jacko
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| posted on 24/2/12 at 05:53 PM |
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Help with info please
Hi all my good friends 
I have a Vauxhall Vectra C and the airbag light is on , I know what is making it come on its the cartridge / tape in the steering wheel .
What i want to know is what type of job is it to replace this part
The part is priced at £204 +vat and if its replaced at a main dealers i will get very little change out of £400
This will have to be sorted for its MOT next month
Jacko
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Daddylonglegs
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| posted on 24/2/12 at 06:01 PM |
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Take out the bulb for the MOT? 
It looks like the Midget is winning at the moment......
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 24/2/12 at 06:05 PM |
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Personally I wouldn't go near the airbag area... Might well be easier to remove the bulb!
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loggyboy
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| posted on 24/2/12 at 06:05 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Daddylonglegs
Take out the bulb for the MOT?
can't do that anymore, they check it comes on at start up and ensures it goes out..
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SALAD
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| posted on 24/2/12 at 06:06 PM |
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Would it be cheaper to buy a replacement steering wheel from a popular auction site, perhaps the one that rhymes with tea tray?
I took my BMW wheel off and noticed the tape. It was easy to access but I don't remember how it attached.......that was WELL helpful
wasn't it.
[Edited on 24/2/12 by SALAD]
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jacko
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| posted on 24/2/12 at 06:09 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by SALAD
Would it be cheaper to buy a replacement steering wheel from a popular auction site, perhaps the one that rhymes with tea tray?
I took my BMW wheel off and noticed the tape. It was easy to access but I don't remember how it attached.......that was WELL helpful
wasn't it.
[Edited on 24/2/12 by SALAD]
NO 
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SALAD
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| posted on 24/2/12 at 06:18 PM |
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Yeah sorry, but have a look on tea tray.
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PSpirine
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| posted on 24/2/12 at 06:24 PM |
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The cartridge (containing clockspring lead) can be replaced very easily on most cars. Just look out for a complete steering wheel on ebay, complete
with airbag and clockspring/connector.
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deltron63
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| posted on 24/2/12 at 07:24 PM |
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It's easy to change the clock spring, just make sure you dont play with the new one by turning the center around.
If you diy disconnect the battery for 20 minutes before you remove the airbag.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 24/2/12 at 07:25 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by PSpirine
The cartridge (containing clockspring lead) can be replaced very easily on most cars. Just look out for a complete steering wheel on ebay, complete
with airbag and clockspring/connector.
On most cars the spring has to be taped before removal or the clock spring will unwind how many breakers would know this.
[Edited on 24/2/12 by britishtrident]
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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bi22le
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| posted on 24/2/12 at 07:54 PM |
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I have done this many times on a variety of cars and would give it a go myself. I may have to do one on my brothers clio soon and have not done any
for over 5 years, still confident I can do it.
Before starting check you have the radio code!
1) Disconnect battery (dont unplug anything for a good 30mins)
2) Centre the steering wheel.
3) Take the cover off of the centre of the steering wheel and take out the old air bag, anything that is to do with the airbag and accident system has
to be yellow, anything that’s not will be horn and steering controls for the radio. Removing the air bag (you may not have to do this but IIRC most of
the time you do) will give you access to the main bolt holding the wheel to the column.
4) Undo the bolt but DONT take it off.
5) Pull on the steering wheel with all your might. It wont come off and smack you because the nut is still on, you know what position its in because
you centred it, its a pain to come off because its not meant to!
6) Underneath the wheel be a yellow circular disc cassette thing. Its called a clock spring but it wont go crazy and unravel like a nightmare, its
contained and easy to handle. It will have instructions on it and screws holding it in place. Undo and remove.
7) replace with new one. Again IIRC there are arrows on the yellow cassette that state the central position of it so that it achieves lock to lock
without snapping.
8) Reverse processes.
Have a cup of tea and biscuit as you marvel at how easy the job was.
If the light is still on then it may not of been \ or was not the only fault with the system. Check the plugs under the seats. Also check the old
cassette with a multi meter to check continuity. This will tell you if anything was even wrong with it! There should be NO resistance, I think!! The
ECU should not need reprogramming as the airbag system is live checking therefore does not latch log faults and throw fault codes via the instrument
panel.
Finally do a youtube search or google search somebody may have specific Vectra C data. This advice is from experience but also from 5 year old
memories.
Good luck, be bold and disconnect the air bag at arms length!
Biz
Track days ARE the best thing since sliced bread, until I get a supercharger that is!
Please read my ring story:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/forum/13/viewthread.php?tid=139152&page=1
Me doing a sub 56sec lap around Brands Indy. I need a geo set up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHksfvIGB3I
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britishtrident
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| posted on 24/2/12 at 08:03 PM |
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Above is spot on............
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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hillbillyracer
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| posted on 24/2/12 at 08:24 PM |
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Working out how to remove the centre of the steering wheel & then doing it is likely to be the hardest part of the job, the rest is just taking
care & working logically as the above advice says.
Got the one to do on my van soon, I let the wheel turn too far when I had the column off to put a rack in it.
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bi22le
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| posted on 24/2/12 at 08:47 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by hillbillyracer
Working out how to remove the centre of the steering wh
eel & then doing it is likely to be the hardest part of the job, the rest is just taking care & working logically as the above advice says.
Got the one to do on my van soon, I let the wheel turn too far when I had the column off to put a rack in it.
normally the centre cover will just pull off as screws in soft bits that the head could hit is frowned upon!!
Be bold and give it a tug. its normally attached by a bit of webbing to stop it flying off during air bag deployment.
Track days ARE the best thing since sliced bread, until I get a supercharger that is!
Please read my ring story:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/forum/13/viewthread.php?tid=139152&page=1
Me doing a sub 56sec lap around Brands Indy. I need a geo set up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHksfvIGB3I
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hillbillyracer
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| posted on 24/2/12 at 10:05 PM |
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I know the one on my VW van needs a tool (a thin screwdriver will do but VW probably have a one for it) to bend a spring back at either side of the
wheel, accessed through holes on the back side of the wheel. Once you know what to do it's mearly awkard, before that somewhat more difficult.
It does just shove back on though!
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