Technical Dreaded Airbag Again - "Drivers Squib Circuit"

[Stilo Nutter]

Well I know it's been a while since I've posted on this site, but that's because I'm not knowledgeable enough when it comes to the stilo to help others and things have been going well with mine for the most part.

However, my MOT is due very soon and the airbag warning is going to be a problem this year. After clearing the codes with FES, one wouldn't clear. Hopefully the attachment will show you exactly what the problem is.

Can someone tell me which yellow/orange connector is the one for this "08 - Drivers Squib Circuit" fault?

Also, the blurb underneath the fault says that something along this circuit is shorted to ground. Is that accurate or is the message just generalizing?

 

[Davren]

Drivers Squib Circuit is the steering wheel airbag. Check that the yellow and green connectors are fitted and locked to the back of the airbag.

There's a guide here: https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo-guides/337072-tutorial-how-remove-steering-wheel.html

 

[BurkeyL]

I had to remove my steering wheel today to change the indicator stalk. I was a bit apprehensive, because of messing with airbags but it was straight forward. Glad someone had put the guide up.

 

[Stilo Nutter]

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction Davren, I'll knock those connections on the head tomorrow. It seems like a quick job from the guide, is it BurkeyL?

 

[Davren]

Follow the safety instructions in the guide.
.

 

[Stilo Nutter]

Yup, I disconnected the battery last night before I posted on here. Cheers though Davren.

Well I got the Airbag part of the steering wheel off easy enough and both the green and yellow connectors WERE plugged in securely and all the small molex/bullets were shiny and clean, as was the copper wire at and around the crimps.

However, There is something rattling inside the Squib itself. I would imagine that it's something come loose/broken, but for all I know there is a component inside the Squib unit that is supposed to be like that (I truly have no idea, but common sense tells me something is broken inside). Does anyone know for sure either way?

 

[Alexdavies383]

Hi
I've just had my mot failed due to airbag light. The code reader says its the driver squib and the guy doing it quoted £445 to fix because its a special part.

However I usually fix things myself on my car.

Was just wandering if buying a squib adapter off of eBay that is used will work? And is it a simple fix once the steering wheel is off.

Cheers

 

[Davren]

Hi
I've just had my mot failed due to airbag light. The code reader says its the driver squib and the guy doing it quoted £445 to fix because its a special part.

However I usually fix things myself on my car.

Was just wandering if buying a squib adapter off of eBay that is used will work? And is it a simple fix once the steering wheel is off.

Cheers

What do you mean by "squib adapter"?
.

 

[Alexdavies383]

What do you mean by "squib adapter"?
.

The airbag squib connector... The ring?

 

[Davren]

Ahhh.... OK.

A squib is an explosive (pyrotechnic) device used to fire airbags or the pretensioners on seatbelts. The circular part in the middle of your stalk switches is known as the clockspring. It contains just a long coil of multi strand ribbon cable. It has no squib in it.

If the fault with your car is the driver's squib, it would be the explosive device that fires the steering wheel airbag. You would need a replacement airbag to fix that, not a clockspring
.

 

[Stilo Nutter]

Well the second-hand replacement drivers squib didn't sort it for last years MOT, but at the time of the last MOT, the particular conditions of my fault met the rules/regs for an advisory so the car made it through for another year .

However, I doubt lightning will strike twice and MOT season is approaching again.

As I said above, I did fit a replacement Squib and it changed nothing. I have now removed the airbag ECU and got the part number off of it so I could try a second-hand replacement one to see if that sorts my problems. It is currently on its way in the post.

If the new ECU also changes nothing, I believe I am only left with the clockspring or the actual wiring, is that correct?

I hope to hell that it is not a worn or frayed wire somewhere as that will be a nightmare to track down.

If I want to try a different clockspring, do I need to get one form a stilo that has the same controls that mine does i.e. one that had the 11 button steering wheel and a factory fitted (I believe) Cruise control stalk?
Or are the clocksprings all wired the same and if you don't have one or more of the optional extras then those particular circuits of the clockspring just don't get used?

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[Stilo Nutter]

Anyone? Please, I need help to get this sorted for my MOT. I know I have only myself to blame for leaving it this late, but I could still do with help.

As well as above, does anyone know if the clockspring's connector block pins can be tested with a multimeter to see if it is the clockspring that is shorting to ground or not? If it can be done, can anyone tell me what each pin is/does (mainly the positive and negative/earth).

 

[Stilo Nutter]

Well as I've said, a replacement Squib didn't change anything and now I've just come back inside from fitting the replacement airbag ECU and that also did absolutely sod all. I have gone through loads of connectors spraying them with contact cleaner which again solved nothing. I am running out of options and still need help from anyone that can provide it.

The only thing I have not changed is the clockspring, because I don't have one and I don't trust that any for sale on ebay haven't been rotated/messed with after being removed from the car. I will try to find one to match my cars specs at one of my 2 small local breakers that I can remove myself, but I'm not holding my breath.

Can anyone tell me if a fault with/in the crash sensors would come up with their own fault code? I'm wondering if they are part of the "Drivers Squib Circuit" and if the connections could be corroded or wires worn and touching the body.
If they would definitely have their own code coming up then I can rule them out.

Can someone outline what the whole of the "Drivers Squib Circuit" consists of and where the wires involved go to and from?

 

[Peat]

See if you can beg, borrow or steal the Airbag ECU. I had similar problems and that's the item that was at fault. It's located about a foot in front of the gear shift stuffed under the heater unit & on top of the 'transmission tunnel'!

If you try it - make sure the numbers match.

 

[Stilo Nutter]

See if you can beg, borrow or steal the Airbag ECU. I had similar problems and that's the item that was at fault. It's located about a foot in front of the gear shift stuffed under the heater unit & on top of the 'transmission tunnel'!

If you try it - make sure the numbers match.

Thanks Peat, I already have tried a replacement ECU because of a few of your posts saying it sorted your airbag problems and since your here, a thanks to you for those other posts. It is only because of them that I knew where to look for it , but unfortunately it didn't solve my problems .