Rover 75 Airbag light!

Stained Class

Hi All

Having trouble with this light being on.

I understand that could be an NCT fail & that the airbag system may not deploy in an accident.

I know there's a fix involving the wires under the front seats.

DONT GO THERE PEOPLE!!!!

Just had the seats out (again) today, WD40'd the connectors & the dam thing's still on.

Also, it's been on diagnostic machines, with no definative result.

My question is, is there anybody anyone here can reccomend in the south east area who specialises in this type of problem?

It would need to be someone good & someone who wouldn't charge like a wounded Rhino.

I'm starting to run out of options on this & the NCT is looming soon.

Thanks in advance for any replies folks.:)

Could be the connector(s) are actually damaged too, also might be a seat belt pre tensioner that's bringing on the light.

Owen

Also, if you took the seats out, even if you fixed the problem, it would still need to be reset on a diagnostics machine. The light just won't go out.

Stained Class

RoverJames wrote: »

Could be the connector(s) are actually damaged too, also might be a seat belt pre tensioner that's bringing on the light.

Yeah, one diagnostic machine I got it hooked to suggested that might be the case. The connectors seemed in good condition, with no corrision inside.

Owen wrote: »

Also, if you took the seats out, even if you fixed the problem, it would still need to be reset on a diagnostics machine. The light just won't go out.

I've got blurred vision from looking at internet forums on this subject.:D
It seems that the light on these cars will reset itself once the problem is fixed.



What I'm looking for really is a specialist in these systems who can diagnose this problem & fix it cheaply.:)

Ken.

I've got the same problem with a stilo and on any of their forums it says in big capitals. DO NOT PUT WD-40 OR ANY OTHER OIL ON THE CONNECTORS. It advises taking apart the connectors and blowing them out with compressed and giving the ends a rub of light sandpaper or an emery board.

Stained Class

lucyfur09 wrote: »

I've got the same problem with a stilo and on any of their forums it says in big capitals. DO NOT PUT WD-40 OR ANY OTHER OIL ON THE CONNECTORS. It advises taking apart the connectors and blowing them out with compressed and giving the ends a rub of light sandpaper or an emery board.

Apparently, technical bulletins issued to Rover dealers advised 'Pulling apart the connecters 3 times & giving them a spray of WD40'.

I've also heard that a 'T4' diagnostic machine is the correct one to pinpoint faults in this system.

Anybody got one of these?

Owen

Nothing wrong with WD40, it's not an oil. It's a fluid for dispersing water which has lubrication and penetration properties (Ooer Matron). The Airbag module has a resistance of 4 ohms. Might be no harm to get a 4 ohm resistor and put that onto the connector, then measure the working seat's tensioner's resistance value and substitute a resistor for that on the faulty side too. Least then you'll be closer to diagnosing what's actually wrong.

The T4's a testbook if memory serves. Very few in Ireland, but anyone with a Launch X431 upgraded to the Master software will be able to diagnose it correctly too.

Stained Class

Owen wrote: »

Nothing wrong with WD40, it's not an oil. It's a fluid for dispersing water which has lubrication and penetration properties (Ooer Matron). The Airbag module has a resistance of 4 ohms. Might be no harm to get a 4 ohm resistor and put that onto the connector, then measure the working seat's tensioner's resistance value and substitute a resistor for that on the faulty side too. Least then you'll be closer to diagnosing what's actually wrong.

The T4's a testbook if memory serves. Very few in Ireland, but anyone with a Launch X431 upgraded to the Master software will be able to diagnose it correctly too.

That's brilliant Owen!

I'm fairly handy with the spanners, but am a bit nervous about messing about the system with soldering irons & suchlike.

What precautions should I take before 'going in'?

kermitpwee

Stained Class wrote: »

What precautions should I take before 'going in'?

Protection, Protection, Protection:D:D:D
Sorry mate!

Stained Class

kermitpwee wrote: »

Protection, Protection, Protection:D:D:D
Sorry mate!

Heh heh, well I didn't want to go in 'bald headed'!;)

Seriously though, I'm just looking for someone with the correct diagnostic equipment to locate the problem.

I'll be able to source parts & fix it myself after that, if need be.

Anyone?

I can't see any decent mechanic or auto spark struggling to diagnose this issue really.

Stained Class

RoverJames wrote: »

I can't see any decent mechanic or auto spark struggling to diagnose this issue really.

Been to a few of the local guys already.

Also been to Youngs in Kilkenny, the nearest ex-Rover dealers to me.

No joy.

I need someone who's a bit of a 'whizzkid' on these issues.

At this stage, I'm willing to travel anywhere in Leinster to get this done.

Damm thing's really beginning to bug me at this stage.

McP2011

If it hasn't had a crash sensor damaged then its more than likely a 5 minute job with a piece of wire.

Stained Class

McP2011 wrote: »

If it hasn't had a crash sensor damaged then its more than likely a 5 minute job with a piece of wire.

Really. How?

mickdw

I can say for certain that the airbag light resets itself (on 05 model at least) when underseat connectors are tidied up.

Wexfordian

Stained Class wrote: »

Been to a few of the local guys already.

Also been to Youngs in Kilkenny, the nearest ex-Rover dealers to me.

No joy.

I need someone who's a bit of a 'whizzkid' on these issues.

At this stage, I'm willing to travel anywhere in Leinster to get this done.

Damm thing's really beginning to bug me at this stage.

You could try PJ O'Shea (Dominic Place Gracedieu Road Waterford). He is particularly good with electrics and the ilk (and in our case solving an issue that had baffled every other mechanic for about two years). 051 372525 Course haven't used a mechanic in Waterford for 10 years or more, so no idea if he is still going!

McP2011

Stained Class wrote: »

Really. How?

Pm'd.

mcwhirter

Stained Class wrote: »

Been to a few of the local guys already.

Also been to Youngs in Kilkenny, the nearest ex-Rover dealers to me.

No joy.

I need someone who's a bit of a 'whizzkid' on these issues.

At this stage, I'm willing to travel anywhere in Leinster to get this done.

Damm thing's really beginning to bug me at this stage.

Ryans garage in blanchardstown, a rover/mg garage. these will sort it for you.

Stained Class

Okay quick update.

Friday; Had the seats out for the third time. I snipped out the connectors going to the pretensioners & replaced them with Block connectors.
No luck.

Saturday; At a local garage where it defeated yet another Diagnostic Rig. The sixth one to date!
Also,I had a root under the dash on the driver's side to see if there was any obvious damage to the loom.
No luck.

Sunday; This morning, a very hungover me got in at the fuseboard under the glovebox. I pulled out the airbag fuse & checked it with the meter. It was okay.
To be sure I scraped the connections with a screwdriver & then popped it in.
Guess what?




Light still on! AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!:mad:

I'm beginning to think that the ECU for the system is gone at this stage.

Any thoughts?

unkel

Stained Class wrote: »

At a local garage where it defeated yet another Diagnostic Rig. The sixth one to date!

Stained Class wrote: »

Any thoughts?

I don't wanna sound like a dick, but have you considered bringing it to a place where they can do proper diagnostics? Where are you based?

And as Owen said, the light will NOT go out by itself, even if the issue is fixed...

I had the same problem and it was sorted by a main Rover dealer in half an hour for €78, including VAT

Stained Class

unkel wrote: »

I don't wanna sound like a dick, but have you considered bringing it to a place where they can do proper diagnostics? Where are you based?

And as Owen said, the light will NOT go out by itself, even if the issue is fixed...

I had the same problem and it was sorted by a main Rover dealer in half an hour for €78, including VAT

What's happening is that diagnostics are not reading the system in order to find error codes.
Most mechanics in this scenario seem to give up at this stage, I find.

I'm based in Carlow & would be willing to travel anywhere in Leinster, at this stage for the right place.

Also, we've been to the nearest ex-Rover dealer (in Kilkenny). Initially confident they'd sort the situation, they wound up as stumped as the rest by it.

I know I could be wrong, but I'm almost 100% sure that the light resets itself in these cars once the fault is cured.

Stained Class

Stained Class wrote: »

............

I know I could be wrong, but I'm almost 100% sure that the light resets itself in these cars once the fault is cured.

It goes off if it's just the connector block has broken contact, dunno about if there is an actual fault, I'd be thinking not though.

Stained Class

RoverJames wrote: »

It goes off if it's just the connector block has broken contact, dunno about if there is an actual fault, I'd be thinking not though.

You could be right there alright.

I might have a look at the rotary coupling in the steering wheel next & then investigate the pretensioners themselves.

I guess it's a process of elimination at this stage.

Also, I'd like to point out that I always disconnect the battery for a good 10-20 minutes before operating on the Airbag system.

Just in case others read this & try fixes of their own.

Stained Class

Quick update!

Was referred to an outfit in Co Wexford by one of my local mechanics.

Ryans of Ballywilliam.

I went down there this morning to see what could be done.

The place looked very professional & the staff friendly.

Again, their code readers couldn't read the system either, so they investigated further.

Apparently the ECU for the system is kaput.

Unfortunately, I couldn't locate one on a scrapyard trawl this evening.

It seems that most of them are shut after lunch, these days.

Looks like the search will have to begin on Monday.

Unless....anybody out there has one out there somehere,(part no YWC 107090).?

Stained Class

Update alert!

During the week, I managed to get an airbag Module out of a scrap 75.

The airbags had been deployed, but it was the right part no & was free!

Needless to say, I took it, as I couldn't get my hands on another soon enough for Friday's NCT retest.

After much phoning round, I managed to locate a specialist in airbag systems.

This morning, I hotfooted up to Blanchardstown to meet him.

He quickly confirmed that my original ECU was indeed fooked.

Luckily, the spare one I brought was fixable.

He cleared the crash codes & installed it in my car.

Guess what?



Its fixed!!!!!! \0/



Thank Christ! Retest is tomorrow & I'm hoping for the best.

Thanks to all who offered their advice on this thread.:)

unkel

Glad you got it sorted

Stained Class

unkel wrote: »

Glad you got it sorted

Thanks Unkel.

The car passed it's re-test today with no problems.:)

mickdw

Could ya pm the name of the guy who sorted it please. Could be useful sometime

Stained Class

mickdw wrote: »

Could ya pm the name of the guy who sorted it please. Could be useful sometime

PM sent.