Airbags and clock springs

[SneakyPete]

Not a newbie bit lost all my login info...

Has anyone tested a Bongo clock spring? My airbag light is on and I have removed the clock spring unit - need to know if the two airbag wires should be separately wired? Both my wires are showing a connection to each other - I would thought this is a short?

Any info would be welcome before I shell 140quid on a new one!

Cheers chaps

SneakyPete

[g8dhe]

The resistance between the wires into the air bag is quite low as its a simple detonator construction, normally around 5-7Ω lots of meters won't show that accurately.
Resistance between the wires in the clock spring itself should be basically infinite!
Just how and where are you actually measuring the resistance ?

[SneakyPete]

Cheers Geoff,
I was basically checking continuity of the clock spring and was surprised to see a connection between the two airbag wires with the spring completely removed from the loom?

[SneakyPete]

Continued investigation..

Clock spring has perfect continuity, after I disarmed the shorting pins in the connector block.

Airbag has continuity, although reads 2.3ohms - is this correct anybody??

Dash light remains on, even when airbag connected direct to loom ( bypassing clock spring)

My question to the panel is: do I buy a new airbag or can I disable the lamp(!)

[g8dhe]

Yes 2.3Ω is fine, the light is controlled by the computer mounted down in front of the gear selector under the dashboard, it should be flashing a coded pattern, but may depend on what age of vehicle use this page to identify http://www.philmcfadden.co.uk/MazdaDiagnosticBox.htm

[nth]

You should never use an ohmmeter on an airbag

Continued investigation..

Airbag has continuity, although reads 2.3ohms - is this correct anybody??

You should never measure the resistance of an airbag unit or probe an ohmmeter into airbag wiring unless you know exactly what you are probing/airbag is unplugged. Ohmmeters use a very small current to measure the resistance which could be enough to detonate the airbag.