Important! : Airbag light issue

1. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

   #1 27th June 2012, 22:14

   Hi guys
   Basically my airbag light acts like it should through start up but after 30 seconds it reilluminates
   I gave an OMP Corsica wheel fitted with a resistor plugged in the airbag plug
   I can't understand why it won't stay off once it's done it's usual rigmarole!
   
   Please help!
   
   Thanks
2. DanTvts Established Member Joined: Mar 2011 Torbay Posts: 1285 Mauritius Vts, 206 Gti 180

   #2 27th June 2012, 22:45

   So is the resistor plugged in up by where the horn button goes, or down behind the plastic shroud around the ignition barrel/steering column? Also could be the connectors under the seat playing up, mine used to flicker on and off occasionally till i sorted it all out one day.

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3. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

   #3 27th June 2012, 22:47

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by DanTvts So is the resistor plugged in up by where the horn button goes, or down behind the plastic shroud around the ignition barrel/steering column? Also could be the connectors under the seat playing up, mine used to flicker on and off occasionally till i sorted it all out one day.

   I've got a resistor plugged in by the horn, in the orange plug with two little slots
   I think it might be those underseat ones then because the light behaves correctly, but then the light comes back on!
4. DanTvts Established Member Joined: Mar 2011 Torbay Posts: 1285 Mauritius Vts, 206 Gti 180

   #4 27th June 2012, 22:52

   I'd say have a fiddle with the under seat wiring, if you've got some new connectors or can solder, disconnect the battery, leave for 15 mins or so, and re-do the connections .
   
   If that doesnt work remove the plastic shroud around the steering column, only a couple of torx screws, you'll see the orange wire from the airbag ring go down and connect to a plug near the column. Unplug it and put your resistor into the plug thats there instead

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5. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

   #5 27th June 2012, 23:06

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by DanTvts I'd say have a fiddle with the under seat wiring, if you've got some new connectors or can solder, disconnect the battery, leave for 15 mins or so, and re-do the connections . If that doesnt work remove the plastic shroud around the steering column, only a couple of torx screws, you'll see the orange wire from the airbag ring go down and connect to a plug near the column. Unplug it and put your resistor into the plug thats there instead

   So unplug the connectors, after taking the negative battery terminal off, cut te connectors and just reconnect them with different connectors
   Are the original connectors fused/with resistors? Or can I just use a heat shrink connector?
   
   Yeah I like the idea of taking that shroud off and unplugging it further down! Then just pushing the resistor in there instead
   
   Thanks
6. DanTvts Established Member Joined: Mar 2011 Torbay Posts: 1285 Mauritius Vts, 206 Gti 180

   #6 27th June 2012, 23:15

   Yeah just make sure you leave it for 15 mins or so before you do anything with the airbag wiring, just to be safe! The original connectors are either crappy bullet things or a plug, if you just cut them and use your heat shrink connectors that will be fine. Obviously it might not be the wires under the seat but if you re-connect them decently you can rule that out at least.

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7. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

   #7 27th June 2012, 23:20

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by DanTvts Yeah just make sure you leave it for 15 mins or so before you do anything with the airbag wiring, just to be safe! The original connectors are either crappy bullet things or a plug, if you just cut them and use your heat shrink connectors that will be fine. Obviously it might not be the wires under the seat but if you re-connect them decently you can rule that out at least.

   Sound
   I will just give them a cutting and reconnecting
   The weird thing is, the steering wheel resistor wiring was knackered when I looked
   One of the pins that goes in the plug had snapped
   So that's why I replaced that resistor component - to no avail other than the light behaving then messing up again!
8. DanTvts Established Member Joined: Mar 2011 Torbay Posts: 1285 Mauritius Vts, 206 Gti 180

   #8 28th June 2012, 09:08

   Yeah that does sound like it could be related but if you do what i mentioned earlier that should get it sorted, those are the common areas where they play up anyway. I spent ages thinking it was my wiring under my seats, then i sorted those connections and it was still doing it, so i bought the airbag ring part which sits behind the wheel and carefully fitted that, and it has been perfect since (touch wood) . So it could be either
9. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

   #9 28th June 2012, 10:16

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by DanTvts Yeah that does sound like it could be related but if you do what i mentioned earlier that should get it sorted, those are the common areas where they play up anyway. I spent ages thinking it was my wiring under my seats, then i sorted those connections and it was still doing it, so i bought the airbag ring part which sits behind the wheel and carefully fitted that, and it has been perfect since (touch wood) . So it could be either

   Yeah I guess it will be a full sweep on all the components then! Just to see which one is messing it up!
10. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #10 28th June 2012, 11:42

    As stated one of the main causes for the air bag light coming on is the contact ring on the steering wheel,because over time its resistance gets less.When you turn the ignition key to the 1st stage the airbag ecu does a self check & looks for a resistance of around 2-3ohms if its less than this the light will come on.
11. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

    #11 28th June 2012, 12:10

    I get the feeling it's that then!!
12. Goodallthedog L-plater Joined: Jun 2012 Chesterfield Posts: 84 mk2 VTR silver

    #12 28th June 2012, 12:59

    I had same problem, checked everything 10 times gave up in the end and unplugged the ecu, have to look again if it fails mot for no light. But if I remove the steering wheel with the airbag for a wheel without airbag, would that pass mot?
13. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

    #13 28th June 2012, 13:33

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Goodallthedog I had same problem, checked everything 10 times gave up in the end and unplugged the ecu, have to look again if it fails mot for no light. But if I remove the steering wheel with the airbag for a wheel without airbag, would that pass mot?

    PROBLEM SOLVED!
    I put the resistor in the wiring at the back of the plastic shroud for the steering column, and took the air bag ring out
    Fingers crossed this works
    
    And in response to this post
    To pass an MOT the light must function properly, in that it illuminates then turns off. The turn off point is 1 second after the clock is displayed
14. Goodallthedog L-plater Joined: Jun 2012 Chesterfield Posts: 84 mk2 VTR silver

    #14 28th June 2012, 21:28

    yeah but if i remove the steering wheel with airbag,replace with wheel without airbag and remove airbag ecu, would it fail then?
15. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

    #15 28th June 2012, 21:54

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Goodallthedog yeah but if i remove the steering wheel with airbag,replace with wheel without airbag and remove airbag ecu, would it fail then?

    Yeah
    Because as I found out today if you take the ecu out the light doesn't even come on to start with - still a fail
    The light must come on, then go off - when the 2nd stage of ignition is performed
    Hope it helps!
16. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #16 28th June 2012, 22:05

    I sorted mine by getting a 5 amp(blade type) fuse then put a spade connector on each side then took a scrap piece of airbag wiring loom with a plug on & wired it to the fuse.Then plugged it all in.The result is the light operates as normal,of course the airbag/s won`t deploy in the event of a crash though.
17. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

    #17 29th June 2012, 13:27

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by stevo67 I sorted mine by getting a 5 amp(blade type) fuse then put a spade connector on each side then took a scrap piece of airbag wiring loom with a plug on & wired it to the fuse.Then plugged it all in.The result is the light operates as normal,of course the airbag/s won`t deploy in the event of a crash though.

    Good shout!
    But in my case, what airbag
18. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #18 29th June 2012, 13:54

    Well the way i`ve fixed it will just result in normal light operation.

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19. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

    #19 1st July 2012, 06:50

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by stevo67 Well the way i`ve fixed it will just result in normal light operation.

    Sorted it anyway with the resistor in the plug
    Happy days
20. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

    #20 26th July 2012, 18:40

    If anyone else struggles with this
    remove the airbag ring
    then plug a 2.2 ohm resistor in the open plug that you've disconnected from the airbag ring
    wrap some duct tape over the top to keep the resistor in, job's a good 'un!

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21. user_29491 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2008 Lancs Posts: 4124 JP4S'd R.

    #21 27th July 2012, 09:50

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by dolby20 If anyone else struggles with this remove the airbag ring then plug a 2.2 ohm resistor in the open plug that you've disconnected from the airbag ring wrap some duct tape over the top to keep the resistor in, job's a good 'un!

    Just done this, and it didn't work
22. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

    #22 27th July 2012, 10:01

    Did you have the battery disconnected when you did it?
    Also make sure the resistor is definitely in, I did it once, thought it was right, reassembled and it was out too much!
    Wrap the tape up and over it, to keep the resistor secure
23. Forbes_VTR Regular Poster Joined: Jul 2012 Chesterfield Posts: 355 White mk2 vtr

    #23 27th July 2012, 10:40

    may have been mentioned before but bca to read every post, check the seat belt tench thingy under the seat, i had a long footed friend in my car onece and he managed to kick it loose,
    just a thort
24. marcusd Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2009 warrington Posts: 7551 posi blue mk2 2003 vtr

    #24 27th July 2012, 11:17

    i cut up the airbag ring wire and soldered the resistor on to this then plugged the end into under the dash doesnt fall out and bee working for months now
25. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

    #25 27th July 2012, 14:38

    Solder is also a good shout
    Resistors available most places too just need to be 2.2 ohms!
26. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #26 27th July 2012, 15:03

    Or if you`re no good with soldering use these. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-x-Tyco-...item27c9795fd6
    
    Put 1 each side bare your wires insert into the connectors loop the resistor insert into the connector.Then with a heat source melt the solder inside to make the join.
27. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

    #27 27th July 2012, 15:05

    Jobs a good 'un!
    Cheers for that stevo!
28. user_29491 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2008 Lancs Posts: 4124 JP4S'd R.

    #28 28th July 2012, 21:18

    Does it need resistors in the pre tensioners too?
29. DanTvts Established Member Joined: Mar 2011 Torbay Posts: 1285 Mauritius Vts, 206 Gti 180

    #29 28th July 2012, 21:22

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by saxova Does it need resistors in the pre tensioners too?

    If the fault lies with the pre-tensioners then yes you would use the resistors down at those connections. Personally i just replaced my pre-tensioners and the ring behind the wheel with ones i knew were okay, and it worked perfectly after that.
30. user_29491 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2008 Lancs Posts: 4124 JP4S'd R.

    #30 28th July 2012, 21:25

    I have no airbags / no pre-tensioners .
    
    Ill buy 2 more resistors then! thanks.
31. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

    #31 28th July 2012, 23:58

    Just fill any connection with a resistor

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32. JonnoC L-plater Joined: Oct 2012 Whatton, Nottinghamshire Posts: 56 Mk2 Saxo VTR

    #32 17th November 2012, 00:16

    does the plug under the steering cowl only have 2 wires coming out of it??
    thats where im going to put my resistor when i fit my aftermarket steering wheel
    
    any help would be appreciated or is there a guide to doing this somewhere?
33. Nates-VTR Established Member Joined: Sep 2011 dublin Posts: 1200 saxo 1.6 8v VTR

    #33 17th November 2012, 01:15

    i had the exact same problem, after refitting my standard steering wheel.. tried resistor, didnt work, tried to reset it by disconnecting the airbag ecu, didnt work finally went to go get it turned off last saturday and he said it was the driver side seatbelt pre tensioner that was faulty but the light has been off ever since
34. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

    #34 19th November 2012, 17:27

    Just try the right ohm resistors in any of the orange cabling