Changing cf wheel into all leather

[Bill in Bama]

I'm getting really bummed out about this. I swapped the wheel(s) several times with no problem, then the airbag light stayed lit, but everything else still worked, it wasn't until yesterday when I replaced the wheel that the MF buttons (and horn, I presume) quit working, including the mode switch. As much as I am sure I didn't do anything to the clock spring, that is almost the only thing I can think of to cause this situation. I probably will call the dealer for an appointment. I'm going up there for my free oil change next week anyway, maybe they can add this to the shop order. I will freely tell them I've had the wheel off, but nothing beyond that unless asked. While I don't believe in coincidences I really can't see anything I've done to damage the clock spring, but who knows?

After all this trouble I'm tempted to just stick with the OEM CF wheel and cut my loses by trying to sell the other wheels. But that's just my frustration coming out, by next week I may revert back to my old DIY self.

[Bill in Bama]

Will wonders never cease, as my mother used to say. After putting everything back together yesterday I left te car sitting, and started it up this morning. Everything works! Airbag light us still on, and the driver's window needs reprogramming, but otherwise all is good. So my clock spring is okay. Now I've gotta look up how to reprogram the wondow,window, I remembered isn't working.

[Tom]

That's great! Was the battery disconnected all night and/or any other theory why it's working today? Hopefully, the airbag light just needs to be turned off and doesn't represent an on-going fault. Does the iCarSoft have a function to reset that light?

[Bill in Bama]

No, I reconnected the battery last night after about 2-3 hours, but didn't crank it until this morning. I've no idea why it's working again. I did carefully look over every connection and tightened up a wire but it was to the heat function, nothing to do with the main plug. I'm just glad it is working.

My iCarsoft has so far not reset the light, so that may be left to the dealer. I'll try again later but now I'm wiring up a new controller for my sprinkler system.

[Tom]

No, I reconnected the battery last night after about 2-3 hours, but didn't crank it until this morning. I've no idea why it's working again. I did carefully look over every connection and tightened up a wire but it was to the heat function, nothing to do with the main plug. I'm just glad it is working.

My iCarsoft has so far not reset the light, so that may be left to the dealer. I'll try again later but now I'm wiring up a new controller for my sprinkler system.

If there was an electrical issue that is now resolved, it's also possible the light will go out after a while. I've seen Check-engine lights do that after replacing sensors -- after a couple of days I guess the car figures out that all is well. Airbag light might be different though, what with liability and all...

[Bill in Bama]

Yes, I've seen that too, but as you say, air bags are a whole different animal, likely won't go out on their own. We'll see.

[Bill in Bama]

Tom, I checked the airbag with my tester and one reading shows "low impedance" or some such. Ohm level is 1.xxx while the other reading is 3.xxx so I'm assuming the second parameter is the low one. Resetting doesn't work. I'm going to the dealer tomorrow for my free oil change, so they will catch it and we'll go from there.

[Bill in Bama]

The dealer couldn't get the airbag light out either, they are keeping my car until they diagnose the problem and get the necessary parts. Tom, you can probably pat yourself on the back as the tech said it's likely either the air bag or the clock spring, and I'm betting on on clock spring. They have those in Atlanta but air bags have to come from Germany.

Since I didn't have a loaner reserved and they had none available, I was given a ride home in a Taycan S. Impressive, but it had a 150 mile range when we left the dealer and only 36 miles left when we reached my house. It's 60 miles back to the dealer. I'm calling there soon just to find out if the driver made it back.

[Tom]

The dealer couldn't get the airbag light out either, they are keeping my car until they diagnose the problem and get the necessary parts. Tom, you can probably pat yourself on the back as the tech said it's likely either the air bag or the clock spring, and I'm betting on on clock spring. They have those in Atlanta but air bags have to come from Germany.

Since I didn't have a loaner reserved and they had none available, I was given a ride home in a Taycan S. Impressive, but it had a 150 mile range when we left the dealer and only 36 miles left when we reached my house. It's 60 miles back to the dealer. I'm calling there soon just to find out if the driver made it back.

Interesting. I have read the VW had a problem with 'intermitent' clock spring problems resulting in a recall, and with all the connections flowing through the clock spring, it's always possible some work while others (like the air bag) don't. If nothing else, it's validating to know they are stumped too. Nothing worse than giving up on something and taking it to a pro, only to find out it was something obvious from outer space.

Even more interesting about the Taycan range. I wonder if that's normal? I'm going to show your post to my wife, who is seems determined to get the new Subaru all-electic Solterra.....

[Bill in Bama]

The driver was convinced it was at least partly due to our running the air conditioner. It's 97 today and while it was never blowing very strongly it became comfortable in the cabin after a few minutes. He only floored it once to demonstrate the acceleration and mostly drove 75. I checked and he made it back, barely, without A/C.