Xantia - MOT failure, air bag light

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Jaf
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Xantia - MOT failure, air bag light

Post by Jaf »

Hello. The air bag light has been occasionally coming on for a while. Sometimes after a 20min drive, sometimes after seconds. I cleaned the under seat contacts before going for the Spanish MOT this morning, only for the blasted light to come on right at the end of the test.

I’ve made new contacts under the seat with no improvement. Had a look for the air bag ecu, it’s not on the seat belt tensioner. Is it in the steering wheel?

VIN VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff].

Any other ideas? Thanks.
Fred, a silver 1998 1.9TD SX Xantia.
Gwin, a white 1994 1.1 AX.
Jaf
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Re: Xantia - MOT failure, air bag light

Post by Jaf »

Lexia session showed intermittent fault Drivers module trigger open circuit. Cleared it and then the fault became permanent. Eurgh.
Fred, a silver 1998 1.9TD SX Xantia.
Gwin, a white 1994 1.1 AX.
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Re: Xantia - MOT failure, air bag light

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I'm sure I don't need to advise you about disconnection of the battery and waiting for 10 minutes or so before touching the airbag components, but the airbag ECU is in the centre console item 5, but all connectors must be detached if you are considering (and before) removing it:
Airbag ECU Xantia.PNG
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Re: Xantia - MOT failure, air bag light

Post by Jaf »

Ahh lovely thanks (yes don’t fancy airbag going off!). Is there a rotary ring in the steering wheel?
Fred, a silver 1998 1.9TD SX Xantia.
Gwin, a white 1994 1.1 AX.
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Re: Xantia - MOT failure, air bag light

Post by GiveMeABreak »

The airbag for the driver is in the main boss (2), but there is no rotary dial on these - the remote audio controls are supplied by a separate harness, and you don't ESP, so no steering wheel angle sensor.
Airbag  Xantia.PNG
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Re: Xantia - MOT failure, air bag light

Post by xantia_v6 »

The fault is probably a failed rotary connector (clock spring) behind the steering wheel. These usually fail at high mileage, or if the steering has been aligned without maintaining the correct center position of the rack, especially if the steering wheel has been taken off and refitted to get it back to a central position.
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Re: Xantia - MOT failure, air bag light

Post by Jaf »

Thanks.

I’ve not had the steering wheel off in 13 years and the mileage’s not that high, 240,000kms. I have had the alignment done with last lot of tyres, about 70,000kms ago.

Seems that anything that can go wrong will go wrong :(

But only air bag light and 2 front tyres for MOT is great.
Fred, a silver 1998 1.9TD SX Xantia.
Gwin, a white 1994 1.1 AX.
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Re: Xantia - MOT failure, air bag light

Post by Stickyfinger »

Time/age is a big factor now as well as mileage with this type of connector and the materials they were made from 20 odd years ago.
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Re: Xantia - MOT failure, air bag light

Post by RichardW »

Unfortunately they are NFP so you either need to find a 2nd hand one (noting there are 3 designs...) Or someone with some fine ribbon cable and a steady soldering hand!!
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Re: Xantia - MOT failure, air bag light

Post by pete the bus »

Remove the air bag warning bulb in the dash...
Worked for me when needing to get it through an M O T.
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Re: Xantia - MOT failure, air bag light

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

That may not now work, as now MoT places can look up the vehicle on the DVLA systems and see what it had when it rolled out of the factory. If the airbag light does not come on (as part of the ECU tests) and they see it HAS got airbags that can be an immediate fail.
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Re: Xantia - MOT failure, air bag light

Post by Jaf »

Now that it’s failed for airbag light at the retest they will be looking for the light to come on! Having a look at it this afternoon.

if I can’t solve it I will put a timer on the wiring
Fred, a silver 1998 1.9TD SX Xantia.
Gwin, a white 1994 1.1 AX.
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Re: Xantia - MOT failure, air bag light

Post by Stickyfinger »

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-SRS-AIRB ... 1359410972

This might give you time to find the part/get it fixed. But PLEASE, make every effort you can to fix the airbag, it can save your life.
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Re: Xantia - MOT failure, air bag light

Post by RichardW »

A well placed resistor will get it through the MOT, but you need to get it fixed longer term... might be possible to cannibalise one from something else to make to work again.
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Re: Xantia - MOT failure, air bag light

Post by Jaf »

Anyone there? Can't get the wire connectors off!
The blue grey one in the pic. Plus how does the orange one come off the support?

Ta. I'm fed up off being upside down and my back hurts!
IMG_20200204_163025.jpg
Fred, a silver 1998 1.9TD SX Xantia.
Gwin, a white 1994 1.1 AX.
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