Hi all,

A few of us have posted over the years about the air bag warning light flashing once, followed by nine flashes followed by a pause and repeat three times prior to remaining on. This means code "19" which means drivers air bag and is most likely to be caused by the spiral cassette, or clock spring.

The symptom is often seen in warmer weather. For example for three years, I have seen this throughout the summer months but never in the midst of winter.

To have this repaired in a dealer costs upward of £250, if not much more. To purchase a replacement part and fit yourself costs approx £100 if you shop around.

However, I spend thirty minutes and fixed it for free...

1. Turn wheel 90degrees to access one of the two allen screws at the back of the wheel: remove allen screw. Turn wheel 180 and repeat for second screw.
2. Disconnect battery
3. Pull off steering wheel horn cover and carefully disconnect air-bag
4. Remove central bolt holding steering wheel in position
5. Remove wheel, taking care to disconnect steering wheel button connections
6. Remove "spiral cassette" using the visible torq screws
7. Dismantle spiral cassette
8. Clean ALL electical connections and contact points using WD40 or similar. Include removing the main spiral ribbon cable and squirt some cleaner toward its connections.
9. put back together again
10. connect battery
Voila.

I did this one month ago and its been fine ever since! for Free. The code 19 appears if there is any abnormal resistance between the main computer and the steering wheel connections. This is very sensitive indeed and just a tiny amount of grease or movement in those connections can confuse the system to think there is a fault with the airbag or spiral cassette. Once you dismatle it, you can see what a simple device it is and that there is nothing wrong with it.

I hope this helps

 

A very useful post. Keep'em coming !

Actually, surely this clockspring thingummyjig is use by most manufacturers who put controls on the steering wheel, so this fault must occur on all of them at some time.

 

What is the year/model of your Jag? Thanks for posting.

 

2004 XJ6 Petrol

 

Will this code prevent the airbag form deploying as needed?

 

I believe that any fault with the SRS system will disable all airbags.

 

You put the resistor in there for testing purposes ONLY right?

 

I'll be giving this a try when i get a chance.
Mine has been playing games with me for a while now.
On for a while, then not.