W126 SRS light flicker
 

My SRS light starts flickering in my '86 420SEL when I turn the steering wheel to the left or right. I've noticed this in conjuction with the fact that the right blinker will not turn off automatically when the steering wheel straitens out like it used to. Is there a common part that would cause this or is it just a coincidence? Thanks.

That car has a set of brushes that contact the back side of the steering wheel, either need replaced or cleaned.

Thanks

I noticed recently that air bags have an expiration date. I never knew that before. Does passing that date ever cause warning lights to come on?

I don't believe so. Mine says to replace it in 2001. I'd hate to see what the dealer wants to do that!

That's a relief!

you have to pull the steering wheel.. before you do that you have to disconnect the battery and pull a red plug that is located in passenger foot well.. remove the air bag then proceed to remove the steering wheel.. Now with steering wheel out of the car look on the back you will see a set of brass rings. what you do is take a dremal tool and a small wire wheel for the dremal tool.. use this tool to clean up the brass ring one pair is for horn other is for srs system clean the brass to bright polished look.. now look at the brush set its the one that has four grouped together take little emory cloth and burnish the brushes do this lightly replace steeing wheel, air bag your problem will be solved.. make sure your steering wheel is marked before removing it. this will keep it in proper alignment. you will need a 10 mm allen wrench you will need some muscle to get it off someone to hold the wheel while you apply the wrench hope this helps
Bob

Make sure you follow those steps exactly, or you could have a nasty surprise (airbag in face).

I would personally be reticent to use a dremel out of fear of taking off too much material, or gouging something. But the basic idea is the same, you want nice shiny clean contact surfaces. Just remember, you want this to be perfect, or your airbag may fail to deploy in a crash. Pretend you are working on an aircraft.

Make sure that the spring loaded contacts aren't "sprung", i.e, they have enough force to make good contact with the ring.

I think on American cars, they call this part the "clock spring".....


-tp

The first start of the engine following air bag reinstallation should be done from passenger side. Slide into that seat and start the car. Should the air bag discharge due to some oversight, you'll be out if its way.

American cars have a coiled wire in the steering column for the horn and airbag, it looks like a wound up clock spring hence its name.

-Jason

Wow. Thanks for all these replies and useful knowledge. I will refer back to this thread when I am ready to do this job. Happy motoring

I have tried different means of cleaning the brass rings pencil eraser, brass cleaner, etc after reinstallling the steering wheel the srs light would stay off for awhile but using the small wire wheel designed to be used with dremel tool did the trick. that was 3 years ago never had a problem since.. as far as airbag safety once you remove the neg side of the battery and pull the red plug in passenger footwell loosen the two screws at the rear of the airbag , unplug it.. that is all there is to it... Bob

When you unplug the connector on the back of the airbag it actually shorts the pins for safety: There's a lill clip that is spread out by the connector that moves in and touches the pins.

-Jason

I know someone with a 1987 560SEL on which the SRS light does not illuminate on at all. I wonder if this is just a faulty bulb, or if someone has disconnected the airbag?

Either the bulb burnt out or someone removed it, the lamp should come on for several seconds when you turn the key on.

-J