Yellow connector to nowhere under dash steering column ??

[rogue1313]

2009 Vibe.....

I'm having an airbag dash light issue (staying on....don't have a proper code reader to see what the fault is exactly).......Anyway, I was under the dash looking for any loose connections and I ran across a yellow two wire connector that seems to go to nowhere & was curious as to what it was for.

Basically, I removed the plastic dash piece that covers the underside of the steering column and noticed there was this yellow plug to nowhere. It's got only two wires, it's the male end, but there is no corresponding female plug anywhere in sight. Anyone have an idea of what this is?

Now I had a 95 Honda civic with a similar plug and that was used for diagnostic 'check engine' code reading (bend a paperclip & 'jump' the wires, then count the blinks)......Of course my 95 Civic was a pre-OBDII car.....but I was wondering if this yellow plug to nowhere could be the same thing in the Vibe/Matrix?

Any thoughts?

[JohnO]

All US vehicles will have the OBD connector under the steering column. I believe it is require by law to be in that location. Is the connector shaped like an OBD connector?

[ColonelPanic]

Yellow connectors, wiring looms or wires wrapped in yellow tape indicate an SRS-related component.

I would get your code read to find out what the fault is, lots of potential points of failures so save yourself the guesswork.

What's the history of the car btw? Bought new, used? If used, know the history?

[rogue1313]

I just got home from work & took another look.....My mistake.....it was dark last night when I was checking things out........

The connector is actaully black, with one yellow wire & one black & white wire......The connector seems to also be the same shape (from what I can remember) as the diagnostic connector in my 95 Honda Civic.

I looked again, and I cannot find a corresponding female connector or even a 'holding place' to plug it into. I took some pics, I just have to figure out how to uplaod them.



Here's the Good/Bad news about my airbag light situation.....It appears to be triggered by the position of the steering wheel. When I start the car, if the steering wheel is turned to the 10/11 o'clock position, the airbag light does not come on.......I've let it sit at idle and left the steering wheel alone, and no light. If I turn the wheel to straight ahead, the light comes on within a couple seconds. If I turn the wheel back to the 10/11 o'clock postion & restart the car, the light stays out....until I turn the wheel to the straight ahead position again. I

've been able to replicate this several times, so I'm fairly convinced the fault has something to do with the steering wheel position......Is that a 'clock spring' issue?

[rogue1313]

photos of the mysterios connector under the steering wheel

[rogue1313]

one more pic

[gimmegimme]

I found one connector like you described in the service manual. It's labelled "Ignition Lock Cylinder Control Solenoid", but also called the "key interlock solenoid wire" later in the manual. It doesn't say what it's for, but to me, it sounds like the thing that prevents you from removing your key unless your transmission is in Park. Does your car have a manual transmission? That might explain why your connector isn't used.

[rogue1313]

Yeah, mine is a manual trans.....So maybe you're right.....they probably make one wiring harness for both the manual & automatic. It's never a comforting feeling when you pull off a panel and see dangling connectors.

As far as my dashboard airbag light goes.....it's got something to do with the position of the steering wheel.....slightly turned, the light stays off.....turn it dead ahead, and the airbag light comes on.

At this point, I have to think that it's an issue with the clock spring.....However, the horn still works (I've read that the light & horn not working usually go hand in hand).......If it's not the clock spring unit, then all I can think of is that it's the wiring from the clock spring to the airbag?

If I don't get to it this weekend, I'll try to do some more in depth trouble shooting next weekend. It just drives me crazy with that red light taunting me while I drive.