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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: jamie16v on 15 December 2011, 12:25

Title: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: jamie16v on 15 December 2011, 12:25
nice little guide here (i think its from R32oc) for removing OEM steering wheels and seats and avoiding airbag lights.  :smiley:
http://www.users.on.net/~quozl/PDF/Airbag%20Resistor%20Guide.pdf
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: Horney on 15 December 2011, 12:26
Although it'll still fail the MOT for not actually having one fitted.

Nick
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: jamie16v on 15 December 2011, 12:32
so if you fit an aftermarket bucket seat or steering wheel then youre f**ked?.
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: Horney on 15 December 2011, 12:47
Yes.

Quote
Method of Inspection
Reason for Rejection
1.
As far as practicable, check that all airbags fitted as original equipment are present and not obviously defective.

Reason for Rejection
An airbag obviously missing or defective.
Note: A passenger airbag that has been switched off is not a Reason for Rejection.
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: jamie16v on 15 December 2011, 12:56
when did this come about?.
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: Horney on 15 December 2011, 12:58
Starts 1st of Jan 2012.

NIck
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: jamie16v on 15 December 2011, 13:01
does it no apply to cars manufactured post a certain date or does it apply to all?..
so all the cars that have bucket seats and momo steering wheels ect are screwed...
sh!t, and i have just stripped out my interior, fitted bucket seats, and bought a boss and OMP steering wheel..
that f`ing sucks! big time!
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: Horney on 15 December 2011, 13:15
It's a bit of a grey area as it does state in the manual that cars modified for a specific purpose are exempt. So if it's essentially a track or race car it should be OK.

Nick
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: richw911 on 15 December 2011, 13:23
Do you have a link Nick? Yeah thats the reason i got rid of my OEM Xenons.  :smiley:
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: harlemex on 15 December 2011, 13:24
So if I say my car is for the track, they will pass my non airbag wheel?
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: jamie16v on 15 December 2011, 13:27
It's a bit of a grey area as it does state in the manual that cars modified for a specific purpose are exempt. So if it's essentially a track or race car it should be OK.

Nick
oh, right,ive been serching the vosa site, not finding much at the moment though  :undecided:
Do you have a link Nick?
+1
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: Horney on 15 December 2011, 13:32
Here's the 2012 testers manual in full: http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/MOT%20Inspection%20Manual.pdf

5.4 page 1 is about airbags etc and actually it seems there is no exemption. Best bet is to call your regular MOT centre and have a chat with a tester.

Nick
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: richw911 on 15 December 2011, 13:36
Here's the 2012 testers manual in full: http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/MOT%20Inspection%20Manual.pdf

5.4 page 1 is about airbags etc and actually it seems there is no exemption. Best bet is to call your regular MOT centre and have a chat with a tester.

Nick

Thanks bud  :cool:
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: jamie16v on 15 December 2011, 15:06
1.
As far as practicable, check that all airbags fitted as original equipment are present and not obviously defective :wink:

goes for the seats, perhaps not the steering wheel? :tongue:


Reason for Rejection
An airbag obviously missing or defective.
Note: A passenger airbag that has been switched off is not a Reason for Rejection

i dont think it is "obvious" that the seats had airbags from factory..
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: jamie16v on 15 December 2011, 16:35
the only thing i can think of doing to keep my seats legally is to mount the airbags (properly) (weld brackets ect) onto the B pillar as for the steering wheel then it`s no option but to retain the standard wheel  :sad:
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: jamie16v on 16 December 2011, 15:55
i`m sorry to bring this post up again, but i have been dredging google for the past two days..
from what i have read, some of the rules they cannot implement without certain equipment. that said it would be easy for them to test for the airbags ect.
just curious, but when did it become compulsory for a car to have a drivers airbag in the uk?. i think they shouldnt be able to imlement this rule for cars registered before this rule was brought out ect, that would make more sense as it would obviously cost cars already altered a small fortune to put right.. (perhaps thats their plan)
like seat belts for example, cars registered pre (not sure the date, 1985?) didnt require rear seatbelts so werent tested..
cars pre 1993 arent tested  for catalytic converters ect ect.  :tongue:
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: Dave_IOW on 16 December 2011, 18:01
I would have thought that if you took the seats out, with airbags in, then they wouldnt actually fail it as the seats in your car (sparco etc) dont have airbags in the first place.

Hard for me to describe what i mean but, i would define 'missing' as an OE steering wheel, without the airbag inside it, not a different steering wheel that didnt ever mean to have them in there in the first place, not having the standard one in there.

I would have thought it sort of means;

If it has gone off, must be replaced and ready to fire again.

If someone has changed to a R32 steering wheel for example (which has space for airbag) you couldnt have an empty space behind where it should be?

And call Me/friendly MOT testers taking £20's idiots/fools/irresponsible but regardless of the law, its always going to happen, and now, probably even more..
Title: Re: aftermarket seats and steering wheels w/o airbags
Post by: jamie16v on 16 December 2011, 18:16
i just popped down to my local mot/performance centre, the guy there said that nothing has popped onto his desk as of yet about "actual changes" and suggests that the changes may only apply to cars registered `post` to when the rule is introduced.
he suggested that i go ahead and fit my steeering wheel and keep my seats and to make sure that no malfunction indication lights are illuminated...
all i say is, i will be taking my car to him when the time comes..  :smiley: