no horn + airbag light

[ManySHOs]

I've noticed that for the past week, I'm getting a
steady --- -- break/repeat flash from my air bag
light. I've gotten this in the past but it usually
went away. It seems as if its here to stay now.

I tried to use my horn today and realized that it
wasn't working. When I got home, I swapped in a
different 20A circuit breaker but it still didn't
work. I did hear a relay? clicking in the dash when I
pressed the horn button so it appears that the breakers
are fine. Does this mean that my actual horns may be
damaged?

Is the air bag light related? I was thinking that
perhaps there was a problem in the column with the
floating contact thingamajig. Then again, if I hear
that relay clicking, I guess not.

What's that III II code anyway? Clock spring? If I
have a flashing light, does that mean my airbag system
is deactivated and my airbags won't go off in an
accident?

Ian

 

[Hack]

First thing I would do is clean and relubricate the clockspring assembly, or swap a known good one. I don't know airbag codes, so I cannot decipher that one. Being as there are a pair of horns I find it a little unlikely that they would both fail simultaneously. The clockspring seems to be the only thing they share so it appears a good place to start. Just my two cents, hope it helps...

 

[ManySHOs]

Thanks Glen
What exactly does the clock spring look like? I've heard that it's in a black plastic case directly in front of the steering wheel. Someone else also mentioned that it was a ribbon cable?

It's time for me to either clean or replace my clock spring so I'll do that. I should also check out my horns; one of them was going out intermittently so there might be a problem there as well. There's always something!

Ian

 

[Porkchop]

yes go clean your clock

If you take the airbag out, and take off the steering wheel there is a coil of cable, which looks like a clockspring! You have to disconnect one side form the airbag and the other from the column and it should slide right out. Make sure you don't let go of the clockspring because you'll be coiling up wire for days.

Im not sure where I found it, but there are clockspring re-setting procedures somewhere, they might actually be on the assembly itself.

 

[ManySHOs]

yes go clean your clock

Thanks. I'll make sure I don't knock my block off while I'm cleaning my clock.

I guess this will all fall into place mentally when I take the wheel off or get off my tush and look at my helms. I've had the wheel off a few times but I don't remember seeing coiled ribbons. I'll look harder when I take it apart.

Ian

 

[Porkchop]

the coil is contained in a plastic housing. If you have had the wheel off before more than likely you have disconnected the clockspring from the airbag before.

Like all things with SHO's ... follow the cable and see where it takes you :wave:

 

[rangerj]

First Disable The Air Bag.

 

[FordLover]

might also test the cruise control, since it's routed thru the clock spring too. Seems to me that if you hear the relay clicking , the clock spring isn't the problem, but who knows with these cars, I take nothing for granted.

 

[PAracer]

The clock spring will not pop off the steering column and jump out at you like a can of snakes. It is a ribbon cable inside of a plastic case. As I recall, there are instructions printed on the case about how to wind it properly so that it can make enough revolutions.

You will be able to test the horns once you have the airbag off of the wheel. When you get the bag off, you will see what I mean.

This might be a good time to upgrade wheels to a Momo, sparco, etc. You get to ditch the bag, and replace the clockspring with a cool disk and sprung screw setup.

Break a leg,
Mike

 

[ManySHOs]

The clock spring will not pop off the steering column and jump out at you like a can of snakes. It is a ribbon cable inside of a plastic case. As I recall, there are instructions printed on the case about how to wind it properly so that it can make enough revolutions.

You will be able to test the horns once you have the airbag off of the wheel. When you get the bag off, you will see what I mean.

This might be a good time to upgrade wheels to a Momo, sparco, etc. You get to ditch the bag, and replace the clockspring with a cool disk and sprung screw setup.

Break a leg,
Mike

What Mike, you don't like my FR500 wheel? I see how it is!

hehe

Thanks for the info. I was going to call you tonight to see if your car was up and running properly..

Ian

 

[John Monnin]

Did you get your horn Fixed?

Everything in my steering wheel stopped working, Horn Cruise control and now i get the airbag light. In other cars I have owned when the clockspring went bad only 1 or 2 things quick working I never had a 100% failure like this. I tore the steerin coulumn apart last night and everything was connected, I took the airbag out but I didn't remove the clockspring.

I don't want to buy a clockspring if I don't need it.

EDIT: A new clockspring fixed my car.

 

[ManySHOs]

Did you get your horn Fixed?

Everytthing in my asteering wheel stopped working, Horn Cruise control and now i get the airbag light. In other cars I have owned when the clockspring went bad only 1 or 2 things quick working I never had a 100% failure like this. I tore the steerin coulumn apart last night and everything was connected, I took the airbag out but I didn't remove the clockspring.

I don't want to buy a closkspring if I don't need it.

Well one of my horns seems to be dead (bad ground most likely due to rust). I found out that I had a poor battery clamp connection. Once I cleaned it up everything seemed to work ok. My drivetrain has been out of my car for a few weeks now so hopefully I'll know more once I get it all back together.

Ian