Hilux spiral cable for airbag

outfox

There's been an airbag light lit up on the dash of my Hilux (07) for a few weeks. Had it checked today at the dealer's, and their computer tells them it needs a 'spiral spring' thing that fits in the steering wheel. Damn thing will cost about 300 euro, and about another 100 euro to fit. Does anyone know if this is about right? I've googled them and see a few on ebay for less than 100 euro, but I don't know if they would be dodgy. And I guess I don't want to skimp on airbag components.
I'd appreciate any advice.

NuckingFacker

outfox wrote: »

There's been an airbag light lit up on the dash of my Hilux (07) for a few weeks. Had it checked today at the dealer's, and their computer tells them it needs a 'spiral spring' thing that fits in the steering wheel. Damn thing will cost about 300 euro, and about another 100 euro to fit. Does anyone know if this is about right? I've googled them and see a few on ebay for less than 100 euro, but I don't know if they would be dodgy. And I guess I don't want to skimp on airbag components.
I'd appreciate any advice.

Have you checked the underseat connection for the occupancy sensor? If the connection is loose or corroded, the airbag light comes on - take it apart, use contact cleaner spray and then re-connect - it can be a cheap fix.

outfox

Thanks NF. Funny you suggest that, because a few days before the light came on, I stuffed a bag beneath the passenger seat. But I said this to the garage, and they are adamant that the seat is OK, and that the computer says its the spiral cable thing.

NuckingFacker

outfox wrote: »

Thanks NF. Funny you suggest that, because a few days before the light came on, I stuffed a bag beneath the passenger seat. But I said this to the garage, and they are adamant that the seat is OK, and that the computer says its the spiral cable thing.

I'd be bl00dy amazed if it was anything fundamental within the airbag unit - 99 out of 100 are underseat connections gone bad - and the dealer will just redo the connection and charge out for a "banjo spring".

enumbers

I love the automatic assumption that it has been diagnosed incorrectly. It would be very difficult for the issue to be the passenger seat when they have a fault for the drivers air-bag . 100 euro labour charger is more than likely a little over a hours labour which is about right. If you have a decent local independent there no reason they couldn't sort it for you.

101sean

I wouldn't always believe a main dealer's diagnosis just because the computer says so. Get an opinion from an independent, they are more likely to look beyond what a dealer will who will simply swap expensive bits because the computer tells him to.

I'd do what NF says and check the seat connection, it's a common problem in a lot of vehicles. If that doesn't work then go back with it.

A dealer tried to charge my bro in law $350 plus labour for replacing an alarm ecu after having it on test for hours, I found it was a 10c fuse needed replacing.
Similar with my father's Polo, Computer said ABS sensor failure, it was a dirty connector under the back seats.

NuckingFacker

101sean wrote: »

I wouldn't always believe a main dealer's diagnosis just because the computer says so. Get an opinion from an independent, they are more likely to look beyond what a dealer will who will simply swap expensive bits because the computer tells him to.

I'd do what NF says and check the seat connection, it's a common problem in a lot of vehicles. If that doesn't work then go back with it.

A dealer tried to charge my bro in law $350 plus labour for replacing an alarm ecu after having it on test for hours, I found it was a 10c fuse needed replacing.
Similar with my father's Polo, Computer said ABS sensor failure, it was a dirty connector under the back seats.

I'd agree fully Sean - I sent in a van there last week for a fault to be resolved - I was tied up so one of the lads dropped it over to the dealer and just said it had "an electrical fault" - could they have a look. I popped across that evening to collect it and the diagnosis was that the ecu was faulty and required replacement, c.a several hundred euro at least.

I kinda scratched my head, asked them if they'd been told what happend to cause the fault and if they were feeling well. (The van had been used to jump another and the tool holding the leads had connected them ar5eways, blowing a main fuse - that's what it was in to get replaced, a five minute job...ecu me hole. There were blushes and mutterings and then the fuse was fitted and I drove off. I take diagnoses with a pinch of salt. It's often an opportunity to, err, "upsell"..

enumbers

If thats the level of service your getting you need to find a new garage. If you can't trust them to diagnose correctly why are you trusting with the car in the first place. As I stated already if the diagnostic is leading in the direction of the spiral cable why would with be anything to do with the passenger seat. It may not be the spiral cable it may be a connection issue on either side of the cable or along the wiring somewhere but this should have been checked during diagnostics. People seem to think diagnostics is a matter of plugging in a computer and hey presto! here is the fault

NuckingFacker

enumbers wrote: »

If thats the level of service your getting you need to find a new garage. If you can't trust them to diagnose correctly why are you trusting with the car in the first place. As I stated already if the diagnostic is leading in the direction of the spiral cable why would with be anything to do with the passenger seat. It may not be the spiral cable it may be a connection issue on either side of the cable or along the wiring somewhere but this should have been checked during diagnostics. People seem to think diagnostics is a matter of plugging in a computer and hey presto! here is the fault

mmm. yeah. You also seem to think everyone here is clueless, or that if somthing is sent to a dealers it is for any other reason than the yoke has a full main dealer history and is still under a warranty. or we don't have time to fix it because we're out the door. Otherwise, it's going up on my own lift.

101sean

People seem to think diagnostics is a matter of plugging in a computer and hey presto! here is the fault

Nah, that's what main dealers think!

Airbag faults being down to dirty or dislodged underseat connectors is a common problem.

enumbers

NuckingFacker wrote: »

mmm. yeah. You also seem to think everyone here is clueless, or that if somthing is sent to a dealers it is for any other reason than the yoke has a full main dealer history and is still under a warranty. or we don't have time to fix it because we're out the door. Otherwise, it's going up on my own lift.

I don't see how I'm suggesting everyone here is clueless with this comment.The car having a full main service history is not reason to get an airbag fault dealt with by with by them and if the car was under warranty what would they have to gain by wrongly diagnosing a fault. What I was trying to get across in my reply is either the garage is trying to defraud him or him has an issue with the drivers airbag. If it is the drivers airbag control system messing with passenger seat wiring is not going to help.

NuckingFacker

enumbers wrote: »

I don't see how I'm suggesting everyone here is clueless with this comment.The car having a full main service history is not reason to get an airbag fault dealt with by with by them and if the car was under warranty what would they have to gain by wrongly diagnosing a fault. What I was trying to get across in my reply is either the garage is trying to defraud him or him has an issue with the drivers airbag. If it is the drivers airbag control system messing with passenger seat wiring is not going to help.

The only one who mentioned the passenger seat was you. Anyway, I'm having wine and chocolate - and me spiral spring is happily unwound. Merry Christmas

enumbers

NuckingFacker wrote: »

Have you checked the underseat connection for the occupancy sensor? If the connection is loose or corroded, the airbag light comes on - take it apart, use contact cleaner spray and then re-connect - it can be a cheap fix.

You were the first to mention the passenger seat unless they have fitted a occupancy sensor to the drivers seat on this hilux ?

NuckingFacker

enumbers wrote: »

You were the first to mention the passenger seat unless they have fitted a occupancy sensor to the drivers seat on this hilux ?

Drivers seat has one.