If I go to a Volvo main dealer they'll take me to the cleaners for this I would imagine, based on previous experiences, so I'm determined to do this myself if it's at all possible!
Has anyone ever had to turn off an SRS airbag fault tell-tale? There might or might not be a genuine fault, but I don't care either way. Being of a certain age I just want the warning got rid of. The car is a 2008 Volvo V70 if that makes any difference.
I have an OBD cable and dedicated software for VW/Audi group cars, but I have also used it in 'generic' mode on the neighbour's Nissan.
You can clear any outstanding 'trouble codes', whether that would put the warning light out on the dash, who knows, but you'd hope so ...
There is a good chance the system will log the fault and there will be serious trouble if someone gets hurt because the airbag didn't deploy. Its also illegal to just clear the fault without fixing the problem if it exists.
It would also be illegal to drive the car in the UK AIUI as it wouldn't legally pass an MOT.
Many don't deploy for any number of reasons.
Can you cite the statute?
Again, construction and use is a separate consideration to the MOT. Can you cite the statute that makes it illegal to drive a car with the air-bag light disabled?
Most unrepaired faults, even if temporarily cleared, will simply turn the relevant warning light back on.
Construction and use says some cars have to have airbags and that they have to have working warning systems.
Do you think its legal to drive a car that you know will fail the MOT? They can prove you know if the fault has been cleared without the diagnostics being run. Just because you have an MOT doesn't mean its legal to drive a car.
Maybe, maybe not. Unless you know why it came on you don't know if the airbag will deploy when it should or if it will deploy when it shouldn't. You would look pretty stupid if it went off while you were doing 70 on the motorway or leaning over to clean the screen.
Just think of why they require a warning lamp.
There are some MOT failure faults which make it illegal to drive the car and other MOT failure faults that don't make it illegal to drive the care. The MOT rules have just been modified to clarify that you can't take the car home with some of them. (It may be that a fault that did not make it illegal to drive the car under these rules, which relate to driving a dangerous vehicle, might nonetheless be offences to drive with under other legislation, such as some light faults.)
Yes, some cars have to built with features. Disabling them afterwards doesn't mean it is illegal to drive the car.
The current VW emissions fiasco is a prime example. Is it now illegal for VW owners to drive their cars? Have you seen any prosecutions.
Hence why I asked for a statute, which you will simply be unable to provide.
You do know what a 'warning' is? Don't you? A hint, it's a 'warning'.
Is driving a car with an ignition warning light on illegal? What's the crime?
That's why we call him 'Dennis the Dunce' over on uk.d-i-y. :-D
With modern cars using so many separate management modules, all talking to each other on CANBUS, you can end up with warning lights simply because one module is a bit slow to boot and another flags a fairly random error as it can't communicate with it. Many of these clear automatically if you switch off and on again, but there is no guarantee that one that latches in until reset with a reader doesn't happen.
False warnings are common and the normal thing with most indicated faults is to see if they can be reset and then wait and see if they recur. You could otherwise spend hundreds of pounds trying to find an intermittent fault that doesn't really exist.
SteveW
A colleague at work had his VW Polo battery fail just before Christmas. This lit both his engine and airbag warning lights. They stayed lit when a new battery was fitted. He had get them cleared.
Many faults if not detected again in a number of starts after the event will clear themselves.
ODBII system have a memory that stores "pending faults". These don't display a warning light until they have happened a number of times.
It?s not as simple as ?just disabling the warning light?. All the warning lamps should illuminate when the ignition is first turned on. If a lamp for a safety critical component doesn?t light up when it ought to, it constitutes an MOT fail.
Tim
The airbag deployment circuit is tested each time you turn the ignition on. I suspect at best, you could disable it until next time the ignition is turned on.
Airbags are generally rated for 10 year life, and it might be that yours has detected that it's gone over 10 years old. Check if the service schedule for your car expects replacement after 10 years.
Andrew Gabriel presented the following explanation :
That used to be the case, it was the expected life at that time, but now they are suggesting an indefinite life for them, or until deployed. Have you ever found a source for replacement bags for a 10 year old vehicle?
You probably need to find the local specialist who has the gear to read the fault from the SRS ECU, work out which plug to clean, and then maybe reset it if it doesn't automatically clear on the next self-test.
(Engine diagnostic or service warning light is usually easier to clear).
Or, do what has worked for me in the past and wire the airbag light to the alternator light... passes the MOT test without having to chase a fault which, in theory, could write off the car.
Well yes, driving without an MOT is always illegal (except directly to a test centre with a pre-booked appointment) while having an MOT doesn't make it legal to drive a car that is unroadworthy.
I thought everyone knew that.
I can see that its a waste of time arguing with you so I wont. Anyone that equates an engine warning light with an airbag or ABS or steering warning light is just too stupid to bother with. As a hint some warning lights fail the MOT some don't. Some are a legal requirement some aren't.
If you remove some equipment from a car it is no longer legal others it is still legal you don't appear to know the difference.
It would help to have a substantive argument in the first place.
I simply asked for evidence of your claims. As is typical of your assertions, when it comes to the crunch you're not able to back them up.
I don't have the time or desire to go searching motoring law for something that will satisfy you as I think you won't accept anything anyway.
You can believe what you like without any facts to base your beliefs on if you want.
I recently replaced a sensor on a Ford as the Airbag light came on. Corrosion had caused a pin to come away, and the sensor presumably failed its self-test.
This was using Forscan. I have no idea if there is an equivalent for Volvos.
MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.