B4 - Airbags dash light and PS light?

[Optical]

What makes the airbags light come up?

I also have the power steering dash light lit up

Ive just swapped steering racks, would that have anything to do with it?

Also the B4 steering rack has some sort of sensor on it. Anyone know what it is? Ive tried shorting the old pins and a few various resistances across the plug to try and trick it, but no luck?

[Guest boostin]

The sensor is for the variable assistance.

I can't see a rack change bringing up the ABS light though. Have you checked the ABS fault codes??

[Optical]

Ah bugger it i mean the airbags light! not abs lol

edited

variable assistance? what runs that? the main ecu or another one?

how does it tell the ps pump to change the pressure?

thanks

[Guest boostin]

Ah, I'm guessing you've popped the clockspring then. Does your horn still work??

Yeah separate ECU, usually bolted to the steering column. Not sure how the variable thing works. I've never looked into it TBH.

[Optical]

will try the horn tomorrow!

how do i reset the clock spring? have i disconnected the steering wheel airbag by spinning the unrestrained wheel a few times?

[DRFVDR]

OH dear

clock spring = broken=need new one

[Guest boostin]

You can't reset them. Pull the airbag off and check continuity first. I would say it is broken though.

[Optical]

balls

any other ideas about the PS light and how to fool it? I think i'll find another b4 and measure what's happening

[Guest]

whats the clockspring, is it a yellow spinny thing ?

-smurff

[DRFVDR]

yes it can be

usually a disk wid a hole in the middle

has a plug in it

under steering wheel

[Guest]

i can check the garage, should have the one i took out of my BH down there somewere

-smurff

[Guest boostin]

Yeah I've got a BH one somewhere too....

[EJ20T]

id also say you have broken the clock spring, they can only spin so many from center before it pops them, as with the ps light tell me what you have done then i might be able to figure out whats going on

[Optical]

PS - Ive put an inpreza quick rack in. The legacy rack has some kind of 2-wire sensor on it which the impreza rack lacks. Now the PS light is on and I presume this is because the old rack plug now plugs into nothing.

The legacy rack is a short circuit with no pressure to it. I dont know what happens when it gets pressure, but presumably the resistance across the sensor changes. Ive tried a few resistors across the plug in the car but havent been able to get the light to go out. So i just need to know what the sensor characteristcs are so i can fool it.

I found a b4 yesterday but couldnt even find the wires coming up off the rack...

On a side note, how do i take the airbag off the wheel? Does it pry off or unbolt somehow?

[DRFVDR]

unbolt

usually there will be a hole on both sides of the wheel that allows access to the bolts that hold it on

Disconnect battery for 1 hr beforehand to be safer

[Guest boostin]

Yeah there's a T30? torx on either side of the airbag.

[Guest Fastfour]

Yeah what that man said

[Optical]

Torx eh, hmm

Thanks for the info fellas

[EJ20T]

personally id be inclined to just unplug the steering ecu. as its almost of no use on a normal rack. is this car auto with VDC

[Optical]

It was auto, now has a 6mt

What's VDC and where might I find the steering ecu?

[Guest boostin]

VDC = Vehicle Dynamics Control. Subaru's version of stability control.

The steering ECU is normally on the side of the column.

[Optical]

VDC eh, never heard of it lol

we have been having some braking issues

thanks for the input guys, will tear that stuff apart and see what i can find

[EJ20T]

if its not VDC then just go ahead and unplug the ecu

[Optical]

k... so wheel bits off.

Now the headlights wont turn off and the PS and ABS lights are still on and the hor doesnt work..

which thing is the clock spring and is this causing all the woes?

would a replacement wheel bolt up and go?

[Guest boostin]

The clockspring is that round thing with the yellow label. The horn won't work as it is now unplugged, and the SRS light will be on as you have the drivers airbag out.

 Optical said:

That bit of wiring hanging off to the RHS from the back look like the problem. It looks like its been ripped off the back of the clockspring.

As for the headlights not turning off, not sure sorry.