Xantia97 wrote:MK1 1997
OK, so likely to be the switch (if it was a MK2 it would be something else as they had a relay from the factory). You really need to remove the shrouds, as you need access to the heavy duty wires under there. It's not as hard as it seems. Set the wheel to 90° either way, take the battery off, go for a cup of tea
. Undo the two T20(?) bolts accessible from the back of the steering wheel to remove the air bag - lift away carefully, and unplug the wire. Unplug the wires to the radio controls (not easy!). Mark the steering wheel and column, undo the nut (21mm deep socket IIRC) but leave it on the threads, then jar the wheel off the shaft. Once loose undo the nut, and then carefully feed the wires through to remove the wheel. Remove the shrouds.
Locate the brown connector with red wires going to the ignition lock - this is the one that feeds the blower / HRW. Unplug it, reconnect the battery and work out which is the live (car) wire and which is the switched side, disconnect battery. Cut this live wire somewhere convenient (either side of the connector, doesn't matter). Get a 4 pin relay - at least 30A (see details of the relay pin out below). Connect the live side of the car to one of the pins on the switched circuit (87 or 30), and run another wire from this pin to the other (switch end) of the wire you just cut. Now cut the other wire, connect the car side to the other switched pin on the relay (87 or 30), and the igniton switch side to the switching pin on the relay (85 or 86). Run a small wire from the other switching pin (85 or 86) on the relay to a handy earth (a steering column bolt?). Reconnect battery and check you get blower and HRW after you swtich on (noting that the blower may only run when the engine is running, depending on heater configuration) - you can start the engine without the wheel - the air bag light will be on, but it will go out once the bag is reconnected. Tie up the relay out of the way, insulate wires etc, and refit it all. Couple of hours tops.
