I've got a 2000 Cherokee with the air bag light on. Borrowed two obd testers and it looks like they can't test air bag issues. Horn works but just noticed that the turn signals and emergency flashers light up but don't flash. Any suggestions? It's my farm vehicle and trying to figure it out so I don't have to trailer it to a repair shop. Thanks.

 

You need a scanner with SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) to check the air bag system. Shall I assume your XJ is not road legal. You can buy a compatible Bluetooth scanner (use with your phone) or likely "rent" one from a local auto parts store.

Given the other symptoms, it may be the clock spring.

 

check the clock spring

 

Is the only way to check clock spring is using a tester? Also would the horn still work if the clock spring is bad? Thanks

 

The clock spring has circuits for all the controls in the steering wheel. So that's the horn, the airbag, and cruise control (assuming you have it). However, the fault could lie in the airbag (driver or passenger), the module or elsewhere. Could even be a fuse. A SRS capable scanner should narrow down where to look.

You can get the FSM here: https://xjjeeps.com/

As far as the hazards and turns signals, could be the flasher. Do the lights front and back light up when you turn on the signal?

All those wires do travel down the column. Have a peek at the base of the column and see if the wires look OK and the connections are tight. Look for signs of critter action.

 

Yes the turn signal lights and emergency flashers all light up but do not flash. Don't know about the cruise because it's stays on the farm and isn't licensed, so I haven't tried it. Next time I'm at my farm I might sneak it out and try it. I'll have to check around with some parts stores in the area about renting a scanner. Thanks.

 

If it is a farm truck only, surely just wearing your seatbelt would be enough ?

I know it is good to have everything working, and the scanner idea is worthwhile, but I know my "to do" list is a ****ing long one

 

Well I was able to spend a little time looking at the Cherokee. I replaced the turn signal relay and now signals and flashers all work. I jumped in it and ran down the highway for a few miles. Turned cruise on and put it on 40 mph and it works fine. Horn always did work. Checked in town at the parts store and their tester will not do SRS codes. I think I'll just wait until my Christmas money appears and order a scanner off of Amazon.

 

I can't seem to find a definitive answer to this but....

Is there any way to completely remove the driver and passenger airbag along with the module... and not throw an Engine warning light or airbag light?

asking for a friend...

 

I have a 98 and 99. I just finished replacing the clock spring in the 99 for a 2nd time. My wife insist on buying used OEM parts and I got tired of the discussion on the clock spring. The last replacement was also a used one off of eBay (10 years ago maybe). The one I just finished is a used one from a TJ. The part as designed is designed to fail. It has a ribbon cable that is folded over itself at 45 degrees. It will eventually crack at one of the solder joints. This writeup shows why they fail (https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/xj...te-up.2032993/). The folded cable is pictured about half way down the original thread.
I tried to repait the original one, but it only lasted a few months. I'll try repairing the one I jsut took out using a different technique. It's pretty easy to get the clock spring out if you have a steering wheel puller. The design just seems dumb with all that extra ribbon cable in there doing nothing. This time, I'm thinking I'll try to solder some wire in place so it won't be affected by the bend.

 

I was wrong. Looks like this one failed at the complete fold over nearer the center. There are actually 3 places where this ribbon cable is completely folded over. Probably not too bad to fix. Not sure there is enough ribbon cable to make up the couple of inches I would need to cut off to repair it. There's only 30+ feet of it in there. And if you don't have cruise contrl, it only uses 3 of the 5 wires.

 

Little bit of an update. Purchased a Foxwell scan tool that reads airbag codes. Hooked it up and it said I need a CCD connector to communicate with the data. Foxwell doesn't have anything like that. Any ideas where it could be bought? Have probed the obd connector with a voltmeter and have power to the necessary pins except for number 3. Zero reading. Have checked fuses for airbag and they are good.
I opened the fuse block in the engine compartment on the passenger side. On the plastic cover it shows some kind of relay for the airbag. There isn't one there. Can someone who has a 2000 model take a picture of theirs with the part number so I can buy one? Hopefully this is my problem. Thanks.