Stiff combination switch

[mr. shr]

New switch installed and working fine. Thanks for everyone's input on this. Grateful as always.

Only trouble is, SRS light stays on. (I had to re-connect the battery a couple of times with airbag disconnected. So I believe this has stored a fault in memory and needs STAR to clear it!!!)

 

[Ian B Walker]

Disconnect the battery first then go into the passengers foot well and remove the plate, you will see a red plug, pull it out and then the system is safe. I have found that it you put a length of wood against the centre spokes of the steering wheel, wedged against the floor and have a helper hold the wheel the nut comes undone with a whoosh. DO NOT ENGAGE THE STEERING LOCK. Mark the splines as mentioned and pull the wheel off.

 

[mr. shr]

Disconnect the battery first then go into the passengers foot well and remove the plate, you will see a red plug, pull it out and then the system is safe.

Is it not safe to drive the car as it is then?

I have found that it you put a length of wood against the centre spokes of the steering wheel, wedged against the floor and have a helper hold the wheel the nut comes undone with a whoosh. DO NOT ENGAGE THE STEERING LOCK. Mark the splines as mentioned and pull the wheel off.

Not sure I follow!! I had to remove the airbag to get to the nut. I'm missing something here.

 

[Ian B Walker]

Sorry I should have said after undoing the red plug, use a torex allen key and undo the two screws in the back of the steering wheel, pull the centre pad (air bag) out and carefully remove the electrical contact from the air bag. Store the bag vertically.

As for driving the car. If your air bag light is out after starting the car then it is ok to proceed. The system is active. If the light stays on then the system is inactive and the bag will not deploy if subjected to accident conditions.

 

[mr. shr]

Sorry I should have said after undoing the red plug, use a torex allen key and undo the two screws in the back of the steering wheel, pull the centre pad (air bag) out and carefully remove the electrical contact from the air bag. Store the bag vertically.

As for driving the car. If your air bag light is out after starting the car then it is ok to proceed. The system is active. If the light stays on then the system is inactive and the bag will not deploy if subjected to accident conditions.

Yep, light stays on, so gonna have to go to Stealer for a reset!!!

 

[Ian B Walker]

Try an auto electrician first. My preferred leccy can reset air bags on his equipment. Far cheaper than Mb.

 

[mr. shr]

Try an auto electrician first. My preferred leccy can reset air bags on his equipment. Far cheaper than Mb.

Has to be star though doesn't it? I thought only star can clear these faults. Other systems might be able to read them, but only STAR can reset them. Is that not true?

 

[mr. shr]

Oh no!!! It's all going wrong. Stealer couldn't reset fault. STAR says airbag is at fault. Stealer took airbag off to check I had connected it properly, but still wouldn't reset fault.

Tonight I tried to take wheel bag off again to check the clock spring, but can't undo one of the screws on back of airbag. Stealer did them up too tightly. Got one of them off but the other wont budge. And now I've damaged the screw head. Every time I put my torx drive in, tiny filings emerge from the hole. So I've ruined the head.
Now I've got now idea how I'm gonna get the airbag off.
Long shot here but anyone got any suggestions of how to get this damaged screw out?

Thanks.
shr.

 

[BlackC55]

Oh dear. You do have a little problem.

Due to the acess it will be difficult to drill it. Try using a larger torx bit and hammer it in the hole.

 

[mr. shr]

Oh dear. You do have a little problem.

Due to the acess it will be difficult to drill it. Try using a larger torx bit and hammer it in the hole.

Will try. Being the airbag, worried about using excessive force for two reasons:
i) they're about 500 quid,
ii) might go off!!!

Not a good position i'm in right now!!!!