Intermittent Airbag Light

[P_D]

I have a 99 TJ. My son had a wreck in it about 18 months and both airbags blew. I pulled the steering wheel and dash and replaced the airbags and the clockspring and the module. Soon after I got it all back together, the airbag light began to come on while driving, and then go back off again after 8-10 seconds. I pulled off the driver airbag and reseated the connections. The problem continued. I pulled the airbag once again and checked connections. That fixed it. Until now.

My airbag light is back on for 8 seconds at a time, almost always after I turn the steering wheel. I know the clockspring seems like the most likely culprit, but the horn works and the clockspring was brand new when installed.

They are expensive and a pain to install, so I’m looking for suggestions to try before I pull the steering wheel off.

Is there a way to test the airbag wiring?

 

[P_D]

Anyone?

 

[qslim]

Here's a snap shot of the wiring for your airbag through the clock spring. You'll still need to remove the airbag though. You can check either from the airbag control module to the airbag connector or from the clock spring connector to the airbag connector while you rotate the wheel.

Nevermind, the forum isn't letting me paste pictures again (Oops! We ran into a problem.). Here's the link for your factory service manual. Scroll to page 8W-43-2 and you'll see the pair of wires that go through the clockspring.

https://wranglertjforum.com/attachments/1999-tj-service-manual-pdf.14034/

 

[P_D]

Okay thanks, qslim! I have the manual on my iPad, and I see that there is a black/brown wire and a green/blue wire running out of the control module to a connector, then two wires running from the connector to the squib, which I am assuming is actually the connector that plugs into the back of the airbag

So just to make sure I’m doing this correctly:

1. disconnect the battery and wait 10 minutes or so
2. remove the airbag and disconnect the squib connector at the back of airbag
3. disconnect the yellow female connector under the steering column
4. check continuity of the black/brown wire and pin between the squib connector and the airbag male connector (under the column) for continuity, then check the other wire/pin
   • Do this step while turning steering wheel.

Am I on the right track?

 

[qslim]

Yeah man that's it. The diagram says that the wires should be black with a light blue tracer and dark green with a light blue tracer, but sometimes the colors can fade & change over time. The C1 connector under the dash should look like the pic below. Set your meter to check resistance (Ohms), put the probes on either end of the wire (one on the yellow connector under the dash, the other on the squib connector) & measure while you turn the wheel. It's a really short run so you should only measure a couple tenths of an ohm, and if your clock spring is good that measurement should be solid the entire time you turn the wheel.

 

[P_D]

Yeah man that's it. The diagram says that the wires should be black with a light blue tracer and dark green with a light blue tracer, but sometimes the colors can fade & change over time. The C1 connector under the dash should look like the pic below. Set your meter to check resistance (Ohms), put the probes on either end of the wire (one on the yellow connector under the dash, the other on the squib connector) & measure while you turn the wheel. It's a really short run so you should only measure a couple tenths of an ohm, and if your clock spring is good that measurement should be solid the entire time you turn the wheel.


View attachment 267925

That‘s great qslim. Thanks a bunch. My multimeter sends a tone on the continuity check, so that will help.

Those pins are tiny. Any tips for keeping the probes connected while I’m busy turning the wheel?

 

[qslim]

There are probe tips you can get that have various sizes for female & male pins. For the female pins I usually use a small length of wire that will fit in there. Wrap one end of the wire around the probe, stick the other end in the socket. For the male pins you either have to hold it there or get a female probe adapter in a kit. Or use a helper.

 

[P_D]

Update: I have removed the airbag and using my multimeter, checked the clockspring continuity while turning the wheel both directions. No interruption in continuity.

I cleaned the connector and the squib and dabbed on a little dielectric grease, reconnected everything. I drove it for about an hour and the light never came on, so I’m counting this as a win.

I’m wondering if my occasional death wobble shook something loose…