replacement seat airbag wiring issue

[goodshipalbion]

Hi all...ive been googling for hours and hoping you can help... my gf is looking to buy a 1.6 2001 206cc and the chap has fitted a red and black leather interior (with side airbags) from i believe a newer model...currently the wiring under the seat is disconected and he said the plugs dont match up and this is causing an airbag light on the dash. he has stated he will put a years mot on the car b4 sale,

so will this pass an mot in this state,

what exactly will be disconnected at this point...side airbags?...seat belt pre-tensioners?

can the issue be corrected?

cheers
Josh

[fatboyslim]

Hi all...ive been googling for hours and hoping you can help... my gf is looking to buy a 1.6 2001 206cc and the chap has fitted a red and black leather interior (with side airbags) from i believe a newer model...currently the wiring under the seat is disconected and he said the plugs dont match up and this is causing an airbag light on the dash. he has stated he will put a years mot on the car b4 sale,

so will this pass an mot in this state,

If the airbag light stays on then it will fail an MOT
But if the airbag light doesn't come on when the ignition is first turned on(when all warning lights come on as a system check) then from what I've heard that would be a pass and advise

what exactly will be disconnected at this point...side airbags?...seat belt pre-tensioners?

can the issue be corrected?

cheers
Josh

possibly the seatbelt pre-tensioners as the non seat airbagged CC has a different SRS ecu than one with seat airbags,whether it would be a simple job of cutting wires and splicing only the tensioners to a correct plug and not having seat bags or getting the newer SRS ecu so everything works as it should then I'm not really sure

[Capncol]

so will this pass an mot in this state,No. Light has to come on, then go off after a few seconds (so no taking the bulb out)

what exactly will be disconnected at this point...side airbags?...seat belt pre-tensioners?Probably both, but it depends on what orig equip it had

can the issue be corrected?Anything can be fixed, but do you want the hassle/ cost?

cheers
Josh

If the car comes back with an MOT and without the problems being fixed-Walk away as MOT will be dodgy .
Even if the airbag light is functioning correctly (and there are well known ways in the trade of doing this without airbags working) it could still fail due to fitted airbags being inoperative, namely side air bags in seats- If they're fitted , they've got to work. If tester sees disconnected wires under seat, that are obviously for the SRS system, he would fail. Also yours is a pre mux car with post mux seats retro fitted. The plugs don't match because they use different systems.
Personally, I would find another car unless YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE it has been fixed properly, and not just bodged to pass an MOT as this will cost dearly.

This is cut & paste from testers manual

Information
This inspection applies to airbags, seat belt pretensioners and seat belt load limiters fitted as original equipment.

The SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) may display a symbol similar to that shown below, or one depicting a person wearing a seat belt. Alternatively, the letters SRS or another symbol may be displayed.

Seat belt load limiters are used on some vehicles to minimise seat belt inflicted injury in violent collisions.

This is generally achieved by releasing a little more excess belt webbing when a great deal of force is applied to the belt.

The simplest type of load limiter is a fold sewn into the belt webbing. The stitches holding the fold in place are designed to come apart when a high amount of force is applied to the belt, thereby releasing an extra bit of webbing.

A more commonly used limiter is a mechanical type, such as those which use a torsion bar in the retractor mechanism. These cannot usually be readily seen or inspected.

Seat belt pretensioners may be fitted to some seat belts. Once activated a warning device may display.
Method of inspection
1.
As far as practicable, check that all airbags fitted as original equipment are present and not obviously defective.

2.
Turn on the ignition and check the presence and operation of any Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) malfunction indictor lamp(s) (MIL)


3.
Check the presence and condition of any seat belt load limiters and/or pretensioners fitted as original equipment.

Reason for rejection
1.
An airbag obviously missing or defective.

Note: A passenger airbag that has been switched off is not a Reason for Rejection.


2.
A Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) malfunction indicator lamp:

. inoperative

. indicating a system malfunction

[suegriff]

I would also do a check on the car just in case its been changed for some other reason.....

[Enright]

If he's fitted them himself, could you ask if he still has the old seats?
If he does you should just be able to swap the plugs over, and even sell the old seats if you like.
Otherwise I would be a bit nervous about "excuses" as you could end up saddled with something that you can't drive, or is dangerous.

As Sue says, it's worth investigating other reasons. One could be that the rest of the airbags went off too, and if that's the case you could be looking at the last evidence of a bodged repair.
Go to mytextcheck.com and text the registration number - it's worth £3 for peace of mind.

[goodshipalbion]

thanks for all the advice everyone...was enought to sway us away from the car and got lucky and found a lovely condition 02 reg albeit with high millage of 100k locally for 1650...offered 1500 and its ours no electrical issues...pretty new full exhaust...just needs abs ring and cambelt and watr pump...more for piece of mind as done within the last 5yrs / 30k. just out of intrest how much should we be looking to pay to sort all that?

also the chap said the radio and stalk controls (which he has replced dont work) and things the factory fit stereo is kanckered...does that sound likely? not much of an issue as will be replacing anyway but would be nice to get the stalk working

cheers again

Josh

[Capncol]

Hi josh.
Good move walking away.
#1 !00K isn't excessive mileage. If it's been looked after, you will be fine.
#2 If cambelt has been done 5 years / 30K ago, you don't need to do it now. Recommended is 80K / 10years
Is it front or back ABS ring as makes a big £ difference?
#3 I think stalk needs adapter to work other radios, ICE is not really my thing.
Factory radio is quite good, and would be worth keeping as MFD (centre display) & stalk are designed to work with it.

[goodshipalbion]

sounds like the miles should be OK then as looks like its been looked after and the chaos dad works for a garage and has done bits on it. pretty sure its the front ABS ring so should be good there too. the missus will defo want an iPod and Bluetooth compatible stereo so that will be changed fingers crossed that gets things working

[Capncol]

If it's the front, try these people http://www.reluctorrings.com/
The front ones have conventional "teeth", whereas the rear ones are magnetic

Having clocked up 100K the cambelt should have been changed (@80K) If there is any doubt whatsoever that it has been done-Change it!