air bag steering wheel?
10-11-2003, 05:02 PM
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 21
air bag steering wheel?
I have searched this,with no luck.I just bought a '93 gxe. I am also new to Maximas'. My steering wheel has cruise buttons in steering wheel. Could this wheel have an air bag in it? Also, air bag light on dash flashes, horn dosen't work and cruise light on dash doesn't come on. Could these problems be related? Assuming I have correct steering wheel.Thanks for any help.
Mark
Mark
10-11-2003, 08:35 PM
#4
were they an option or stock on a 93? I know they were an option in 92...
Maybe it was replaced with a non-airbag steering wheel at some point and that's why you are having these problems. If a car gets in a wreck and the airbag deploys, it is a lot cheaper to put in a steering wheel without an airbag. Just a thought.
I think you can try to find a VIN decoder that will tell you if your car came from the factory with an airbag. Insurance companies use these VIN codes, that way you can't lie about your car having an airbag as an option when it doesn't (I tried that once on my first 92 Max SE).
Maybe it was replaced with a non-airbag steering wheel at some point and that's why you are having these problems. If a car gets in a wreck and the airbag deploys, it is a lot cheaper to put in a steering wheel without an airbag. Just a thought.
I think you can try to find a VIN decoder that will tell you if your car came from the factory with an airbag. Insurance companies use these VIN codes, that way you can't lie about your car having an airbag as an option when it doesn't (I tried that once on my first 92 Max SE).
10-12-2003, 07:22 AM
#6
If you've got those problems, then you DO have an airbag. it's your Spiral cable inside the steering wheel that's broken. I'm going to take a wild guess and say someone has recently replaced the steering column too, right?
The sprical cable is what connects the horn button, cruise buttons, and airbag to the car through the column. if you disconnect the steering rack from it and spin the wheel, that cable will only turn so far and then it snaps.
They're about $180 from the dealer. call up a junkyard and see if you can find one. you'll have to pull the airbag out and the steering wheel to replace it, but it's not THAT bad of a job. just disconnect the battery for at least 10 minutes before you touch the airbag wiring and you're safe. (especially since the spiral cable is already broken. the airbag isn't connected right now anyway)
The sprical cable is what connects the horn button, cruise buttons, and airbag to the car through the column. if you disconnect the steering rack from it and spin the wheel, that cable will only turn so far and then it snaps.
They're about $180 from the dealer. call up a junkyard and see if you can find one. you'll have to pull the airbag out and the steering wheel to replace it, but it's not THAT bad of a job. just disconnect the battery for at least 10 minutes before you touch the airbag wiring and you're safe. (especially since the spiral cable is already broken. the airbag isn't connected right now anyway)
10-12-2003, 12:03 PM
#7
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I just bought this car at auction. A dealer was selling it, so who knows what has been done to it. It does run and drive real well and body and interior are in great shape. I paid 1200 for it and this is the worst problem I've found so far.Thanks for the info.
10-12-2003, 01:58 PM
#8
sounds like you got a decent deal on it, but I'd be somewhat concerned what they did to it in order to ruin the spiral cable. only way you can do that is by disconnecting the steering column from the rack and spinning it a zillion times.
I had a few pic of the spiral cable on the computer the other day (as I broke mine about a month ago while swapping my steering rack) and just went through this.
I had a few pic of the spiral cable on the computer the other day (as I broke mine about a month ago while swapping my steering rack) and just went through this.
10-12-2003, 04:00 PM
#9
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 21
Does the spiral cable come thru firewall at same point as steering column. If it does mine is not there.Could you tell me what it looks like.Sticker on firewall makes reference to this spiral cable.I believe it's time to buy a manual.
10-12-2003, 07:37 PM
#10
no, the spiral cable sits in the steering colum directly behind the stering wheel. it connects all the wiring in the wheel to the wiring harness running down the steering column.
you'll have to remove your steering wheel and airbag to get to it, and then it's right behind it.
http://www.cybrrpartspro.com/Chilton...H08_4_IDX.HTML
if that link doesn't work, go to the General maintenance reference links at the top for the forum and go to the first link.. the Chilton's online service manual.... then click on "susp. and steering"... then "steering".... you'll see the sections for the steering wheel and spiral cable.
should be able to get it from there.
Beware, you'll also need a T50H security Torx bit. if you can't find one, buy a T50 torx bit from Sears for about $5, then you can buy a cobalt drill bit for another few bucks, and drill a small hole in the end of the torx bit. takes longer than just buying the right socket, but I couldn't even find one in all of Houston! so I made my own.
you'll have to remove your steering wheel and airbag to get to it, and then it's right behind it.
http://www.cybrrpartspro.com/Chilton...H08_4_IDX.HTML
if that link doesn't work, go to the General maintenance reference links at the top for the forum and go to the first link.. the Chilton's online service manual.... then click on "susp. and steering"... then "steering".... you'll see the sections for the steering wheel and spiral cable.
should be able to get it from there.
Beware, you'll also need a T50H security Torx bit. if you can't find one, buy a T50 torx bit from Sears for about $5, then you can buy a cobalt drill bit for another few bucks, and drill a small hole in the end of the torx bit. takes longer than just buying the right socket, but I couldn't even find one in all of Houston! so I made my own.
10-13-2003, 01:22 PM
#16
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 21
Well,,,,I went to the Nissan dealer to have a key made for doors, but Nissan didn't start keeping codes 'till '95.Parts guy told me car comes with one key from factory which fits ignition and doors. My key only fits ignition,not doors or trunk.I'm beginning to think the whole steering column was changed and that's why key dosen't fit doors and also non air bag steering wheel.Nissan guy said steering wheel should have SRS in the middle, which it dosen't.Could be why used car dealer unloaded it at auction.I still think I got a good deal
10-13-2003, 01:50 PM
#18
Originally Posted by rexwl
He's right..
Air Bags where an option on these models and you don't have one....
Air Bags where an option on these models and you don't have one....
Air bags were an option in 92 but standard in 93.
It sounds like this car was stolen and the steering column was busted up. The dealer got one form a junk yard but didnt use an airbag wheel and column when they replaced it.
10-13-2003, 06:53 PM
#19
It may not have been stolen, but hit in the front end.. if the airbag blew, it's often that a cheap body shop will swap a steering column from a non-airbag unit over to the airbag car to save from having to buy another airbag.
If you in fact don't have the airbag steering wheel and the key doesn't fit, then I'd say it's pretty obvious that it's been swapped..
If you in fact don't have the airbag steering wheel and the key doesn't fit, then I'd say it's pretty obvious that it's been swapped..
10-13-2003, 08:10 PM
#21
good luck.
www.car-part.com has zillions listed... but you probably don't want to pay for the airbag!
then again, I just looked, and they're actually pretty cheap for the bag itself. about $100 each for the column and for the bag. when you call them, see if the column has a bag in it already.. if not, try to work out a package deal w/ them on it.. they're usually pretty easy to move on price.
www.car-part.com has zillions listed... but you probably don't want to pay for the airbag!
then again, I just looked, and they're actually pretty cheap for the bag itself. about $100 each for the column and for the bag. when you call them, see if the column has a bag in it already.. if not, try to work out a package deal w/ them on it.. they're usually pretty easy to move on price.
10-13-2003, 08:38 PM
#22
Originally Posted by Matt93SE
but I couldn't even find one in all of Houston! so I made my own.
10-14-2003, 08:03 PM
#24
Originally Posted by Fosgate Fan
did you try looking at Grainger off of Harrisburg? i remember my uncle took me there once to get some tools. i can try to get the address.
Didn't bother. I'm WAAAAAY on the south end of town.. most of that stuff is a 45+ min drive from me. heck, it takes 30 min just to get to the med center with zero trafic.
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