1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
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Symptoms:
Initially feeling/hearing crunching immediately behind steering wheel connection to dash (not steering u-joint). Then the SRS light blinking (removed the bulb) then I lost the horns. Finally horns would come on when turning sharp (pulled the fuse).
Prep:
Got a used slip ring harness for $65. New ones are $165 from Indie Saab shops - dealers won't sell them separate from the airbag! Bentley has no instructions. Says take it to a dealer. Well, I'm 'feeding' two 900's these days and like the challenge.
Pulled the battery cables the night before cuz I'm chicken. (Supposedly just having the ignition off for at least 20 min is sufficient.)
Have wheels straight and the steering wheel in proper alignment to the interior (makes it easier to put back on correctly).
Process:
Removed the two torx screws behind the steering wheel holding the airbag on. Pulled off airbag and unplugged the little grey plug.
Loosened the 22mm (? - i only had a 23mm and it was sloppy) nut holding the steering wheel on. Tip from BB to leave the nut on a few threads. Firmly grasp the wheel and yank hard, repeat until it decides to come free. Big nut restrains wheel from cracking you in the face. Remove the nut completely. Unplug the black horn elec. connection on the steering wheel and push this wire and the airbag wire out the opening on the wheel.
Remove the plastic cover below steering wheel (two torx and a plastic screw) Remove the dash screws to flex the dash up and allow access to the upper contact ring torx screw. Remove this and the lower contact ring screw. Unclip the black and yellow wire harnesses. Fight with it for a minute and then realize that you have to remove the three brass torx screws holding the turn signal/wiper arm assembly to the steering column. With screws removed this swings down to allow the plug ends to come free.
Reassembly is the exact opposite. There was a label on the dead ring which stated to make sure the ring is installed while 3 1/2 rotations from clockwise/rightmost stop. You can only rotate it about 7 times anyway so installing it while in the middle of its range is not to difficult.
Put steering wheel back on matching the original orientation. When all done I put the horn fuse and the SRS light bulb in prior to reconnecting the battery cable. Start up car, cringe, beep horn, nod in rhythm to the blinking light and sigh relief. Took about an hour with a 20 minute burrito and beer break.
Take the car to the dealer to have the SRS fault cleared.
Sell the 900 to pay for the new SPG...
Hope this helps. Please feel free to add or criticise. By the way, I took apart the broken contact ring to find about 5' of wire ribbon coiled around the central hub. The wire separates from where it attaches to the middle of the hub. A pretty weak glue and friction connection.
Bryan
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