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Re: removal of air bag for horn
>I just purchased a 1990 90cq20v, and it is a late model equipped with the
>air bag. I noticed that only one of the horn buttons is working. I had
>the same problem with an older Audi and all I had to do was pull the
>cover off the steering wheel, but that model didn't have an airbag.
>
>I am wondering if it is a good or bad idea for me to try to pull off the
>cover where the airbag is so that I can fix the horn buttons. If anyone
>knows about doing this, please tell me if it is a bad idea or not. Thank
>you very much.
>
>Dan Logan
>1990 90cq20v
Dan,
IMHO, it is *not* a good idea to remove the airbag for repair of one of two
horn buttons. It's a lot trickier than you might think. I'd suggest you
try spraying TV tuner cleaner, or some other contact cleaner in the gap
between the steering wheel assembly (rotating part) and the steering column
(stationary part). The switch works via a metal contact that slides
around a collar as you turn the wheel to maintain contact. It may be that
each button has its own metal contact, and just one is gunked up a little.
To test this, try pressing the non functional horn button in and rotating
the steering wheel back and forth in full revolutions. If the horn sounds
at all, you're in luck and this could be an easy fix with tuner cleaner.
If you decide to live on the edge, be advised that Audi air bags have a
built in back up power supply in the form of a large capacitor. This is to
ensure the bag deploys normally in the event of a crash so catastrophic the
power is cut during the impact. Wait awhile *after* you disconnect the
battery to ensure the bag does not have residual power - an hour would be
on the safe side.
The usual disclaimers apply.....
Doug Miller
dmiller@iea.com
97A6Q Wagon, 93 LandCruiser w/diff locks (and well used skidplates), 71
LeMans Sport V8 Convertible. Cannondale Super V 900 Comp.