SRS light stops on

Oct 09, 2003 38 Replies

my SRS (airbag) warning light stops on (should go out after ignition) - on



620i

took it for service today and rover dealer reakons it's £650 for new passenger bag + fitting



does that sound right?



i asked him whether airbags usually "wear out" - he said no, i'm just unlucky - ferkin right i am



just read an article about a guy with an 8 year old merc same problem and merc fixed it for free - damned right too


I have read that airbags should be changed every ten years ! I'm not sure how many people stick to this or what the consequences are of ignoring that advice.

As many cars only have a driver's airbag fitted, it would presumably be an option for you, if you were prepared to take the risk, simply to have the passenger bag removed altogether ?

Andy

That's correct - it even says so in your manual :)

No such luxury with my second-hand model., but you're right, it's in the workshop manual.

At £650 though, I wonder just how many people would ever do it without some warning ?

Andy

£650 was just for the part - i figure at least another £200 to fit - i cant see anyone replacing those ever - my cars only 6 years old too :o( - it's not like i've worn it out

If the Airbag system is similar to that fitted to the mark 3 200 (bubble), then the most likely cause of the light not going out is a duff connection to a sensor in the drivers seat. A 10p ink rubber migh sort that out.

Refer to the workshop manual, as you will need to disconnect the battery.

Liam

i've been trying to disconnect it - in fact i have - was a struggle - and the light stopped on, so i disconnected the drivers airbag too & the light is still on - might have to take the dash out and just pull the bulb

i've heard since they can go off if you dont disconnect from battery (which i didn't)

message

Probably 0% of people. Doesn't really matter though - the worst-case scenario is that the airbag simply doesn't work. Only an issue if you crash !

cept Rover got me over a barrel - wont pass an MOT until i fix it - p.s. 10 year airbag service say "some parts may need replacing" - not the whole damn bag & dashboard - grrrrrrrrr

what's really pissing me off - whatevers wrong with the bag [now], was wrong when it was fitted - it's not like i worn it out - i've never used it even - dunno how to bypass a passenger airbag do you ? i found the harness and disconnected it, but the bloody light still stops on

Have you tried asking in uk.rec.cars.maintenance ?

They may have more advice, and I suspect some warnings about working on airbags !

i'll give it a whirl thanx

My P reg 214 had the same problem. Turns out it was casued by the pin connector leading to something under the passenger front seat coming ever so slightly loose. A two pin yellow connector. It should be clicked up underneath - sort of on the frame of the seat.

Mine had come away, and some back seat junk had dislodged it.

Hope that helps.

thanx - i'll have a look see if mines the same

Not anymore, from next year, it's going to be part of the MOT... another weapon in the govts fight to ensure only newer cars are kept on the road... and only those that can afford to buy them can drive.. thus reducing congestion.... it's a conspiricy I tell you. :o)

H

Erm, you are being scammed then as the Airbag warning light is not a part of the MoT test...

The light will most likely just need resetting, it's a simple procedure done by your Rover dealer. Usually costs about £25 (You can even do it at home if you have the right know how/bits).

My SRS light is also on at the moment, the most common cause is running the battery down completely (note that this is different from simply disconnecting the battery, which will *not* cause the light to come on). This was done to my car 3 years ago when the alternator died, I had the light reset by my Rover dealer. The replacement alternator then died last christmas, causing it again (just left it this time as I couldn't be bothered to do anything about it and it doesn't affect anything, not even MoTs).

Hmm, a quick google brings back 3rd party links that seem to suggest it

*is* a failure point, but it's not listed as a failure point on the official MoT site :/

Maybe I was just lucky, but mine went straight through its MoT 3 months ago with the SRS warning light on.

message

Of course it will - you don't need an Airbag to pass an MOT !

Excellent - it's about time car-safety was made mandatory !

Sounds like a great plan to me.

Nonsense. Car safety, insofar as it affects the occupants, should be entirely at the discretion of the occupants. In any case, a car with a non-functioning airbag is no more dangerous than a car without an airbag fitted. Why, then, should the owner be penalised with respect to the owner of a non-airbag car?

Sounds like the next step in a dangerous campaign designed to proscibe personal choice :-P Also sounds like a corporate-sponsored plan to get all drivers onto the high-depreciation new-car ownership cycle and thus get thier sticky mitts on more of our money. /paranoia mode off/

Andy

Got to agree with Andy on this one. There is no logical reason that airbags should be introduced into the MoT test - it's about roadworthiness, not testing a car's specification.

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required