Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

I have been living with this niggle for a while. Actually, a good while.
I bought the car with a flashing airbag light in March 2010. Got "fixed" by the salesmen, which stupid me at the time believed. In actual fact it was just the diagnositc machine that "reset" the error - so I've learned from Grootseun (Thanks for your help Driko).

The light came back, flashing again a few months later. Then the salesmen referred me to the Nissan dealer of my area, which did the same thing. I.e. reset the freaking error. Silly me thinks it is resolved (again).

This process repeated itself a few more times, until the error became permanent. I.e. "clever" auto electricions could not "fix" the problem with their diagnostic machines anymore.

Now some possibly more clever people tell me that perhaps the airbag clock spring is failing.
This is a component that is apparently also responsible for the hooter and the speed control.
I do not have speed control, but I do have a hooter. And this wokrs perfectly fine.
So I am not convinced that it is the clock spring. Any comments?

The quote I got to replace the clock spring, including labour, (courtesey of our friends at Nissan with their very reasonable prices on spare parts) - R3,000.

More importantly:
How serious is my problem. I.e. anything that can fail when away from home, if it is the clock spring? Is this a degenerative problem. (I am on the Lesotho trip next month, hence my question)
What else is it likely to be, if not the clock spring?
The reason why I think it may not be the clock spring is the fact that my hooter still works.

Please help!

Hello Alex,

I am not familiar with the Patrol airbag system, but had a similar problem on my previous car:

Check all the contacts of the wiring for the airbags. There should be under the seat and to the seatbelt clips, as it checks if the seatbelt is on before deploying and does not deploy if not put on. Then there is sometimes a babyseat switch to bypass the airbag function when using a babyseat.

Disconnect the battery before playing with these connections, just to be safe - that is also what Hayens Manuals advise.

Incidently, though on a different car I eventually traced the problem to (and had to replace) the unit with the switches, R1800 but installed myself, Then I discovered that the harnass and wiring for the cruise control was in place, just neatly broke out the plastic on the void-filler lines used to close the hole where the stalk comes through. Then I whent to a scrap yard and bought the cruise control stalk, stuck it on and it worked!

I would first check all the wiring for loose connections, then proceed from there. This type of problem, if it is the "clockspring" (mechanism that allows the wiring to remain connected to the airbag in the steeringwheel while the wheel is rotating and that is usually part of the stalk controls' PCB) may be the culprit, and if so, the price seems to be inline with the French equivalents on city roaming cars.

It should not stop you in your tracks, but it may have to the effect that the airbag will not deploy, a function you pay a lot for in new cars and is now possibly defunct.

Also, bear in mind airbags typically require replacement at around 10 years, check manufacturers specs.

Regards

If yours is a 4.8 then you can use this link to reset your light. Did it on a friend of mine's 4.8.

If the problem doesn't reset, it will start flashing a code which indicates where the problem lies.
Mine gives 2 long and 1 short flashes which means it is the airbag in the driver's seat.
There are 3 plugs on the driver's seat, 2 underneath and one in the seatback.
I believe there is a broken wire on mine because it sometimes reset after fiddling with the wires.
The wires run in protective sleeves but on one place it is fixed to the underside of the seat with a cable tie without a sleeve.
I think this is where my problem lies but I haven't made the effort yet to check.

The manual states that you MUST NOT use a multimeter when testing the airbag because the voltage of the multimeter could cause the airbag to explode.
The plugs work different from normal plugs. When you disconnect the plug, it automatically shorts out the 2 contact points.

Hi Wheels

Not sure if different from 4.8, but will check the video and take it from there.
My car is a bit like Darth Vader, part Nissan, part Toyota. The steering part is at least from a Diesel 2004 GRX manual.

Alex we can scan it again for you on one of my diagnostic machines and see it we can get it sorted for you

Dankie Driko

Ek waardeer dit baie.
Ek wil net nie weer 'met n slapriem gevang word deur van die diensverskaffers hier in Johannesburg nie.
Ek het lyk my die neiging om altyd die duurste oplossing te vind!

Ek het die naweek die sitplek uitgehaal en die bedrading getoets.
Ek kon nie 'n fout met die drade kry nie.
Ek het die 3 "connectors" met 'n "quick dry contact cleaner" gespuit en alles weer terug gesit.
Ek het toe die 4 x ignition aan en af metode gebruik en die airbag liggie is nou af.

Hoe bietjie dop, en laat weet of jou liggie nie dalk weer aangaan na 'n paar weke of maande nie...

- eisjjjjj -- nou't julle my geworriet - ek kry geen teken van air-bags of di eswitches of die drade vir air bags in Lobo nie ?? Dink julle die fabriek het vergeet om dit in te sit?? moet ek hom terugvat vir hulle??