Air Bag Squib Mk1

[viperclive]

Anyone know where I can get a replacement air bag clock squib from, mine just give up the ghost.

[BrianH]

I got a new one off ebay when mine went - after trying a used one with no luck from there.

 

They appear to have gone up a bit from when I got mine though - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Ford-Galaxy-Airbag-Contact-Clock-Spring-94-00-7292004-/181759043341?hash=item2a51aee70d:g:aGsAAOSweW5VZx4x looks like what i got, depends what spec you have (if you have steering wheel controls there will be more connections than normal ones, not sure if the mk1 has any one that have those though). Theres some used ones on there as well, ideally you need to check your part number against what it should be.

 

Alternative non-ebay link - http://www.allcarpartsfast.co.uk/ford/ford-7292004-contact-airbag/ - bit more expensive again.

 

The red tag shown in the listing is how they come as new anyway.

[viperclive]

Cheers Brian. I bought a second hand one used my tester and on both ends I had continuity but in my mind it should have been an open cct and I should only have continuity from each end one wire only. Guess I bought a duff one!

[BrianH]

If i remember correctly you have to remove the metal clip on the end with the translucent connector - it shorts both sides together when its unplugged otherwise if you try and test with a meter.

 

I know when i was looking that the salvage yards were pretty useless - most of the ones i tried had fried the clock springs when firing the airbags to make them safe before you could take parts off them.

 

I found the easiest way to test was to just plug the clock spring in before installing it to both connectors then do the reset procedure in VCDS.

[viperclive]

Sorry for late reply had a few problems ie heart attack ha ha now got stents so back up to speed now. Which end has the short link in air bag or other end? I thought I was going nuts I've tested at least 10 by just taking bag off and disconnecting other end.If what you say works then they were all OK lol. Have to clear fault n fit my spare one.

[BrianH]

Its the connector coming from the airbag - the yellow one at the end of the squib before it goes into the loom. Behind the steering column cowl opposite side to the ignition key entry.

 

Theres a small metal spring in the connector - if you look at it you should be able to see it. I would guess its intended to prevent accidental ignition either by static or short circuiting it accidentally. You should be able to test by breaking the connection via the spring (piece of plastic between the contacts and spring, or remove the spring and just put it back afterwards)

 

I found the only reliable way to test them was to do so in circuit with VCDS - If you connect both ends up if the fault code clears then its ok! You can do that without having to install it if you remove the airbag first and plug it into the end, obviously take care doing so (keep any tools away from it, try and keep as much space as possible between you and it!)

 

If these are scrapyard bits then I found they tend to set the airbags off before putting the cars out for salvage - by running 12v across them, which melts the ribbon cable.

 

Not good on the heart attack, but hopefully your on the better side of it now, best of luck recovering from it

Edited November 3, 2016 by BrianH

[sparky Paul]

Can't help any further, but best wishes viper - glad to hear you're on the mend. B)

[viperclive]

Cheers for that I thought I was going mad as every one I checked was shorted out! It means I've left a trail of steering wheels in bits on all mk1 galls in Hampshire scrapyards ha ha.