Hello all! Just had the rack and pinion replaced on my'98 Camry with 216K on it. When I got it back the airbag light was on and the horn doesn't work. Airbag light has never come on before except the usual when starting the car and horn had always worked. Did my mechanic disconnect something and forget to put it back together? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

The Fix
now needs a proper diagnostic scanner to clear the fault code or find the cause of the fault


at high risk of deployment of the bag while you are undoing these systems
you are never to remove the steering wheel with the battery connected

a possible cause

some workshops undo the steering wheel to undo the spline nut ... remove the steering wheel and re align the spline re tighten
so the steering wheel faces straight across so the indicators cancel out as you corner

you can break the clock spring in the air bag system

sounds like the battery was not disconnected
or they forgot to reconnect the horn air bag plug
or a fuse

are the indicators other column stalk devices working

if not a fuse

take it back to them

 

Yep everything else works, weird about the horn, is it on the same fuse as the airbag?

 

a horn has its own fuse

air bag works on a different circuit and more complex through the ECU

 

Why would they both go a wall at the same time, coincidence?

 

Check if the cars hazard lights (emergency flashers) work. If so check if the HORN fuse is blown. Its location is in a relay/fuse box inside the engine compartment drivers side. If OK the horn system should have power.

Find out if the mechanic removed the steering wheel. If so, they may have failed to reconnect the horn and steering wheel airbag to the wiring or damaged the wiring. If the airbag is not connected the airbag light will illuminate.

You can find out if the issue is the steering wheel airbag by connecting a code reader to the cars OBDII diagnostic system. With the light on, a trouble code has been set. The code reader will read out this code which will pin point the location of the problem, as in perhaps a steering wheel airbag fault.

Suggest you return to the mechanic and voice your concerns. They can check the trouble codes.

If the airbag light is on, the airbag system is off and will not work if needed.

 

Hazards work, all fuses fine, do back in the shop she goes! Thanks for the advice I'll let you know what happens.