1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport

Airbag light randomly goes on and stays on for awhile before turning off. Light was on when I bought my XJ over a year ago. Any thoughts of why it is on? How to get the light to stay off?

 

Forgot to mention, no other issues...cluster works fine while light is on and no other issues, that I notice, are present.

Recently had my Jeep looked over by a local Jeep specialist service shop...only issues cracked exhaust manifold (I knew about, plan on fixing soon) and the Airbag light being on.

 

If horn doesn't work, you'll need spring clock. Most likely.
Remove air bag and lower steering column cover. Check by multi-tester.

 

I don't think I've ever had an issue with the horn but I will check. So the you're saying try the horn while the light is on, if horn doesn't work test the spring clock?

 

Tape inside clockspring has wires for airbag, horn and cruise control.
Tape breaks, nothing works.

 

Got it. So the tape could of broke thus causing the light, got it.

Can the solution just be to re-tape it or is replacing the clock spring the only fix?

By the way thanks for your help, appreciate it.

 

Or if the bumper has been hit in the back and their is a replacement bumper to cover it up it could be an impact sensor in the rear. That's how mine is

 

Look up airbag module under the driver's seat.
I thought this was a common reason for the light.

 

It was, their was a recall for it about like 10 years or so and a way to tell if it was recalled it may be re located underneath the center council, or just call a Chrysler dealership and give them your vin number and ask them if it had be recalled.

 

Do they still honor the recall ?

 

Could be an ignition switch starting to go out also. The light comes on because the switch is making it think the rig just started..
It happened to me I couldn't figure out the dang air bag light and 6 months later the rig was trying to start every time I hut a bump

 

That's the case in my XJ. Previous owner got rear ended on passenger side rear corner. Horn and cruise control works so I just pulled the gauge cluster and plucked the airbag lamp out LOL.

 

There shouldn't be time limits on *safety* recalls, but I've read that some dealerships are reluctant to do it because: "we shouldn't have to do free work on such an old car." Regardless, no time limit.

 

Update: Turned my Jeep on in my driveway. In 5 minutes light would come on for a minute then turn off for 30 seconds to a minute then come back on...while light was on horn worked fine.

Checked under driver's seat, there is a cut out in the carpet in a box shape with two threaded studs sticking up as if there might have been some sort of module there but not now.
There are some random wires that appear they were for the CB radio the previous owner had installed except for one set of two wires that run into a black clip then two more wires continue on from it. This set of wires are the only OEM looking wires and one wire is cut. Not sure if this could have anything to do with any of this.

 

Wondering now if this could be my problem...did your light come on and stay on? Mine is weird the way it comes and goes but sometimes will stay on for long periods.