Airbag light on - no fault code

[madsb]

Airbags.
Car is currently with the mechanic (don't want to fiddle with airbags myself) as there is a problem with the airbag. Initially there was an error code with the airbag :

00588 - Airbag Igniter: Driver Side (N95)
            32-00 - Resistance too High

The mechanic first changed the clockring or whatever it's called. Then he had the whole steering wheel and airbag replaced. He says it doesn't show any error on obd but the airbag light is still on. Wtf?
Any ideas appreciated!

Cheers, Mads

[gasketface]

I had same issue on my car when i got it.Turned out to be the module in front of your centre console.A bit awkward to get to though !.

[vwwvgolf]

has the code been cleared?

[andy_k]

I had exactly the same issue, no amount of resetting resolved it - a friend suggested replacing that module behind the dash. I opted for not worrying whether or not a 17 year old airbag would actually deploy if it was needed and used a little creative electronics to make the warning light do what it's supposed to do

[itavaltalainen]

I had exactly the same issue, no amount of resetting resolved it - a friend suggested replacing that module behind the dash. I opted for not worrying whether or not a 17 year old airbag would actually deploy if it was needed and used a little creative electronics to make the warning light do what it's supposed to do

yes it would - even the manufacturers say so (and they would not want to guarantee if they weren't sure). if someone has accident in your car, gets hurt seriously or killed that could have been prevented by airbag that is still fitted and made to look like it's working* and they can trace your clever mod to you then you won't ever enjoy any of the money you'll earn for the rest of your life.... not worth the risk of the few quid a repair costs

* slightly different if it's a complete removal and recorded as a mod

[andy_k]

yes it would - even the manufacturers say so (and they would not want to guarantee if they weren't sure). if someone has accident in your car, gets hurt seriously or killed that could have been prevented by airbag that is still fitted and made to look like it's working* and they can trace your clever mod to you then you won't ever enjoy any of the money you'll earn for the rest of your life.... not worth the risk of the few quid a repair costs

* slightly different if it's a complete removal and recorded as a mod

errm, my car doesn't have a passenger airbag

[itavaltalainen]

what do you wanna say with that your car doesn't have a passenger airbag? 

so what? I was not talking about that necessarily. other people can and will drive your car (MOT tester, garage, wife...., the person you sell it to who thinks airbag is working)

[andy_k]

Oh I do love a good old sanctimonious rant from someone who has decided to make up the facts for themselves

Have you considered that I might just have listed on my policy that 'the airbag/srs system has been either removed, modified or disabled? Nope, I didn't think you had you were far too busy jumping to (the wrong) conclusions

Just for the record, according to my insurance company it's not illegal to disable or modify the system but it may lead to an MoT failure - as it's just passed it's MoT yesterday, that last bit doesn't apply.

Now, onto the bit about fitting aftermarket wheels. Depending on the tester, you can get a fail for that because the wording of the test is that if the airbag is obviously missing or defective, then it's a fail.

http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s05000401.htm

Adding a resistor to 'fool' the system into thinking it still has an airbag is absolutely no different to bypassing the system in my opinion. Having an airbag fitted is not compulsory but if it's fitted (and that includes the full wiring loom/sensors etc) it has to work or at least appear to work.

[itavaltalainen]

You have not mentioned before that you have declared mods and that it is immediately apparent to any driver/passenger that the airbag has been decommissioned (I have mentioned before that if removal apparent and declared to insurance it's a different situation, i.e. legal).

The only reason it's legal on a mk3 to remove airbag is because it was sold without it as well (i.e. there is a type approval for it without airbags). On the other side if the airbag is still fitted I don't think this would be considered fully decommissioned.

Newer cars with EC type approval that were never built without airbags you would not get away with this, as this would void the EC approval (airbags are a requirement for type approval since 2005).

So how have I made up facts for myself