
2. Drain cooling system. Remove dashboard. Remove heater unit. SAS unit connectors. Remove 4 SAS unit 
mounting bracket nuts. Remove 2 SAS unit retaining screws. Remove SAS unit. See Fig. 9
 .  
Installation 
To install, reverse removal procedure. Position SAS unit and bracket with arrow toward front of vehicle. 
Tighten fasteners to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
. After SAS unit is installed, activate air 
bag system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM
 . Check AIR BAG warning light to 
ensure system is functioning properly. See SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK
 . 
CLOCKSPRING 
Removal 
1. Set front wheels in straight-ahead position. Before proceeding, see SERVICE PRECAUTIONS . 
Disable air bag system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM
 .  
2. Remove driver-side air bag module. See DRIVER
-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE . Remove steering wheel 
nut. Using a puller, remove steering wheel. Remove steering column covers. Remove clockspring screws. 
Remove clockspring and combination switch as an assembly.  
Installation 
1. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten steering wheel nut to specification. See TORQUE 
SPECIFICATIONS .  
2. After installation, activate air bag system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM
 . 
Check AIR BAG warning light to ensure system is functioning properly. See SYSTEM OPERATION 
CHECK .  
SAS UNIT 
Removal 
1. Before proceeding, see SERVICE PRECAUTIONS . Disable air bag system. See DISABLING & 
ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM .  
2. SAS unit is located under center of dashboard. See Fig. 1
 . Remove dashboard. Remove heater assembly. 
Disconnect SAS unit connectors. Remove 4 SAS unit mounting bracket nuts. Remove 2 SAS unit 
retainin
g screws. Remove SAS unit. See Fig. 9.  NOTE: Clockspring is part of combination switch. When replacing clockspring, replace 
the clockspring and combination switch as an assembly.
 
1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata 
AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM 1997 ACCESSORIES/SAFETY EQUIPMENT Mazda - Air Bag Restraint System  
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Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:40:47 PMPage 13 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.  

1. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM . Remove meter 
hood. Ensure instrument cluster 12 pin connector is securely connected and that terminal No. 1 E is not 
damaged. Check continuity between terminal No. 1E of 12 pin cluster connector and terminal No. 2K of 
print plate of instrument cluster. If there is continuity, go to next step. If there is no continuity, replace 
print plate and then go to next step.  
2. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM
 . Check if terminal 
No. Q of 21 pin SAS unit connector is securely connected and is not damaged. If ok, go to next step. If 
terminal Q is not securely connected or is damaged, replace air bag harness, then go to next step.  
3. Disconnect 21 pin SAS unit connector and 12 pin instrument cluster connector. Check continuity between 
terminal No. Q of SAS unit connector and terminal No. 1 E of instrument cluster connector. If there is 
continuity, replace SAS unit and then go to next step. See SAS UNIT
 under REMOVAL & 
INSTALLATION. If there is no continuity, go to next step.  
4. Activate air bag system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM
 . Check AIR BAG 
warning light for proper system function. See SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK
 .  
WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON 
Disable air bag system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM
 . Remove meter hood. 
Ensure instrument cluster 12 pin connector is securely connected and that terminal No. 1 E is not damaged. 
Check continuity between terminal No. 1E of 12 pin cluster connector and terminal No. 2K of print plate of 
instrument cluster. If there is continuity, go to next step. If there is no continuity, replace print plate and then go 
to next step. 
WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON 
1. Measure battery voltage. If voltage is more than 9 volts, go to next step. If voltage is not more than 9 
volts, check charging system.  
2. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM
 . Remove dashboard. 
Remove heater unit. Check if SAS unit connector is securely connected. Check short bar between SAS 
unit terminal No. Q and terminal No. S. If short bar is bent, replace wiring harness and then go to next 
step. If short bar is OK, go to next step.  
3. Check short bar hook on SAS unit. If hook is OK, go to next step. If hook is damaged, replace SAS unit. 
See SAS UNIT
 under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.  
4. Disconnect SAS unit 21 pin connector and instrument panel 12 pin connector. Carefully insert an 
insulation material between terminal No. Q and terminal No. S of SAS unit so short bar cannot move.  NOTE: For connector terminal identification, see WIRING DIAGRAM
 .
NOTE: For connector terminal identification, see WIRING DIAGRAM
 .
NOTE: For connector terminal identification, see WIRING DIAGRAM
 .
NOTE: Use care not to damage short bar when inserting insulation material.
 
1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata 
AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM 1997 ACCESSORIES/SAFETY EQUIPMENT Mazda - Air Bag Restraint System  
Microsoft  
Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:40:48 PMPage 16 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.  

5. Check continuity between terminal No. Q and ground. If continuity exists, replace or repair wiring 
harness between instrument cluster and SAS unit. If no continuity exists, replace SAS unit. See SAS 
UNIT under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.  
6. Activate air bag system and perform SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK
 . Check that AIR BAG warning 
light is operating properly. If not, reconfirm malfunction symptoms.  
DTC 0 - SAS UNIT 
1. Disable system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM
 . Remove dashboard. 
Remove heater unit. Check if SAS unit connector is securely connected. If not, reconnect connector and 
go next step. If ok, go to next step.  
2. Disconnect SAS unit connector and check for continuity between terminal No. V and terminal No. Y of 
SAS unit connector. If there is continuity, replace SAS unit. If there is no continuity, replace wiring 
harness. Perform SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK
 .  
DTC 3 - BATTERY 
1. Check that battery voltage is at least 8 volts. If not, check battery and/or charging system. Turn ignition 
on and check voltage at joint connector terminals A or E (X-33).  
2. If voltage is over 8 volts, replace SAS unit. See SAS UNIT
 under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. If 
voltage is not over 8 volts, replace wiring harness from battery to fuse box. Perform SYSTEM 
OPERATION CHECK .  
DTC 6 - DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE 
1. Disable air ba
g system. See procedures under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM.  NOTE: When air bag warning light remains on, it can indicate a DTC 0 caused by no 
continuity between terminal No. V and terminal No. Y of SAS unit This can be 
due to a damaged SAS unit, an open or short circuit in wiring harness or poor 
connections.
NOTE: For connector terminal identification, see WIRING DIAGRAM
 .
NOTE: When voltage supplied to SAS unit is less than 1 volt due to weak battery, open 
or short in wiring harness, poor connection of connector or damaged SAS unit, 
DTC 3 will set
NOTE: For connector terminal identification, see WIRING DIAGRAM
 .
NOTE: When resistance Is detected between terminals M-O of SAS unit is NOT 2 ohms, 
DTC 6 will set.
NOTE: For connector terminal identification, see WIRING DIAGRAM
 .
 
1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata 
AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM 1997 ACCESSORIES/SAFETY EQUIPMENT Mazda - Air Bag Restraint System  
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Remove driver-side air bag module. See DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE under REMOVAL & 
INSTALLATION.  
2. Inspect clockspring connectors for damage. If connectors are okay, go to next step. If connectors are 
damaged, replace clockspring. Perform SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK
 .  
3. Connect Special Service Tool (49 0839 285) to terminal No. 3B and terminal No. 3C of clockspring. Set 
SST resistance to 2 ohms. Connect clockspring connector. Connect negative battery cable. Turn ignition 
switch to ON position and cheek for codes. If CODE 6 is displayed, go to next step. If CODE 6 is not 
present, replace driver-side air bag module. Perform SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK
 .  
4. Turn ignition switch to LOCK position. Disconnect negative battery cable and wait for 1 minute. 
Disconnect clockspring connector and inspect. If pins are ok go next step. If pins are damaged, replace 
wiring harness from clockspring to SAS unit.  
5. Connect Special Service Tool (49 0839 285) to terminal No. A and terminal No. B of clockspring 
connector. Set SST resistance to 2 ohms. Connect clockspring connector and connect negative battery 
cable. Turn ignition switch to ON position and cheek for codes. If CODE 6 is displayed, go to next step. 
If CODE 6 is not present, replace clockspring. See CLOCKSPRING
 under REMOVAL & 
INSTALLATION. Perform SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK
 .  
6. Turn ignition switch to LOCK position. Disconnect negative battery cable. Wait for 1 minute. Remove 
dashboard and heater unit. Disconnect SAS unit connector.  
7. Check wiring harness between terminal No. O of SAS unit connector and between terminal No. A of 
clockspring connector. Also check between terminal No. M of SAS unit connector and terminal No. B of 
clockspring connector. Check for short to ground, short to power or open circuit. If wiring is OK, replace 
SAS unit. See SAS UNIT
 under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.If wiring is not OK, replace wiring 
harness from clockspring to SAS unit. Perform SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK
 .  
DTC 7 - PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE 
1. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM
 . Inspect passenger-
side air bag module connectors for damage. If connectors are okay, go to next step. If connectors are 
damaged, replace wiring harness from passenger-side air bag module to SAS unit. Perform SYSTEM 
OPERATION CHECK .  
2. Connect Special Service Tool (49 0839 285) to terminal No A and terminal No. B of passenger-side air 
bag module connector. Set Special Service Tool resistance to 2 ohms. Connect clockspring connector. 
Connect negative battery cable. Turn ignition switch to ON position and check for codes. If DTC 7 is 
displayed, go to next step. If CODE 7 is not present replace passenger-side air bag module. See 
PASSENGER
-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Perform SYSTEM 
OPERATION CHECK .  
3. Turn ignition switch to LOCK position. Disconnect negative battery cable and wait 1 minute. Disconnect 
clocksprin
g connector. Remove dashboard and heater unit.  NOTE: For connector terminal identification, see WIRING DIAGRAM
 .
NOTE: When resistance is detected between terminals l-K of SAS unit is NOT 2 ohms 
and/or there is no continuity between terminal No. E of SAS unit and ground, 
DTC 7 will set
 
1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata 
AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM 1997 ACCESSORIES/SAFETY EQUIPMENT Mazda - Air Bag Restraint System  
Microsoft  
Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:40:48 PMPage 18 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.