Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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airbag light came on a while back and i've just checked when my MOT is due and it's Monday!
Now i'm pretty sure if the airbag light is illuminated then it's an MOT failure, but what if I remove the bulb?
I plan on getting it sorted when it's next in for a service in a couple of months, but I also need to use the car.
Should've got it sorted ages ago but I didn't realise my MOT was due so soon  
The light randomly illuminating is a common problem on Z4's and no one seems to be sure why.
[Edited on 17-01-2015 by Ben G]
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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Has to come on with the ignition and go off afterwards, like the abs light.
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Dee25790
Member
Registered: 3rd Jun 14
User status: Offline
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Take the bulb out pretty sure they won't notice. If they do check n you're worried you will get in trouble pull the bulb out and make it blow then put it back haha
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Dee25790
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Registered: 3rd Jun 14
User status: Offline
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Ah right didn't know it had to show up with the ignition
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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I can turn it off for you Ben however you live miles away
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Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Robin
Has to come on with the ignition and go off afterwards, like the abs light.
Thats what i thought, but a bit of googling says otherwise.
I'm confused!
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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It's also likely to be the wiring under your seat or the passenger occupancy mat.
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Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Jambo
I can turn it off for you Ben however you live miles away
cheers Jambo, bit of a trek!
I have emailed someone who lives close to my parents, hoping he can sort it. If not, i'm buggered 
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Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Jambo
It's also likely to be the wiring under your seat or the passenger occupancy mat.
Thats most likely the main culprit. Occupancy mat seems to work fine as it beeps when I put my workbag on the seat without the belt clipped in.
Wiring may have got wet when I had that problem with my door.
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Jason x
Premium Member
Registered: 19th Apr 13
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On this topic - what if your car used to have an airbag but now doesn't (boss wheel) does the light still have to come on even though there's no airbag anymore or can you just take bulb out in that case?
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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It's common on E46's too, which I assume the Z4 shares a lot of parts with.
Most likely the connection under the seat then, as well as turning it off I can also tell you what it is
But yeah, Essexxxxxx
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Corsa_Sport21
Member
Registered: 13th Apr 08
Location: Leven, Fife. Drives : 205 GTi
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If there's a fault, then surely just turning it off won't be enough as it will just come back on?
Do the generic obd2 readers not work on these? They seem to have came on leaps and bounds these days and work on quite a lot of cars.
Couple of mates have the circa £10 jobbies from eBay. Different models but works on his 06 Leon FR and other mates has worked on every car he's tried except his XC90.
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Haimsey
Premium Member
Registered: 8th May 05
Location: Nottingham Drives: Corsa B
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Jason x
On this topic - what if your car used to have an airbag but now doesn't (boss wheel) does the light still have to come on even though there's no airbag anymore or can you just take bulb out in that case?
I took the bulb out.
Marcy Marc 
White Sport Progress Thread
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Dave_1987
Premium Member
Registered: 27th Dec 11
Location: Cumbria
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Im an MOT tester and If you take the bulb out its only an advisory. If it comes on and stays on its a fail because it indicates a fault. If it was the ABS light its different it has to come on and go off. The airbag rules are going to change in the future so that the light has to come on and go off.
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Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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Cheers for that Dave! Is that an across the board thing or is it at the disrection of the tester?
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Steve
Premium Member
Registered: 30th Mar 02
Location: Worcestershire Drives: Defender
User status: Offline
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Chances it's a surface mount led and not a bulb. Will require desoldering
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Dave_1987
Premium Member
Registered: 27th Dec 11
Location: Cumbria
User status: Offline
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They are the official rules but alot of people dont check or as you say its upto the discretion of the tester. So some will turn a blind eye if thats the only issue. It was mentioned above about the airbag being removed. If your car has had airbags and for example it has had an aftermarket steering wheel fitted thats a fail because the airbag has been removed where. Its part of the test to check for the presence of airbags. All the MOT rules contradict themselves. There was a special notice around a year ago saying about the removals of full sytems when they have been removed for a reason (rally cars, limos etc) so if you had a Corsa b and removed all the airbags, wires, crash sensors etc it would pass.
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Brett
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Dec 02
Location: Manchester
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quote:
Originally posted by Steve
Chances it's a surface mount led and not a bulb. Will require desoldering
Or a piece of blue tac over it 
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Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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What if I put some black tape over the light? Are they able to remove the tape?
I know i'm clutching at straws here, but it's because I have so little time left. My own fault of course.
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Dave_1987
Premium Member
Registered: 27th Dec 11
Location: Cumbria
User status: Offline
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I have had ii done to me and spotted it but I have seen people miss it. If you can take the plastic lense off your dials and put it over the actual dial face its hard to see. Most people if they dont see a bright light will miss it. Unless they can see its on they cant fail it.
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Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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Seems like a load of hard work think i'll try and get in touch with this guy who has the software to hopefully sort it
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Dave_1987
Premium Member
Registered: 27th Dec 11
Location: Cumbria
User status: Offline
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Haha thats the thing by the time you messed around trying to get around the fault it would be easier to fix it depending on what it is. I hope its a cheap fix for you mate.
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Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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Cheers Dave, thanks for the quick response 
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Dave_1987
Premium Member
Registered: 27th Dec 11
Location: Cumbria
User status: Offline
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No probs mate.
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GB123
Premium Member
Registered: 21st Nov 11
Location: Kent
User status: Offline
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Happened on my E46, was the wiring/sensor under the passenger seat for me.
You'll also still need to turn the light off/clear the fault after it's been fixed, I bought the cable and diagnostic program off of eBay when I did mine.
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