seatbelt pretensioners

1. user_65984 L-plater Joined: Nov 2013 blackburn Posts: 73 Saxo vtr 1.6

   #1 26th November 2013, 14:26

   hi guys, had a look but can't seem to find a definite answer on this and as i have my MOT coming up next week i really need to get it sorted.
   
   is it dangerous to mess about with the pretensioner wiring while the car is running so i can see if my airbag light will go out, or do i need to remove the battery every time mess with the wiring then hook it back up? i really don't want to set my airbags off cause it's just more expense.
   
   For example if i unplugged the clips or reconnected them while its running would it set the airbags off, i don't know how these work properly, like if it sends a charge to the unit to explode it or whatever.
   
   realistically i want to know the car is safe and i want it to be done properly instead of bodging it as they have a bad crash rating as it is, it's not like i drive stupidly i just want to know it's safe.
   
   As a final resort I'm going to wire the airbag light into the oil light and try and fix it afterwards, any help would be good!
2. Hazmanscoop Established Member Joined: Oct 2008 Witney Posts: 2481 Black VTS

   #2 26th November 2013, 14:30

   Safety and common sense would dictate that you follow the safety precautions when dealing with airbag circuits.
   
   I would always advise disconnecting the battery then leaving it for a bit. Once you return, just flick the headlights on to totally drain the circuit.
   
   If the lights on theres no doubt they are knackered and need replacing.
3. user_65984 L-plater Joined: Nov 2013 blackburn Posts: 73 Saxo vtr 1.6

   #3 26th November 2013, 14:38

   Yea i figured that i was just wondering how other people addressed this issue, i read that its most likely to be the wiring from moving the seats back and forth etc, as apposed to the pretensioner itself i just couldn't find out if the battery was always disconnected, ill just take the power off and re crimp the wires and try it again thanks for the help!
4. Hazmanscoop Established Member Joined: Oct 2008 Witney Posts: 2481 Black VTS

   #4 26th November 2013, 14:49

   Well you can try that mate, just make sure you power it off!

   1 user thanked this post: user_65984
5. Morgiee Established Member Joined: Dec 2008 Middlesbrough Posts: 2267 Past: Citroen Saxo Forte W reg posi blue Now: H

   #5 3rd December 2013, 19:33

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by just_w00t As a final resort I'm going to wire the airbag light into the oil light and try and fix it afterwards, any help would be good!

   To do this you will need to cut the circuit trace to the air bag light and solder a jumper to the oil light. The airbag light has to go out after 5 seconds of ignition been on so unless the oil light does the same then this wont work.
6. rick_VTR Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2011 Abermule, Mid Wales. Posts: 2763 Corsa Rally Car & Fiesta ST

   #6 3rd December 2013, 19:52

   check if the pretensioner has been set off first before you go cutting and joining wires etc. might simply just need a new pre tensioner, I fitted one today on girlfriends car one 17mm bolts takes a minute to change. pick them up for about £5 from scrappies (got mine for free)
7. f13sta Established Member Joined: Sep 2010 loughborough Posts: 2229 1988 ford fiesta mk2 1.4- 2001 black saxo furio (d

   #7 3rd December 2013, 22:36

   Normally just wiggle and squeeze the plug back together again.
   Normally sorts it.
8. user_61517 Frequent Poster Joined: Sep 2012 canterbury Posts: 586 3/4 vtr turbo

   #8 3rd December 2013, 22:40

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Morgiee The airbag light has to go out after 5 seconds of ignition

   Not for an Mot it doesnt.
   its simply if the light is on, it fails.
9. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #9 4th December 2013, 16:39

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by vtr91 Not for an Mot it doesnt. its simply if the light is on, it fails.

   Pardon my ignorance but the airbag light always comes on does a circuit self check & if all is well goes off again.
10. Morgiee Established Member Joined: Dec 2008 Middlesbrough Posts: 2267 Past: Citroen Saxo Forte W reg posi blue Now: H

    #10 4th December 2013, 20:47

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by stevo67 Pardon my ignorance but the airbag light always comes on does a circuit self check & if all is well goes off again.

    Correct along with the oil light is the airbag light didnt come on for those 5 seconds then it would fail on the basis the you have took it out to hide your tracks or it is faults and would fail the MOT
11. user_61517 Frequent Poster Joined: Sep 2012 canterbury Posts: 586 3/4 vtr turbo

    #11 4th December 2013, 22:33

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Morgiee Correct along with the oil light is the airbag light didnt come on for those 5 seconds then it would fail on the basis the you have took it out to hide your tracks or it is faults and would fail the MOT

    stevo, you are right, it does come on with all ancilliary lights.
    But for Mot requirements, there IS NOT a sequence for an airbag light to come on and extinguish after 5 seconds like an ABS light.
    
    People get so confused and read into too much. The ABS light is the only light that has to come on and go out.
    
    Simply for an Mot, if the airbag light is illuminated indicating a fault, its a fail.
    And to pass it, its acceptable to remove the bulb. Wether or not it changes in the future is a different matter, No special notices have come through on the VTS device, only one this week regarding the rear brake imbalance.
12. jockyb Infrequent Poster Joined: Sep 2013 Derby Posts: 150 Wicked Red Citroen Saxo 1.6 VTR 2003

    #12 5th December 2013, 00:10

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Morgiee Correct along with the oil light is the airbag light didnt come on for those 5 seconds then it would fail on the basis the you have took it out to hide your tracks or it is faults and would fail the MOT

    Ahh, but,,, if you just turn the ignition on (without starting the engine) the airbag light should go out after about 5 seconds, but the oil light will remain lit until you actually start the engine. (assuming there's some oil in there)
13. Morgiee Established Member Joined: Dec 2008 Middlesbrough Posts: 2267 Past: Citroen Saxo Forte W reg posi blue Now: H

    #13 6th December 2013, 22:11

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jockyb Ahh, but,,, if you just turn the ignition on (without starting the engine) the airbag light should go out after about 5 seconds, but the oil light will remain lit until you actually start the engine. (assuming there's some oil in there)

    Good point well made Jimbo
14. user_65984 L-plater Joined: Nov 2013 blackburn Posts: 73 Saxo vtr 1.6

    #14 7th December 2013, 10:02

    Ah thanks for the replies but I got frustrated changed belt tensioners and airbag tried fuses and everything, ended up wiring the airbag light into my oil light but had to find the right place on my dash circuit board cause you can't just simply wire the two lights together it doesn't work that way, will upload a vid later thanks peeps
    
    
    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
15. user_65984 L-plater Joined: Nov 2013 blackburn Posts: 73 Saxo vtr 1.6

    #15 7th December 2013, 10:05

    Oh yea does it matter on the colour ? Changed my dash lights aswell to blue but I used a blue one for my airbag light by accident haha
    
    
    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
16. user_65984 L-plater Joined: Nov 2013 blackburn Posts: 73 Saxo vtr 1.6

    #16 7th December 2013, 11:50

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jockyb Ahh, but,,, if you just turn the ignition on (without starting the engine) the airbag light should go out after about 5 seconds, but the oil light will remain lit until you actually start the engine. (assuming there's some oil in there)

    
    
    damn just read over this ! :/ hopefully it will pass we will see
17. user_65984 L-plater Joined: Nov 2013 blackburn Posts: 73 Saxo vtr 1.6

    #17 7th December 2013, 14:27

    just a vid of how it looks now, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V63M-KJrWmo
18. Morgiee Established Member Joined: Dec 2008 Middlesbrough Posts: 2267 Past: Citroen Saxo Forte W reg posi blue Now: H

    #18 9th December 2013, 14:08

    vtr91 is right the fact the airbag light comes on at the beginning means instant fail. The airbag light is not to come on at all. My car is in on MOT right now with airbag light on. Just unsolder the smd led light off the board and re solder it on after. Making sure you get the polarity the correct way around.
19. user_61517 Frequent Poster Joined: Sep 2012 canterbury Posts: 586 3/4 vtr turbo

    #19 9th December 2013, 18:18

    everyone thinks its the same as an ABS light where it has to come on then go out.
    
    Its not. Simply if the light is on its a failure.
    if the light doesnt come on or even light up, its a pass. No hidden bits here, On=fail, Off=pass
20. user_65984 L-plater Joined: Nov 2013 blackburn Posts: 73 Saxo vtr 1.6

    #20 14th December 2013, 11:43

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by vtr91 everyone thinks its the same as an ABS light where it has to come on then go out. Its not. Simply if the light is on its a failure. if the light doesnt come on or even light up, its a pass. No hidden bits here, On=fail, Off=pass

    just for anyone that reads over this , i soldered one pin of the led into the original airbag circuit and jumped the other led pin onto part of the circuit where the oilbag light goes so it comes on with ignition and goes off after started, i'm aware the proper standards is for the light to go out after about 6 seconds just on ignition but mine passed an mot like this.
    
    i did question the mot guy and asked him what would happen if the light was off and airbags were present and he said it would be a pass as the light being on indicates a fault, light off means he can't tell and they aren't allowed to plug it in to check for fault codes so it would pass ! 1up on vtr91's post