Airbag will it blow....

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drjukebox@gmail.com - 03 Sep 2006 10:06 GMT

Hi my SRS warning light stays on and the code is 2-1-2 meaning it is a
break in the steering wheel airbag circuit. Removed the airbag and
measured the wiring, but found nothing wrong.
So then I suspect the airbag itself, and was going to measure it.....

....but then I thought maybe that will make it detonate??? :O/

If it measures correctly I dunno what to try, but I planned to put a
resistor of the correct value in its place - but then I need to measure
it to know the proper resistance....

Or does anyone know the resistance of the airbag? Will it blow up if I
put the meter to it (there's a 9V battery in the multimeter).

It is early fall in Sweden today

Jens

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~^ beancounter ~^ - 03 Sep 2006 14:49 GMT

if you are good at working with bombs, i wouldn't worry about
it...otherwise, i would have someone who is well versed with
air bags do this task .... imho of course.....

> Hi my SRS warning light stays on and the code is 2-1-2 meaning it is a
> break in the steering wheel airbag circuit. Removed the airbag and
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Jens

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drjukebox@gmail.com - 03 Sep 2006 15:41 GMT

Been a long time since I worked with bombs...I was 13 IIRC :o)

Yes, it may come to that, seeking professional assistance...but even
then I would be interested in knowing how the system works.

Car is a 945 -96 btw.

Jens

~^ beancounter ~^ skrev:

> if you are good at working with bombs, i wouldn't worry about
> it...otherwise, i would have someone who is well versed with
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> >
> > Jens

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Torsten Beekhuis - 03 Sep 2006 15:51 GMT

> Or does anyone know the resistance of the airbag? Will it blow up if I
> put the meter to it (there's a 9V battery in the multimeter).

Playing around with the airbag system is like ... russian roulette !
It has no problem to send you to death !

Regards, Torsten

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~^ beancounter ~^ - 03 Sep 2006 16:52 GMT

be careful....anyway, the other night on
dirty jobs ... the "guys" were blowing 55 gal
drum's aprox 25 feet into the air w/air
bag "bombs".....it was pretty cool....

> > Or does anyone know the resistance of the airbag? Will it blow up if I
> > put the meter to it (there's a 9V battery in the multimeter).
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> - Today is the past of tomorrow
> - Linux is like a Wigwam: No Windows, no Gates - but Apache inside!

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Peter K L Milnes - 04 Sep 2006 01:37 GMT

There is a dummy airbag (test resistor) available from the dealer which you
can plug into the airbag connector in the steering wheel in place of the
airbag. This will enable you to test out the wiring without blowing the bag.
There is a 15 year life to this component before replacement is deemed
necessary.

All the best, Peter.

700/900/90 Register Keeper,
Volvo Owners Club (UK).

> Hi my SRS warning light stays on and the code is 2-1-2 meaning it is a
> break in the steering wheel airbag circuit. Removed the airbag and
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Jens

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James Sweet - 04 Sep 2006 23:30 GMT

> Hi my SRS warning light stays on and the code is 2-1-2 meaning it is a
> break in the steering wheel airbag circuit. Removed the airbag and
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Jens

The only messing with the airbag I'd do is to remove it and install a
steering wheel from a non-SRS equipped 940. Straightforward and no bomb
waiting to break your nose.

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Esa - 05 Sep 2006 09:21 GMT

I would't try.To dangerous!
"James Sweet" <jamessweet@hotmail.com> kirjoitti
viestissä:%N1Lg.3176$YZ3.2490@trnddc03...

>> Hi my SRS warning light stays on and the code is 2-1-2 meaning it is a
>> break in the steering wheel airbag circuit. Removed the airbag and
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> steering wheel from a non-SRS equipped 940. Straightforward and no bomb
> waiting to break your nose.

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Mike F - 05 Sep 2006 14:13 GMT

> Hi my SRS warning light stays on and the code is 2-1-2 meaning it is a
> break in the steering wheel airbag circuit. Removed the airbag and
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Jens

An ohmmeter can blow up the airbag, but there's a shorting spring across
the contacts that the connector moves aside when it's connected, so you
would have been protected if you had tried to measure it. (Of course
you would have got the wrong reading.) Airbag resistance is around 3
ohms.

Probably your problem is with the so called "contact reel", this is the
device that takes airbag power from the stationary steering column to
the rotating steering wheel.

Signature

Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

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drjukebox@gmail.com - 07 Sep 2006 00:40 GMT

I'm still here! ´Didn't feel like blowing myself to pieces today -
that's why I asked here in the first place. :o)
And yeah, I had a 945 with open airbags a couple years ago, and found
out it was economically wise to find a regular steering wheel and live
w/o the SRS.

Thanks for good answers, Peter & Mike!
Like you said, the airbag wouldn't be measured because it is shorted by
a spring when not installed.
And, correct again, I checked the contact reel and it is intermittent.
Took it to Volvo, and they said "those never go bad!" and then wanted

>140 (US$180?) for a new one.

And no luck at the junkyard, so now I am fiddling with this thing and
wondering if it can be repaired.....?
I can buy a near cpl car for parts for 500 so that's what I'll do
rather than buy new parts.
Drilling the rivets in the contact reel next...

thx guys, Jens

Mike F skrev:

> An ohmmeter can blow up the airbag, but there's a shorting spring across
> the contacts that the connector moves aside when it's connected, so you
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
> (But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

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drjukebox@gmail.com - 07 Sep 2006 10:57 GMT

Now I read that the contact reel can become "unwound" and have to
figure out what that means. Also realized what that yellow strip with
the little bolt on it is meant to do - take out the bolt and lock the
contact reelso it won't become "unwound".
Before I drill - can it be "rewound" somehow?

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Mike F - 07 Sep 2006 12:48 GMT

> Now I read that the contact reel can become "unwound" and have to
> figure out what that means. Also realized what that yellow strip with
> the little bolt on it is meant to do - take out the bolt and lock the
> contact reelso it won't become "unwound".
> Before I drill - can it be "rewound" somehow?

The contact reel is designed so that it will turn about 6 revolutions
without stressing the "windings". So to reassemble you just carefully
wind it to one extreme, then 3 turns the other way. Then center the
steering, and install.

Signature

Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

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drjukebox@gmail.com - 11 Sep 2006 01:25 GMT

Well, this was a learning experience, so I think I should share.
Thanks for those who shared their knowledge (Peter M. and esp. Mike
F.).
and thanks to the rest of you for worrying about my health :o)

I was reckless putting the steering wheel back on after changing it. So
the contact reel had been shifted one or two turns clock-wise.
Everything seemed ok, but after driving a little bit the SRS light came
on and could not be cancelled - fault code 2-1-2 - break in wiring,
steering wheel airbag.
The contact reel has two long copper springs coiled up in many turns.
Copper is soft and easily strained/broken so the contact reel must be
in the proper position before installing the steering wheel. Turn it
clock-wise without using force until it is tight, then turn it the
other direction 3 turns. Carefully install the steering wheel.
If the contact reel is strained, one or both springs will break. You
can then drill out the rivets (I use a Dremel tool) and take it apart
(carefully). Using a small soldering iron, you can unsolder the broken
piece from the pin in the center. Then using a needlenose pliers you
can shape the copper so it fits around the pin, and apply new solder.
Reassemble, but check first that the springs on both sides are equally
tightened.
If done carefully it will work like new. If not, your SRS will come on
again, sooner or later.
Good Luck,
Jens

Mike F skrev:

> The contact reel is designed so that it will turn about 6 revolutions
> without stressing the "windings". So to reassemble you just carefully
> wind it to one extreme, then 3 turns the other way. Then center the
> steering, and install.

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