Srs Light Permanently On And Horn Not Working

[gnomad]

The SRS light on my Avensis stays on permanently (started about a week ago). For a day or two it was intermittant; if I turned the ignition off and back on the light would go out, but now it stays on.

I noticed the horn isn't working either, and I think this is from around the same time so I wonder if they are related.

I've checked all the fuses, and visually checked the wiring from the steering column and can't see anything obvious.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

[funkyg]

The SRS light on my Avensis stays on permanently (started about a week ago). For a day or two it was intermittant; if I turned the ignition off and back on the light would go out, but now it stays on.

I noticed the horn isn't working either, and I think this is from around the same time so I wonder if they are related.

I've checked all the fuses, and visually checked the wiring from the steering column and can't see anything obvious.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

I had this exact same thing. Noticed the air bag light flicker intermitantly then a few days later it stayed on. Couple of days later realised the stereo controls on the steering wheel had also stopped working. About a week later I realised the horn had stopped working.

Is yours the older style Avensis? Mine is a 2001 CDX.

Luckily it's really easy to replace. The thing that's broken is the 'clockspring connector'. Toyota don't call it this, but explain what it is and they'll sort you out. Dealer price is about £140, probably much cheaper from a scrappie, I was lucky enough to be able to repair mine rather than get a replacement. I asked the dealer for a price to replace this and they wouldn't. They said that because the air bag light was on they HAD to connect it to thier diagnostic kit to make sure that there weren't any other problems with the safety systems. What a load of b0ll0x! Just and excuse to charge me for diagnosing a problem that I already know the cause of!

Basically it's a ribbon connector that wraps around the steering column, so that you can turn the wheel without the wiring getting tangled/twisted.

This carries all the wiring between the wheel and the wiring loom. The way to get to it is as follows:- (I'm doing this from memory so it might not be exactly right or your car could be slightly different)

1) Disconnect your Battery for about 1/2 an hour. This is very important because you are dealing with the air bag, and you want to make sure everything is discharged.

2) Remove the air bag. It's held onto the steering wheel with 4 Torx screws, two on either side. Unscrew them (they don't come all the way out) and then very carefully prise off the air bag.

The wiring to the air bag is via two thin wires. Using a pair of thin nosed pliers you can pull the connectors out of the actual air bag.

3) Remove the steering wheel. This bit is quite hazy, as it's about six months ago that I did this. When you see it, it will all be pretty obvious how to do this. I think there is a connector going into the steering wheel that you need to disconnect, this goes to the 'clockspring'. When you have pulled this off you can unscrew the big nut in the middle of the wheel and pull it off.

4) The clockspring itself. Once the wheel is out of the way you should be able to see the connector. You need to unscrew it to remove it from the steering column and then unplug it. It should then come off quite easily. It actual ribbon connector is in a sealed plastic case unit. I had to crack the case slightly to get to it, but you can just superglue shut again if you are going to repair it. Once you're in the case you should be able to see the white plastic ribbon connector. On mine it had folded back on itself an snapped. Luckily for me it had done this right at the end so I was able to strip away some of the insulation, solder it back in place, tape it up and then reinforce it with epoxy resin.

It was a VERY fiddly fix, so you may just want to get a replacement from a dealer/scrappie.

Obviously, just do everything in reverse to put it back together.

Once the Battery is recconected, and you start the car the air bag light will go out after about five seconds.

Have a go! If you have any further questions, just ask.

Mike.

EDIT - Just thought on, if your horn doesn't work it's an MOT failure. Bear this in mind if your MOT is due soon and get it done sooner rather than later. Plus I'm sure you'd rather have a working airbag!

[chill610]

The SRS light on my Avensis stays on permanently (started about a week ago). For a day or two it was intermittant; if I turned the ignition off and back on the light would go out, but now it stays on.

I noticed the horn isn't working either, and I think this is from around the same time so I wonder if they are related.

I've checked all the fuses, and visually checked the wiring from the steering column and can't see anything obvious.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

I had this exact same thing. Noticed the air bag light flicker intermitantly then a few days later it stayed on. Couple of days later realised the stereo controls on the steering wheel had also stopped working. About a week later I realised the horn had stopped working.

Is yours the older style Avensis? Mine is a 2001 CDX.

Luckily it's really easy to replace. The thing that's broken is the 'clockspring connector'. Toyota don't call it this, but explain what it is and they'll sort you out. Dealer price is about £140, probably much cheaper from a scrappie, I was lucky enough to be able to repair mine rather than get a replacement. I asked the dealer for a price to replace this and they wouldn't. They said that because the air bag light was on they HAD to connect it to thier diagnostic kit to make sure that there weren't any other problems with the safety systems. What a load of b0ll0x! Just and excuse to charge me for diagnosing a problem that I already know the cause of!

Basically it's a ribbon connector that wraps around the steering column, so that you can turn the wheel without the wiring getting tangled/twisted.

This carries all the wiring between the wheel and the wiring loom. The way to get to it is as follows:- (I'm doing this from memory so it might not be exactly right or your car could be slightly different)

1) Disconnect your Battery for about 1/2 an hour. This is very important because you are dealing with the air bag, and you want to make sure everything is discharged.

2) Remove the air bag. It's held onto the steering wheel with 4 Torx screws, two on either side. Unscrew them (they don't come all the way out) and then very carefully prise off the air bag.

The wiring to the air bag is via two thin wires. Using a pair of thin nosed pliers you can pull the connectors out of the actual air bag.

3) Remove the steering wheel. This bit is quite hazy, as it's about six months ago that I did this. When you see it, it will all be pretty obvious how to do this. I think there is a connector going into the steering wheel that you need to disconnect, this goes to the 'clockspring'. When you have pulled this off you can unscrew the big nut in the middle of the wheel and pull it off.

4) The clockspring itself. Once the wheel is out of the way you should be able to see the connector. You need to unscrew it to remove it from the steering column and then unplug it. It should then come off quite easily. It actual ribbon connector is in a sealed plastic case unit. I had to crack the case slightly to get to it, but you can just superglue shut again if you are going to repair it. Once you're in the case you should be able to see the white plastic ribbon connector. On mine it had folded back on itself an snapped. Luckily for me it had done this right at the end so I was able to strip away some of the insulation, solder it back in place, tape it up and then reinforce it with epoxy resin.

It was a VERY fiddly fix, so you may just want to get a replacement from a dealer/scrappie.

Obviously, just do everything in reverse to put it back together.

Once the Battery is recconected, and you start the car the air bag light will go out after about five seconds.

Have a go! If you have any further questions, just ask.

Mike.

EDIT - Just thought on, if your horn doesn't work it's an MOT failure. Bear this in mind if your MOT is due soon and get it done sooner rather than later. Plus I'm sure you'd rather have a working airbag!

The SRS light on my Avensis stays on permanently (started about a week ago). For a day or two it was intermittant; if I turned the ignition off and back on the light would go out, but now it stays on.

I noticed the horn isn't working either, and I think this is from around the same time so I wonder if they are related.

I've checked all the fuses, and visually checked the wiring from the steering column and can't see anything obvious.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

hi had the same prob today because i work for toyota ask the lads they said it may be a wire what may be going it in the steering wheel ...they say if your airbag light come on and horn does not work may have break in the wire ...mine gone out ...they say it not a big job ...hope this help chris

[gnomad]

Thanks for the replies.

Mike, is that what you call really easy to replace? Would hate to try a difficult one! :) I've ordered a Haynes manual so when it arrives I'll have a go. Thanks for the detailed description.

Mines the 2002 CDX.

Toyota had the car on their diagnostic machine on Friday (charged £15 +vat), the code returned was B0101. They suspect the 'spiral cable' needs replacing; they actually fixed one earlier that day with the same problem so were pretty confident it was the same thing.

Is the spiral cable anything to do with the clockspring connector? Same thing? From your description it sounds like it probably is and they quoted the same £140 for the part. They also said the bill for the other repair came to about £250 so if I'd rather do it myself of course.

Yes I was going to get the car MOT'd, so need this like a hole in the head. I'll let you guys know how I get on.

Cheers

Steve

[funkyg]

Thanks for the replies.

Mike, is that what you call really easy to replace? Would hate to try a difficult one! :) I've ordered a Haynes manual so when it arrives I'll have a go. Thanks for the detailed description.

Mines the 2002 CDX.

It is honestly!!! Reading it back, it does seem more difficult than it really is. Just have a go, when you see it all in front of you it will all make sense. I'm not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination. Just take it step by step and you'll be fine. Once I had repaired the part it took me about an hour to dismatle the wheel, fit and put back together again.

Yours should be the same as mine going off the year and model.

Is the spiral cable anything to do with the clockspring connector? Same thing? From your description it sounds like it probably is and they quoted the same £140 for the part. They also said the bill for the other repair came to about £250 so if I'd rather do it myself of course.

Yes I was going to get the car MOT'd, so need this like a hole in the head. I'll let you guys know how I get on.

Yeah, spiral connector, that's the one. So, going off those two prices they are going to charge you £110 to fit it. Easy money for them, do it yourself and save a ton!

[gnomad]

Well that really was dead easy, apart from breaking the horn wire when I pulled off the steering wheel .

The ribbon cable was broken (bent back double) in the same spot as yours I think, but I really didn't fancy stripping and soldering so I picked up the clockspring connector one Toyota had already ordered for me and had it all back together in 10 mins.

And they were going to charge £100 for that?

Thanks for your help

Now for the MOT....

[Daytripper]

Many thanks, funkyg.

Same problem - no horn, no audio remotes and SRS light on, and a quote for £375 from my local Toyota dealer, then I came across your post.

Followed your excellent instructions and it really is as easy as you say.

Couple of things for anyone else going down this route - they're T30 Torx screws and probably tight, so you need a decent wrench. On mine, I had to remove the lower steering cover, this is two screws obvious at the top and a more hidden one by the steering rake adjustor. You don't need to remove the top cover, just ease it out of the way enough to reach the 4 screws that hold the clockspring.

All the electrical connections came out easily - I just stared at them for a few minutes and worked out which bit to push so they slid out. The one on the airbag had a litle cover plate that flipped up to loosen the lugs.

Spare clockspring from scrappie at £30 and problem solved. By the time this one breaks I'll have mended the original.

[Cristi A]

Hi everyone,

I have the same problem as you guys had.

I was looking for a spare/used clock spring and came across a couple of them but i am unsure if it has a cruise control connector.

I own a 2005 Avensis 2.0 petrol.

84306 is the general clock spring code for my Avensis. It should have an extra code or something.

Any idea on how i can determine which part is wright for me?

Thank you in advance for your help.