Just on the way home tonight and started reversing in to driveway, the steering wheel airbag made a strange noise like it was about to deploy and the warning light came on. Any ideas??

Was you turning the steering wheel when the noise started and light came on?  Are you sure the noise was from the airbag and airbag light?

 

My first thoughts always with these modern cars is that the car battery is in good condition and battery in a good state of charge (and that's not just the car starts and the headlights seem bright), also that the terminal post clamps are secure and tight.  The car battery  being low has a big effect on the cars computers throwing wobbles.

 

I doubt the battery is the cause of this but with computer programs who knows, has the steering wheel been taken off before (I had to to repair a fault on the wiper stalk)?

 

2 minutes ago, nta16 said:

Was you turning the steering wheel when the noise started and light came on?  Are you sure the noise was from the airbag and airbag light?

 

My first thoughts always with these modern cars is that the car battery is in good condition and battery in a good state of charge (and that's not just the car starts and the headlights seem bright), also that the terminal post clamps are secure and tight.  The car battery  being low has a big effect on the cars computers throwing wobbles.

 

I doubt the battery is the cause of this but with computer programs who knows, has the steering wheel been taken off before (I had to to repair a fault on the wiper stalk)?

 

Hi, yeah definitely airbag warning light and I was steering at the time. Noise sounded like the airbag was about to unravel, kinda weird noise.

Which air bag light come on, where is it?

 

There's a "clock" mechanism  to the bag and all sorts of stuff to the steering wheel (depending on which you have) the bag has a detonator that as you can imagine either detonators or doesn't.

 

Anything to do with the airbags wants sorting ASAP, a scantool and/or dealers.

 

You need someone technical for this query, which ain't me.

 

Edited 21 September, 20214 yr by nta16

Its the warning light in the top  centre of display, says 'error airbag'. The noise definitely came from steering wheel as I was steering

The power assisted steering motor is electric and is on steering column below the steering wheel. 

 

Is the air bag warning light still on?

 

Thanks AG Falco

hi, yes it is.

I do have breakdown recovery from a well known UK firm, wonder if they'd help?

I would 100% fully charge the battery up, even if it was after anything else.

 

Personally I'd remove the battery from the car and put it on a long slow low charge (not fast high) at least overnight, much longer if possible to fully charge the battery which will help the car in many ways.  Also disconnecting the battery for many hours might give enough time for things to discharge (that's the wrong word but I can't think of the correct one) and reset themselves.

 

After reconnecting the battery I's also synchronise both keyfobs (details in the Driver's Handbook).

 

On my wife's 2015 car the only thing that needed resetting was the time of day - but I don't know with your car you'd need to check to be sure.

 

Shorter days, longer nights, colder wetter weather in future weeks and months - you want to have your battery in good condition and state of charge not to join all those that need the Recovery at this coming time of year because they've not taken care of their car's battery, plus as I put a lthe computer programs are very fussy about battery level and will play up in all sorts of ways not always obvious as to why.

 

5 minutes ago, nta16 said:

I would 100% fully charge the battery up, even if it was after anything else.

 

Personally I'd remove the battery from the car and put it on a long slow low charge (not fast high) at least overnight, much longer if possible to fully charge the battery which will help the car in many ways.  Also disconnecting the battery for many hours might give enough time for things to discharge (that's the wrong word but I can't think of the correct one) and reset themselves.

 

After reconnecting the battery I's also synchronise both keyfobs (details in the Driver's Handbook).

 

On my wife's 2015 car the only thing that needed resetting was the time of day - but I don't know with your car you'd need to check to be sure.

 

Shorter days, longer nights, colder wetter weather in future weeks and months - you want to have your battery in good condition and state of charge not to join all those that need the Recovery at this coming time of year because they've not taken care of their car's battery, plus as I put a lthe computer programs are very fussy about battery level and will play up in all sorts of ways not always obvious as to why.

 

Thinking about it now, I'd just done a half hour phone call through the cars bluetooth with the engine off, then driven home which is all of 10 minutes and then this happened so it might well be battery issue. Thanks 

Obviously it might not be - and I am not technical or mechanical, I just know how much the state of the battery is forgotten about and how important it is to the car and even more so with newer cars.

 

If you can't charge it enough in one session then do more sessions, leaving the battery on the car to charge means some (a lot sometimes) of the recharging is lost because of all the systems on the car still working even when the car is parked up.

 

Battery or charging issues as still one of the main reasons for Breakdown Recovery call-outs despite car batteries and charging systems being much better now, it's mostly (just about all?) down to the car users not knowing or neglect.

 

Batteries are also one of the most oversold car parts, often they can be recovered but it can need long, slow and low charging whereas everyone wants instant solutions or at least very quick so don't have the patience or understanding.

 

Good luck.

 

So my thoughts are that it's the airbag clock spring or squib that's broken as all steering wheel functions have stopped working.

Edited 25 September, 20214 yr by Grd3105

On 21/09/2021 at 20:27, nta16 said:

You need someone technical for this query, which ain't me.

 

 

Having read your "charge the battery" comments I  agree.

On 21/09/2021 at 19:41, Grd3105 said:

Just on the way home tonight and started reversing in to driveway, the steering wheel airbag made a strange noise like it was about to deploy and the warning light came on. Any ideas??

 

What noise does an airbag make before it deploys? Some sort of warning?

7 hours ago, J.R. said:

 

Having read your "charge the battery" comments I  agree.

Genuine laugh for your comment from me, I like witty. 😄

 

I was going on the limited info given by the first post and throwing up my usual first (and contentious) idea it usually encourages others in, and often the more technical, throw enough mud (opening there) and some will stick.

 

Checking the battery state, connections and charge is always a good idea on cars particularly these modern cars, I'm not technical but I do have 42 years of experience of owning and using cars and the car battery (and charging system) is a very neglected important item on vehicles hence the very high level of breakdown recovery call-outs for battery/charging problems and rarely for faulty components rather use neglect or not understanding.

 

The car can start fine and headlights seem bright enough and the battery still be low enough during the heavy use that many modern cars and driver's give it that it's low enough to get the car's computers and programming to start playing up in all sorts of ways.

 

I've been told many times that a battery was "good" went it wasn't and getting it good has sorted the problem or at least helped.

 

This problem now looks a lot less likely (than even before) to be a problem with the battery but a battery in a good condition and sate of charge will help confirm rectification whereas the reverse could actually hinder or delay progress.

 

Grd3105, see the first link and video for general clockspring info and the second video for Fabia specific (about halfway through for clockspring, I'm not sure why he had trouble with the steering lock, I never, but I'm not technical 😄).

 

Youcanic - closckspring general, see text and video  - https://www.youcanic.com/article/airbag-clock-spring

 

Fabia (wiper stalk fix) video - https://youtu.be/w4CWH5p5VWM

 

As you're going to disconnect the battery you might as well give it a long, slow and low recharge, you know it makes sense. 😁

 

 

 

Edited 26 September, 20214 yr by nta16

Thanks! Very helpful video, cars going back to dealer on Tuesday for repair as I've only had it around 7 weeks.

Let us know how you get on, could be different to what's been suggested.

 

But never underestimate the effect of a battery in lower state of charge or condition on a modern car on the car's computers or programming even if it has sweet FA to do with this issue.

 

 

As suspected, Airbag squib or clock spring as some call it had failed. As the car was only bought about 6 weeks ago, returned to garage and they paid around £160 for replacement and repair. So far so good.

Well done, thanks for reporting back.