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Steering wheel Airbag?
ashg - 18/2/09 at 09:35 PM

hi all

if i were to fit a steering wheel that had a disconnected airbag in the middle of it would i manage to pass sva/iva?

blakep82 - 18/2/09 at 09:44 PM

shouldn't be a problem. its not an S/IVA requirement, and if you have them, they don't need to work for MOT (my car's had the airbag light on for years and been through many MOTs like it) so should be fine

jollygreengiant - 18/2/09 at 11:19 PM

quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
shouldn't be a problem. its not an S/IVA requirement, and if you have them, they don't need to work for MOT (my car's had the airbag light on for years and been through many MOTs like it) so should be fine


Although under health and safety, IF a vehicle is showing the airbag light on, then the system has a fault and as such IF the tester decides that due to the airbag light being lit that the vehicle is unsafe to test, then that is it and the test station CAN refuse to test. Similar could apply to a vehicle fitted with an airbag that has no airbag control system.



Another can of worms well and truly opened.

Ben_Copeland - 18/2/09 at 11:36 PM

I shouldn't think it would pass. If they feel its dangerous it'll never pass.

Same with power steering or vacuum on brakes... if its there it needs to be working and tested.

Vacuum brakes fitted on mine and he tested it with and without it working.

blakep82 - 19/2/09 at 12:16 AM

hmm, testers have only ever told me its not an MOT failure if the light's on

Ben_Copeland - 19/2/09 at 12:41 AM

yeah but sva and mot are pretty different. I agree mot wouldn't batter an eye lid at airbag light being on. but sva would probably kick up a fuss

mr_pr - 19/2/09 at 12:46 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Ben_Copeland
yeah but sva and mot are pretty different. I agree mot wouldn't batter an eye lid at airbag light being on. but sva would probably kick up a fuss


Don't fit the airbag control system then? Just make sure the contacts are very well insulated to prevent static setting of the charge.

mad4x4 - 19/2/09 at 07:16 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Ben_Copeland
I shouldn't think it would pass. If they feel its dangerous it'll never pass.

Same with power steering or vacuum on brakes... if its there it needs to be working and tested.

Vacuum brakes fitted on mine and he tested it with and without it working.


So how do you "TEST" an air bag.

Ben_Copeland - 19/2/09 at 07:27 AM

i would think that was obvious the problem is if you start putting safety systems on a car (working or not) they may want to test them, or at least see them with warning lights etc etc... is it really worth the risk/bother trying to get an airbag steering wheel through the IVA when theres a danger of them failing it and having to pay whatever they want to charge for the retests.... not seen the new fees for retests yet.

Mr Whippy - 19/2/09 at 07:52 AM

But what does the light mean? is it the trigger sensor (think that’s up near the front of the car) that’s faulty rather than the airbag or is there a computer involved as I thought they go off in only specific circumstances.

Ben_Copeland - 19/2/09 at 09:38 AM

Theres always a computer involved i'm guessing... can't imagine they'd just leave it up at a couple of triggers around the car.

jollygreengiant - 19/2/09 at 06:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
But what does the light mean? is it the trigger sensor (think that’s up near the front of the car) that’s faulty rather than the airbag or is there a computer involved as I thought they go off in only specific circumstances.


Yep they have a computer control system that checks ALL circuits are complete before turning OFF the light. Not just the airbag but also other tensioners systems related to the airbag like seatbelt pre-tensioners. Most common reason for the airbag light being on is the seatbelt tensioners not having a good circuit.