Steering wheel electronics......Help!!??

[carlfred]

My 2001 x5 3.0 's electronics in the steering wheel comes on and off every once in a while. When it goes off, the horn, radio controls, and cruise doesn't work...and the airbag light comes on. When it all comes back on, the airbag light goes back off, and all of the electronics work again.

What type of magic wand do I need to wave over this? Is it a loose connection with the telescopic wheel? I've checked the fuses, and I don't think it's one of the 2000 fuses.

Helllp

Thanks

[Wagner]

Could be as simple as a ground wire in the wheel around the rotating area (pint where the wires come closest to medal. If the fuses are good, that is what I would begin looking for. Since it is going on 7 years old, this could be the problem.

[kresener]

May want to check the battery. I had the same symptoms when my battery started to not hold a charge. Replaced battery and everything went back to normal.

[carlfred]

I'm sure that it's a ground issue now... If I use the telescopic in or out, the airbag light gets brighter or dimmer. Anybody know how the steering wheel grounds, or how to improve the ground? Is it a wire?

Thanks

[Zulu95]

Could be the clockspring.

[elric75]

I had those exact same symptoms on my 00 4.4 a few months back. Not totally sure what they did to fix it, but I know they replaced the ignition switch (thing the key goes into). Also solved longstanding problem of occasional starting problems.

[lumpia_pimp]

having the same problem too, how much was it to replace the ignition switch?