the steering wheel?

 

[T14086]

airbag ECU stores electrical charge in it's capacitors so in the event of a crash where the battery or supply is disconnected the airbag will still detonate, hence disconnecting battery and waiting 5 mins before removing from steering wheel.

No special tools required.

 

[Zog]

I got a second-hand squin/clock spring/air bag ring, as these things seem to be variously known.

It arrived via "Yodel", and the plastic is bust. I am not impressed. The wiring does not seem to be damaged, though, and I may be able to glue it, or make a good one using bits and pieces of the old broken one and the new broken one.

It looks as though the thing, which consists of two pieces which rotate independently, but are fixed together, needs to be adjusted or "lined up" before fitting. Any ideas how?

 

[T14086]

two pieces which rotate independently, but are fixed together, needs to be adjusted or "lined up" before fitting. Any ideas how?

wheels in straight ahead position, the 'clockspring' turns both ways so you need to put it in the middle. Example 3 turns from full left to full right, therefore put clockspring 1 1/2 turns in from left or right, if you dont do this it will snap the clockspring.

 

[Zog]

Re: Air bag clockspring - different FIAT models fit Scudo?

wheels in straight ahead position, the 'clockspring' turns both ways so you need to put it in the middle. Example 3 turns from full left to full right, therefore put clockspring 1 1/2 turns in from left or right, if you dont do this it will snap the clockspring.

I screwed in the component, and with the wheels pointing straight ahead, rotated the clockspring upper projection gently from extreme anticlockwise to extreme clockwise, stopping when any resistance was felt (although there's a strange gear thing 6mm/1/4" diameter which "clicks over" about 2 turns in, I don't know what this does, may be for positioning when component fitted). The travel was just over 5 complete turns, so from full anticlockwise I turned it 1 1/2 turns clockwise. It was in the correct position to re-fit the steering wheel, so I did (see "Removing and replacing the steering wheel write-up." thread).

Now the air-bag light is still on. Does something need re-setting? If so, can I do that, or is it a garage job. If not, then... ?

 

[Zog]

Re: Air bag clockspring - different FIAT models fit Scudo?

the air-bag light is still on. Does something need re-setting? If so, can I do that, or is it a garage job. If not, then... ?

Anyone know?

 

[simmoon]

Apparently it needs to be reset with a diagnostic kit.it costs about £40 to get this done,but you can buy it on e-bay and do it yourself for about the same price.

 

[Zog]

Apparently it needs to be reset with a diagnostic kit.it costs about £40 to get this done,but you can buy it on e-bay and do it yourself for about the same price.

!!!!

What diagnostic kit (link)? Will I be able to work it, or cock it right up!