"Oh what a feeling!" (2o6's Yaris)

[Cookie Monster]

Yank off steering wheel + airbag, replace with Momo wheel?

[2o6]

IDK for sure.


I suppose if I were to get another car it would be now or never.

[hotrodalex]

Yank off steering wheel + airbag, replace with Momo wheel?

Yank off fan, replace with Momo wheel?

[Cookie Monster]

Yank off fan, replace with Momo wheel?

He needs one of these:



They oscillate, too!

[2o6]

I don't want to "pin this" on someone, but it seems awfully fishy for my airbag light to illuminate the same day I got diagnostic tests done on the car to check the fan motor.


Part of me hopes I just total out the car.

[Secret Chimp]

Why are you sitting around wondering? Check the fuses. It takes like a minute unless they've hidden the fusebox in some place where you have to get in the car upside-down to see it.

[2o6]

It's 1am. I'll check it in the morning.

[Soup DeVille]

As a theory from the chat thread, possible blown fuse or wrong fuse pulled? Mechanics have been doing diagnostic tests on my car all day, checking fuses and relays. Wondering if something is up as regards to that.

If they've been pulling fuses and replacing them: here's what I would do.

Wait. The light might go off.


If the fuse was pulled while the car was started, the computer may have detected this as an airbag fault, which will now clear out after a few "drive cycles" ( a nebulous term that means different things to different cars.)

[GoCougs]

Did you buy this off a used-only car lot? They're notorious for flipping junk.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

When I purchased My 1994 Corolla (180k) it didn't have this many issues.............

[Northlands]

Just have the Yaris unfortunately stall on some rail road tracks. 

That damn fuel line clogged up again!

[2o6]

If they've been pulling fuses and replacing them: here's what I would do.

Wait. The light might go off.


If the fuse was pulled while the car was started, the computer may have detected this as an airbag fault, which will now clear out after a few "drive cycles" ( a nebulous term that mean
s different things to different cars.)

Airbag light went off then came back on again. Now it's back out.

[ifcar]

Did you buy this off a used-only car lot? They're notorious for flipping junk.

Who else is going to sell a cheap used car? New-car dealers typically quickly get rid of anything that's not fairly new or otherwise expensive, so that leaves used car dealers and private parties. A lot of those cars are problematic because, quite simply, a lot of cheap cars are cheap for a reason.

[2o6]

Wasn't your Focus cheap?

[GoCougs]

Who else is going to sell a cheap used car? New-car dealers typically quickly get rid of anything that's not fairly new or otherwise expensive, so that leaves used car dealers and private parties. A lot of those cars are problematic because, quite simply, a lot of cheap cars are cheap for a reason.

Just because they sell 'em doesn't mean you need to buy 'em.

Lots of new car dealers will have sub 100k mile compacts on their lots.

[2o6]

Just because they sell 'em doesn't mean you need to buy 'em.

Lots of new car dealers will have sub 100k mile compacts on their lots.

I'm not sure how to take this statement....part of me understands where you're coming from, part of me wants to discredit your information; you're all pissy because your car is from Hertz and has some issues associated with a rental car.

[ifcar]

Wasn't your Focus cheap?

My 2001 was dirt cheap but came with a one-year warranty; I wouldn't have gotten it without that, and sold it not long after that coverage expired.

My 2007 was a great price for the car's age -- $7,000, and they agreed to repair excess engine vibration and a loose rear seat for free -- but I can't say I would have been shocked if the car had acted up. I just the other day found some paperwork that had fallen behind the glovebox documenting $450 in ABS repairs from not long before it was traded in. Hell, even plenty of new cars have problems.

I didn't say that to mean that people shouldn't buy cheap cars, just that there's a risk associated with them that's not the fault of a dealer.

[GoCougs]

I'm not sure how to take this statement....part of me understands where you're coming from, part of me wants to discredit your information; you're all pissy because your car is from Hertz and has some issues associated with a rental car.

Ha, ha! Misery loves looking for company!

[CJ]

I'm not sure how to take this statement....part of me understands where you're coming from, part of me wants to discredit your information; you're all pissy because your car is from Hertz and has some issues associated with a rental car.

And you're mad because yours keeps breaking. 

[2o6]

Taking the car to get the codes checked tommorrow. Started the car, light on. Get down the street light goes off. Go a little farther, light back on. Likely when I start it again, light off.

Whatever the problem is, its intermittent.

[GoCougs]

My 2001 was dirt cheap but came with a one-year warranty; I wouldn't have gotten it without that, and sold it not long after that coverage expired.

My 2007 was a great price for the car's age -- $7,000, and they agreed to repair excess engine vibration and a loose rear seat for free -- but I can't say I would have been shocked if the car had acted up. I just the other day found some paperwork that had fallen behind the glovebox documenting $450 in ABS repairs from not long before it was traded in. Hell, even plenty of new cars have problems.

I didn't say that to mean that people shouldn't buy cheap cars, just that there's a risk associated with them that's not the fault of a dealer.

For some/many used-only dealers, they know exactly when their cars are junk - buying from body shops (i.e., quick turn flips) or the Russian mob or known lemons/problems. Most are fly-by-night shyster operations.

[ifcar]

For some/many used-only dealers, they know exactly when their cars are junk - buying from body shops (i.e., quick turn flips) or the Russian mob or known lemons/problems. Most are fly-by-night shyster operations.

That's a pretty sweeping generalization. It sounds like you're talking more about a "dealer" that's a trailer with five cars parked out front. (Which, admittedly, is where Focus #1 came from, though the warranty was third-party.)

[Rich]

The Mustang had the airbag light come on.  Was a connection under the seat that needed to be repaired... just a newconnector... i'll dig up the invoice later today.

Light was on when I picked the car up, but it went off and has been off since then.

[2o6]

Airbag light off again, i wonder if something was knocked loose or put back wrong when the mechanics looked at it.

[2o6]

If this is a dealer related issue, Toyota corporate will defenitely be hearing about this. The level of service I have received from both their Akron dealers is now comedic.

[Soup DeVille]

Taking the car to get the codes checked tommorrow. Started the car, light on. Get down the street light goes off. Go a little farther, light back on. Likely when I start it again, light off.

Whatever the problem is, its intermittent.

I'm thinking more and more its the clockspring.

My solution? Don't get into an accident when the light is on.

[Soup DeVille]

If this is a dealer related issue, Toyota corporate will defenitely be hearing about this. The level of service I have received from both their Akron dealers is now comedic.

You're not going to get good dealer service on a used car, and especially not on a used Yaris. And, Toyota has always been a little flippant with their customer service anyways.

[Laconian]

I'm thinking more and more its the clockspring.

My solution? Don't get into an accident when the light is on.

This is excellent advice. I think you should be a stock advisor too.

[Soup DeVille]

This is excellent advice. I think you should be a stock advisor too.

Don't buy crappy stocks.

There. Now I am.


OK, so my attitude towards airbags is a little cavalier. I've only ever owned five vehicles with them anyways. I drove hopped up classic VW beetles for many years.

After tooling around for a while in a 140 HP VW Beetle with non-power assisted anything, pretty much everything else on four wheels seems safe by comparison.

[2o6]

I will take it to toyota, could be clock spring, could be a seat or seatbelt sensor. Who freaking knows.