Xantia S1 steering wheel confusion

[Stickyfinger]

Below are two steering wheels, left from a V6 Exclusive, right from a V6 Activa

WHY has the V6 Exclusive got that half moon box inside the wheel ?

On the V6 Exclusive wheel, there is also an LED (bottom right---little white tube and wire to it) under the right side finger switches ?

PS...I cannot find the code on it

[ekjdm14]

That is the airbag ECU for the earlier S1. If you have the radio controls you'll also notice the earlier one has a clear section under the volume rocker, which is for the warning light.

The exclusive was obviously earlier (pre '96 I think?) and the activa was a later S1 with the airbag ECU under the keypad/tray in the centre console.

[Stickyfinger]

Well you live and learn

So not interchangeable then....(not that I was trying)

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes they did a retro fitting kit for airbags too on the earlier models. I've got the doc somewhere.

[ekjdm14]

The steering wheel yes, just unscrew the ECU and then your later type clock Spring pushes through just the same. Not sure if the earlier radio controls are compatible or not but I don't see why not if the plug is the same on the PCB.

Obviously the airbag ECU setup is unlikely to be interchangeable without a lot of work (I nearly looked deeper into it myself recently!) but the airbags plug in and appear to be compatible with either system.

[GiveMeABreak]

I just found this note:

Since the 95 M.Y., CITROEN XANTIA models can be equipped, in production, with a driver’s AIRBAG system.
This device can be fitted as post-equipment, to vehicles produced before the 95 M.Y..

[ekjdm14]

Yes they did a retro fitting kit for airbags too on the earlier models. I've got the doc somewhere.

And I have also learned something new today

That's interesting since it means the wiring presumably ign+, Earth and signal from the VSS?) would already be present in all non-airbag Xantiae... Wonder why they didn't make it standard fit initially?

[xantia_v6]

I think that the later airbag system (with separate ECU and option for passenger airbag) arrived in 1996 (but maybe the beginning of the 1997 MY). It coincided with moving the fog light switches from the dashboard to the lighting stalk.

I think that you can fit the early wheel (less the airbag controller) to a later car, but not vice versa.

[xantia_v6]

Yes they did a retro fitting kit for airbags too on the earlier models. I've got the doc somewhere.

And I have also learned something new today

That's interesting since it means the wiring presumably ign+, Earth and signal from the VSS?) would already be present in all non-airbag Xantiae... Wonder why they didn't make it standard fit initially?

The early system was completely self-contained and needed only 12V at low current to charge the capacitors. The retrofit kit may have included a new clockspring with the extra connection.

[ekjdm14]

Oh, that's confused me a little as there's 3 wires from clock spring to the early ECU. Third wire for diagnostics perhaps?

If nothing else, that system was a great deterrent to people thumping the 'wheel in frustration lest they got a thump back lol!

[GiveMeABreak]

Here's the doc I was referring to in case you're interested:
Retrofitting Driver Airbag to Pre 96 Xantia MK I Models

[ekjdm14]

I think that the later airbag system (with separate ECU and option for passenger airbag) arrived in 1996 (but maybe the beginning of the 1997 MY). It coincided with moving the fog light switches from the dashboard to the lighting stalk.

I think that you can fit the early wheel (less the airbag controller) to a later car, but not vice versa.

Will have to check White's official model year, certainly must be one of the first with the newer system. I wonder how hard it'd be to fit an earlier stalk & seperate fog switches? I already dislike the newer stalk and I've not even been anywhere other than up & down the drive!

[ekjdm14]

Here's the doc I was referring to in case you're interested:
Retrofitting Driver Airbag to Pre 96 Xantia MK I Models

Thanks, will have a read when I get on the laptop.

[Stickyfinger]

FYI
My Activa is Feb/March 1997 and as you see not fitted with the In-Wheel" ecu.
The Finger Control connector is also different on the PCB

[xantia_v6]

Below are two steering wheels, left from a V6 Exclusive, right from a V6 Activa

WHY has the V6 Exclusive got that half moon box inside the wheel ?

On the V6 Exclusive wheel, there is also an LED (bottom right---little white tube and wire to it) under the right side finger switches ?

20180226_191318.jpg

PS...I cannot find the code on it

I just realised that it is the V6 Exclusive that has the earlier wheel. Does it have a passenger airbag? I have seen a couple of very early LHD V6s without, but never a RHD V6.

It also looks like a rubber (not leather) wheel, in which case it is certainly not the original for the car, and perhaps an early style replacement from a lower spec car has been fitted.