93 air bag steering wheel- cruise control and horn wiring

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Skip
First Gear
Posts: 78
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:55 pm
Location: Latrobe, PA

93 air bag steering wheel- cruise control and horn wiring

Post by Skip »

My horn and my cruise were not working when I purchased this 93 turbo wagon
("air bag" light is also illuminated)

I may have located the problem.
I could get no continuity between any of the harness connections for the CC or the horn.

After removing the air bag and the steering wheel I find
a plastic ring with the roll center gears and the connections for the
horn button, cruise control and air bag.
Drilled out the rivets and took the back off.

It appears the connection for these switches from the turning steering wheel.
to the harness that descends down to under the dash is a

ribbon cable!

This is wound around the center hub of the steering wheel connection.

I was expecting the old style ring and contact like we used to have.

My ribbon cable is broken at the center connection of the hub.

Anybody ever see this? I have searched extensively and see no mention of this.


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dscoobydoo
Fifth Gear
Posts: 2275
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2004 2:30 am
Location: Auburn, WA
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Post by dscoobydoo »

Can I be the first to say: WTF?????? :o So don't ever break this part.
Yes I have too many Subarus
No you can't have one
05 GD-STI
01- RS- Swapped-07 STI
00- GF
93 SS- "the original Robtune" (now in new hands)
Skip
First Gear
Posts: 78
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:55 pm
Location: Latrobe, PA

Post by Skip »

iright you are dscooby


the cable was broken off at both ends

I have a feeling the steering wheel was removed at some point

and not reinstalled properly, possibly causing the convoluted turns and folds.

I soldered and sealed one end where there was ribbon cable left to solder to.

The other end is broke right at the connector. I am going to attempt
to cut away the connector to expose tabs for soldering.

Would rather replace the unit but the Arm and Leg Stealer would
want more than I have to spend.
Maybe some one in the market place?
Skip
First Gear
Posts: 78
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:55 pm
Location: Latrobe, PA

Post by Skip »

Update:
I used a belt sander to carefully sand the
connector until the copper
contacts were exposed.
I did this on the opposite side of the connector
from where the retaining slot is found

I then soldered the ribbon cable to these contacts.
I use a cordless pencil point iron for these types of jobs.

I checked for solder bridging and learned both connectors for
the air bag (yellow in color) have internal shorting mechanisms

I then sealed the solder jobs with Lords adhesive (JB weld would be a better choice IMHO)

I rewound the cable, half the cable length in each direction.
Gently folding it in the middle.

Reinstalled making certain the "center" marks in all three components
were aligned.

Result: horn and cruise work flawlessly but the air bag light is still illuminated.

Do I have to clear the codes in the air bag computer?
If so how (the battery has been disconnected and reconnected hours later several times).

If anyone is brave (foolish?) enough to try this, I will be happy to help via email.
Thanks for reading.
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