Airbag fault warning light has been on for a while. My garage think it's a spring that has broken causing the light to come on.

 

i can't remember what exactly it was called... any ideas?

@Wench It will be the "clock spring" that supplies the connections between the stationary wiring and the rotating steering wheel. The only way to sort this is replacement. Also, as well as the airbag (an MOT failure in itself) fault, your horn may not work either.

Edited 4 June, 20179 yr by KenONeill

Is it something that's easy to replace myself 

@Wench I wouldn't want to try it, and I'd have to really trust the garage that was going to do it, because you're effectively working with a detonator for a bomb.

Had my air bag out when I changed steering wheels. Didn't even disconnect the battery.

I have a spare clock spring.

 

 

@TMB @Wino - Been there, done that, but the clock spring is more delicate than the airbag itself!

1 hour ago, TMB said:

Had my air bag out when I changed steering wheels. Didn't even disconnect the battery.

Previous life as a UXB / EOD specialist?

Just now, Warrior193 said:

Previous life as a UXB / EOD specialist?

 

Nah

Right I have to admit... I'm confused, is it dangerous or something to fix myself, or that inordinately difficult it's not worth doing.

 

I trust my garage, but I could do without the rather large bill for changing it 

@Wench - Airbags are potentially dangerous because they can cause injury when they go off at "the wrong time" (eg, while you're working on the system, when you go over a pothole) or indeed if they fail to go off in a big crash: I have rolled a previous car at ~60mph and am certain the airbag reduced my injuries (I came out with a few bruises and a small cut where my glasses came off).

 

That the airbag works correctly (BITE light illuminates on switch on and then goes off) is a requirement of the MoT however.

Disconnect the battery, wear an anti-static wristband and you're good to go. Lots of nonsense talked about airbags, if your local fastfit muppet is allowed to do it then you are too.

2 hours ago, KenONeill said:

That the airbag works correctly (BITE light illuminates on switch on and then goes off) is a requirement of the MoT however.

 

BITE? What's that?

12 hours ago, TMB said:

 

BITE? What's that?

Built-In Test Equipment. It's why you get all those lights when you first switch on, and they mostly go off after a few seconds, as the car tests systems to make sure they're working.