Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: alcutler on 08 August 2010, 00:26:33
-
Hi, New to the site - have looked through loads of topics trying to sort out an airbag light that wont go out - If I remove the instrument panel is there a bulb for the light I can remove? I tried everything else and it wont go out ie checking wiring connections from door panels, under the seat etc.
Thanks - :'( any help would be appreciated
-
Hi, New to the site - have looked through loads of topics trying to sort out an airbag light that wont go out - If I remove the instrument panel is there a bulb for the light I can remove? I tried everything else and it wont go out ie checking wiring connections from door panels, under the seat etc.
Thanks - :'( any help would be appreciated
Course you can remove the lamp/bulb, but obviously in the event of a sudden stop into another car or wall, you won't have an air bag to help preserve your good looks. ;) You need a code reader of some sort to diagnose what is upsetting the system. It could be something really simple. The SRS system is unique on the Omega in that even if you fix the original fault, if the light comes on for what ever reason, you need a code reader to reset the lamp.
-
Agreed. You might even have fixed it but the light will stay on until it's reset.
If you can get it to one of us who has a Tech 2 we can look at the live data and see if any of the circuits look suspect.
No airbag functionality will currently be enabled with a fault present.
Kevin
-
Hi, Thanks for the replies and appreciate what you are saying re the safety aspect - I can't believe I was silly enough to drive cars around for 40 + years without airbags fitted. Still I suppose I would have a milli second to regret not having the bag reset and rely on my seat belt saving me.
Got an OBD 2 code reader but it doesn't work on this car!
-
Would a disabled air bag system also make void your insurance cover in the event of an accident and major face (heaven forbid) injuries?? :-/ :-/
-
Probably and no doubt be in contravention of Health and Safety!
-
Its upto you - but I think it will be foolish to do it.
Unless you want to put a warning label on your pass side dash saying "Airbag Disabled" as it will also be disabled.
Why dont you just get the problem fixed?
-
three issues here.
you probably want the airbags functional.
remove the bulb & you'll no longer pass MOT
broadcasting it on here means that you must now fix it. In the event of an accident, police can and do use web forums to secure prosecution. Just picture the scene - the judge asks you "so, having established that your passenger died because the airbag wasn't working, you discussed this on the web as early as August 2010, so I put it to you that you knew the airbag wasn't working and elected not to fix it.....". Internet Service Providers have a legal obligation to provide records to police without asking - even pm's
sorry.
-
three issues here.
you probably want the airbags functional.
remove the bulb & you'll no longer pass MOT
broadcasting it on here means that you must now fix it. In the event of an accident, police can and do use web forums to secure prosecution. Just picture the scene - the judge asks you "so, having established that your passenger died because the airbag wasn't working, you discussed this on the web as early as August 2010, so I put it to you that you knew the airbag wasn't working and elected not to fix it.....". Internet Service Providers have a legal obligation to provide records to police without asking - even pm's
sorry.
Is airbag an MOT failure, adviso, or not checked?
I agree, whilst an airbag in the chops will smart a bit, its going to hurt far less than eating a steeringwheel (or glovebox).
-
Airbag light is ok for the mot - Our V40 has been like that for the last 2 mot's - (allways get's noted as an advisiory) - But the ABS will be a failure, Had a V70 a few years back that i bought to sell on, did all the work but the ABS was intermittant, the "Lad" at my local mot station said it would be fine to take the bulb out, so to buy some time (as it was a pig of a fault) i did just that - It failed & that will be £53 sir !! --- "But... But.. your lad said... "Oh no he shouldn't have told you that... £53 please"... "ok, but he did - what you gonna do ?"... suffice to say I went on to (Eventually)fix the ABS & had it mot'ed at another garage...
I was toying with the Idea of putting a delay circuit in to emulate the ABS lamp, But only for my own use - I could'nt sell a car like that (at least not without pointing out that there was no ABS)
-
three issues here.
you probably want the airbags functional.
remove the bulb & you'll no longer pass MOT
broadcasting it on here means that you must now fix it. In the event of an accident, police can and do use web forums to secure prosecution. Just picture the scene - the judge asks you "so, having established that your passenger died because the airbag wasn't working, you discussed this on the web as early as August 2010, so I put it to you that you knew the airbag wasn't working and elected not to fix it.....". Internet Service Providers have a legal obligation to provide records to police without asking - even pm's
sorry.
airbag systems are not part of the mot yet,the only light that they check is the abs warning
-
Airbag light is ok for the mot - Our V40 has been like that for the last 2 mot's - (allways get's noted as an advisiory) - But the ABS will be a failure, Had a V70 a few years back that i bought to sell on, did all the work but the ABS was intermittant, the "Lad" at my local mot station said it would be fine to take the bulb out, so to buy some time (as it was a pig of a fault) i did just that - It failed & that will be £53 sir !! --- "But... But.. your lad said... "Oh no he shouldn't have told you that... £53 please"... "ok, but he did - what you gonna do ?"... suffice to say I went on to (Eventually)fix the ABS & had it mot'ed at another garage...
I was toying with the Idea of putting a delay circuit in to emulate the ABS lamp, But only for my own use - I could'nt sell a car like that (at least not without pointing out that there was no ABS)
Hmm. Really dodgy ground if the car ever got inspected folowing an accident. Not bothering to fix a fault is one thing, actively covering it up is quite another.
Kevin
-
You can provoke the light on by removing airbag on either drivers or passenger side and by accidently turning on ignition, light will always be on after that until extinguished. Or could be an explainable fault by plugging into tech 2 or opelscanner. Christ dont take bulb out, delboy did that on only fools n horses to save doing an oilchange on that ropey cortina he was selling! Get it looked at mate and fix it.
-
Where are you Al? If you're local I can check the airbag system for you.
-
three issues here.
you probably want the airbags functional.
remove the bulb & you'll no longer pass MOT
broadcasting it on here means that you must now fix it. In the event of an accident, police can and do use web forums to secure prosecution. Just picture the scene - the judge asks you "so, having established that your passenger died because the airbag wasn't working, you discussed this on the web as early as August 2010, so I put it to you that you knew the airbag wasn't working and elected not to fix it.....". Internet Service Providers have a legal obligation to provide records to police without asking - even pm's
sorry.
Thanks for the reply - yes there are a couple of issues here
1. I would like the airbag system to work correctly and for that reason I have had it checked out using Tech 2 and "My Naff Code Reader" and no fault was found with the airbag system - I also changed the airbag ECU -so I am as confident as anyone else who drives a car with an airbag that it will work when required. Its the eternal red light on the dash, which will not reset, that I find annoying and want to disable not the airbag. What does the red light do other than show that a system check is being carried out and then should go out - mine obviously doesn't.
2. The airbag system is not covered by the MOT - mine passed with red light on - two days ago
3.If a judge was to ask me about the death of a passenger in my car and the status of the airbag at the time of the accident - I would simply reply that the model Omega I drive does not have a passenger airbag installed - so it wouldn't have helped much.
4. As previously stated - its the annoying bulb I want to disable not the airbag - after all it is supposed to go out itself if working correctly! - I 'broadcast' it on the forum because I don't have a problem with it - removing / disabling the airbag is a completely different matter. I would quite happily explain to any Police Officer what I was doing and why I was doing it. Tell me the law/regulation that says it is an offence to do it - I was a Police Officer, before retiring and I can't think of one, and I never encountered colleagues scanning Forums like this to nab motorists committing motoring offences. Most of the topics listed involve members driving vehicles with some defect or another albeit for short periods of time until it was rectified - but technically committing an offence.
Can anyone on this forum be 100% sure their airbag will operate in a collision - I have done all the checks I can to a. confirm that the airbag system works, and b. to extinguish the airbag light - I just find it very annoying when driving as it occasionally distracts me. I suppose I could have stuck a bit of black insulation tape over it !
My reason for asking the question was to ascertain whether or not bulbs were used as opposed to leds to save me removing the instrument panel for nothing.
Safety is an important issue with me but I can't see that the warning light is contributing in any way and may in fact be having the opposite effect. Having attended many Road Traffic Accidents - I have more faith in seat belts than airbags, but that is my opinion.
Thank you everyone else for your comments and offers to help - Great Forum
-
I don't know if this is the case, but I'd suspect so:
Like the ABS ECU and its warning light, if the system fails its self-test and puts the light on, it means it isn't operational, full stop? :-/
Better that either system does nothing, than operates unpredictably.
-
Interesting one this..
Can you post the live data log from "My Naff Code Reader"? Be interesting to see the full data and whether the Airbag ECU has set the telltale to be on.
Im also wondering if there is a short or other fault on the instrument panel causing the light to always be on, does it every go off?
-
Al, as said, the system may fail to work because the "Check" light is still reading a fault. You may well have fixed whatever caused it (and it sounds like you probably have) but the light needs resetting with a Tech2.
Pop your location in your profile and there may be someone local(ish) who can do it for you at a reasonable cost. :y
Of course, if it's one of TheBoy's Tech2's you'll probably get the full health check at the same time :y
Oh, and if the gearbox ECU (assuming it's an auto) has older firmware than the latest then the upgrade is well worth it :y :y
At the end of the day it's your decision. But I'd like to know it;s all sorted :y
-
I don't know if this is the case, but I'd suspect so:
Like the ABS ECU and its warning light, if the system fails its self-test and puts the light on, it means it isn't operational, full stop? :-/
Better that either system does nothing, than operates unpredictably.
Hi, Appreciate what your saying - but on the other hand - people are saying you can repair the airbag system - which I think I have done - and the light still remains on and needs resetting - which mine wont do.
-
Al, as said, the system may fail to work because the "Check" light is still reading a fault. You may well have fixed whatever caused it (and it sounds like you probably have) but the light needs resetting with a Tech2.
Pop your location in your profile and there may be someone local(ish) who can do it for you at a reasonable cost. :y
Of course, if it's one of TheBoy's Tech2's you'll probably get the full health check at the same time :y
Oh, and if the gearbox ECU (assuming it's an auto) has older firmware than the latest then the upgrade is well worth it :y :y
At the end of the day it's your decision. But I'd like to know it;s all sorted :y
Hi, Thanks for that - I will get it sorted eventually - I bought the car a couple of weeks ago a '98 mint Omega gls estate with 44k on clock - like all older cars there are one or two little jobs that need doing - want it to transport my dogs around as a second car - I have spent too long messing around with the light which is more of an annoyance than a safety issue - so hopefully later today I will be replacing timing belt, pulleys and water pump and hope that is more satisfying than the light, which I will have to put on hold for a bit. Ive got a 98 Astra 1.7td estate and never had a problem other than the usual routine stuff, I have been in the Vauxhall Owners Club for a couple of years and am a member of the Trade Club.
Cheers
-
Thanks for the reply - yes there are a couple of issues here
1. I would like the airbag system to work correctly and for that reason I have had it checked out using Tech 2 and "My Naff Code Reader" and no fault was found with the airbag system - I also changed the airbag ECU -so I am as confident as anyone else who drives a car with an airbag that it will work when required. Its the eternal red light on the dash, which will not reset, that I find annoying and want to disable not the airbag. What does the red light do other than show that a system check is being carried out and then should go out - mine obviously doesn't.
2. The airbag system is not covered by the MOT - mine passed with red light on - two days ago
3.If a judge was to ask me about the death of a passenger in my car and the status of the airbag at the time of the accident - I would simply reply that the model Omega I drive does not have a passenger airbag installed - so it wouldn't have helped much.
4. As previously stated - its the annoying bulb I want to disable not the airbag - after all it is supposed to go out itself if working correctly! - I 'broadcast' it on the forum because I don't have a problem with it - removing / disabling the airbag is a completely different matter. I would quite happily explain to any Police Officer what I was doing and why I was doing it. Tell me the law/regulation that says it is an offence to do it - I was a Police Officer, before retiring and I can't think of one, and I never encountered colleagues scanning Forums like this to nab motorists committing motoring offences. Most of the topics listed involve members driving vehicles with some defect or another albeit for short periods of time until it was rectified - but technically committing an offence.
Can anyone on this forum be 100% sure their airbag will operate in a collision - I have done all the checks I can to a. confirm that the airbag system works, and b. to extinguish the airbag light - I just find it very annoying when driving as it occasionally distracts me. I suppose I could have stuck a bit of black insulation tape over it !
My reason for asking the question was to ascertain whether or not bulbs were used as opposed to leds to save me removing the instrument panel for nothing.
Safety is an important issue with me but I can't see that the warning light is contributing in any way and may in fact be having the opposite effect. Having attended many Road Traffic Accidents - I have more faith in seat belts than airbags, but that is my opinion.
Thank you everyone else for your comments and offers to help - Great Forum
It would seem to me Al that it's getting to the point where you'll have to change the bulb and have a look at its locating point if you're confident that a real Tech2 can't clear the warning after the work you've carried out so far.
Regarding remarks published on internet forums, we live in very changed times - had you been down to Cheltenham or the other sites before you retired?
You'd be surprised who is sitting combing through web published material, although in ordinary uncomplicated matters unconnected with security/intelligence most specialised units will remain uninterested due to the volume of daily traffic (unless specifically asked to look at it or key words/phrases and so on are triggered).
However, with the all-encompassing power of Google, Bing and the like it's quite easy for investigators - insurance or otherwise - to examine comments made on any site: for example (lifted from Google just now using the search parameters 'airbag light on omega');
Omega Owners Forum - Cheapo tech 2 Software
16 Mar 2007 ... At least I now know though what's putting on the airbag light - it's a good job I dodn't sit in .... Can you send me the lists for the Omega sub functions. ...
www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num.../0 - Cached - Similar
Air Bag warning light - again - Can I remove bulb
[ch8206] - 7 Aug 2010
Re-setting airbag light?
[ch8206] - 1 Aug 2010
airbag light on
[ch8206] - 14 Jun 2010
Airbag light on the Estate
[ch8206] - 28 Aug 2006
The text in yellow is your query on here.
As it seems that many organisations will now bend over backwards to evade their moral responsibility in the event it ever being called upon: i.e. paying out money, I would think that an insurance investigator would consider search engines to be an essential tool when they come to test the veracity of any claim and how they can limit their client’s exposure to it.
Hope you can get it sorted out, it would be an annoying bugger to live with.
-
Thanks for your reply - Appreciate what your saying but I'm not trying to make any secret about it. I'm sure they have more pressing things to be searching for ie. terrorism, serious crime, etc than my airbag light. How many people are driving around in cars with a warning bulb that has gone none the wiser.
I've wasted too much time trying to sort this and will have a look at it later - i have more important things to do today like putting a new cam belt and kit, and water pump on a lot simpler than this.
-
Did you see my response?
Interesting one this..
Can you post the live data log from "My Naff Code Reader"? Be interesting to see the full data and whether the Airbag ECU has set the telltale to be on.
Im also wondering if there is a short or other fault on the instrument panel causing the light to always be on, does it every go off?
-
Hi, Sorry did read your post but was distracted by someone asking about Big Brother scanning the forum - I didn't get a print out - a mate of mine did the check using his lap top that didn't have a printer connected. I was guided by what he said. I'll get back to him to see if he stored results and can email them to me. If not I'll ask him to do it again. Interesting about the fault lying with the instrument panel - is it likely to be a component inside it or would the whole pod have to be changed?
Cheers
-
I dont know, was guessing for if the fault isnt with the ECU.
"My Naff Code Reader" has the ability to export all the data to a file, there are 30 or so pieces of data held in the airbag ecu that i can view.
Its shows the resistances of each circuit, etc
and will show why the light is on
and IF the light is set to be on....
from what youve told us, it is not saying why the light is on, I'd like to see the data to confirm this, I would also like to see if the Telltale indicator is set to yes, which would illuminate the light (and rule out a panel issue)
of course if it is set to yes, then there must be a reason, and the live data readout should provide it to us.
Ive played with "My Naff Code Reader" and airbags quite a bit as I had a VERY persistant fault on my old car, I could clear the fault, but 5 mins later it would be back, never managed to fix it, but we did know the area to look at using the info it gave. (Was the drivers side airbag circuit, could do all sorts, but never managed a permanent fix)
-
Thanks for the reply - yes there are a couple of issues here
1. I would like the airbag system to work correctly and for that reason I have had it checked out using Tech 2 and "My Naff Code Reader" and no fault was found with the airbag system - I also changed the airbag ECU -so I am as confident as anyone else who drives a car with an airbag that it will work when required. Its the eternal red light on the dash, which will not reset, that I find annoying and want to disable not the airbag. What does the red light do other than show that a system check is being carried out and then should go out - mine obviously doesn't.
2. The airbag system is not covered by the MOT - mine passed with red light on - two days ago
3.If a judge was to ask me about the death of a passenger in my car and the status of the airbag at the time of the accident - I would simply reply that the model Omega I drive does not have a passenger airbag installed - so it wouldn't have helped much.
4. As previously stated - its the annoying bulb I want to disable not the airbag - after all it is supposed to go out itself if working correctly! - I 'broadcast' it on the forum because I don't have a problem with it - removing / disabling the airbag is a completely different matter. I would quite happily explain to any Police Officer what I was doing and why I was doing it. Tell me the law/regulation that says it is an offence to do it - I was a Police Officer, before retiring and I can't think of one, and I never encountered colleagues scanning Forums like this to nab motorists committing motoring offences. Most of the topics listed involve members driving vehicles with some defect or another albeit for short periods of time until it was rectified - but technically committing an offence.
Can anyone on this forum be 100% sure their airbag will operate in a collision - I have done all the checks I can to a. confirm that the airbag system works, and b. to extinguish the airbag light - I just find it very annoying when driving as it occasionally distracts me. I suppose I could have stuck a bit of black insulation tape over it !
My reason for asking the question was to ascertain whether or not bulbs were used as opposed to leds to save me removing the instrument panel for nothing.
Safety is an important issue with me but I can't see that the warning light is contributing in any way and may in fact be having the opposite effect. Having attended many Road Traffic Accidents - I have more faith in seat belts than airbags, but that is my opinion.
Thank you everyone else for your comments and offers to help - Great Forum
It would seem to me Al that it's getting to the point where you'll have to change the bulb and have a look at its locating point if you're confident that a real Tech2 can't clear the warning after the work you've carried out so far.
Regarding remarks published on internet forums, we live in very changed times - had you been down to Cheltenham or the other sites before you retired?
You'd be surprised who is sitting combing through web published material, although in ordinary uncomplicated matters unconnected with security/intelligence most specialised units will remain uninterested due to the volume of daily traffic (unless specifically asked to look at it or key words/phrases and so on are triggered).
However, with the all-encompassing power of Google, Bing and the like it's quite easy for investigators - insurance or otherwise - to examine comments made on any site: for example (lifted from Google just now using the search parameters 'airbag light on omega');
Omega Owners Forum - Cheapo tech 2 Software
16 Mar 2007 ... At least I now know though what's putting on the airbag light - it's a good job I dodn't sit in .... Can you send me the lists for the Omega sub functions. ...
www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num.../0 - Cached - Similar
Air Bag warning light - again - Can I remove bulb
[ch8206] - 7 Aug 2010
Re-setting airbag light?
[ch8206] - 1 Aug 2010
airbag light on
[ch8206] - 14 Jun 2010
Airbag light on the Estate
[ch8206] - 28 Aug 2006
The text in yellow is your query on here.
As it seems that many organisations will now bend over backwards to evade their moral responsibility in the event it ever being called upon: i.e. paying out money, I would think that an insurance investigator would consider search engines to be an essential tool when they come to test the veracity of any claim and how they can limit their client’s exposure to it.
Hope you can get it sorted out, it would be an annoying bugger to live with.
Cheers - but I suppose the same could apply to anyone changing their own brake pads/shoes, working on their steering, lights, suspension, etc, when not qualified to do so and then being involved in an accident. So as Diy mechanics what do we do - not ask any questions on the Forum about the job we are doing in case some insurance assessor takes a look a few months later. I don't think so.
I am new to this forum and don't want to come over as cynical or negative, and really appreciate yours and others input and comments to my topic. I am really impressed with the Forums which have already helped no end to rectify a couple of minor problems. Cheers
-
The important thing, Al, is that you are taking the comments as they are meant to be... Help and advice :y :y
You will be hard pushed to find a better forum and more knowledgeable bunch of people than here.
We are only interested in trying to resolve the issue properly for you :y :y
Where are you based?
-
Cheers - but I suppose the same could apply to anyone changing their own brake pads/shoes, working on their steering, lights, suspension, etc, when not qualified to do so and then being involved in an accident. So as Diy mechanics what do we do - not ask any questions on the Forum about the job we are doing in case some insurance assessor takes a look a few months later. I don't think so.
I am new to this forum and don't want to come over as cynical or negative, and really appreciate yours and others input and comments to my topic. I am really impressed with the Forums which have already helped no end to rectify a couple of minor problems. Cheers
No trouble at all Al, hope you get it sorted out. :y
-
Cheers mate
-
The important thing, Al, is that you are taking the comments as they are meant to be... Help and advice :y :y
You will be hard pushed to find a better forum and more knowledgeable bunch of people than here.
We are only interested in trying to resolve the issue properly for you :y :y
Where are you based?
Appreciate that - much obliged - suppose I started off with a bit of a controversial issue and could have easily given it a bit more thought before posting it. Lesson learnt.
I am based just off M1 junc 25 between Derby and Nottingham,
Cheers mate!
-
The important thing, Al, is that you are taking the comments as they are meant to be... Help and advice :y :y
You will be hard pushed to find a better forum and more knowledgeable bunch of people than here.
We are only interested in trying to resolve the issue properly for you :y :y
Where are you based?
Appreciate that - much obliged - suppose I started off with a bit of a controversial issue and could have easily given it a bit more thought before posting it. Lesson learnt.
I am based just off M1 junc 25 between Derby and Nottingham,
Cheers mate!
The Master, Marks DTM Calibration (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?action=viewprofile;username=0D21322B400) is your closest member with a Tech 2 (I think!) and really knows his stuff. For a small fee he can put a proper Tech 2 on and understand what it's saying. I reckon he'll switch the light off, or point you to where the problem is very quickly :y
Good luck with the belt change :y :y
-
Hold on - I have an idea.
You say that your dosn't have a pass airbag fitted. This was a NC option which gave you an additional glovebox, so the car would then only have a single airbag - the drivers one.
You also say that you have swapped the airbag ECU. However, unless the replacement one was also from a car with only the drivers airbag then it would be looking for but not finding the pass airbag and bring the light on.
From MY98 onwards, Omegas have 4 airbags as standard (side airbags as well as the driver/pass). But if you wanted the additional glove box then you only got the drivers one.
So, could that be part of the problem?
Also, resetting the airbag light sometimes seems to work with some "My Naff Code Reader"s and not others. TECH2 always seems to reset the system completely though.
My suggestion is a visit to a TECH2 owner with your old ecu as well and then see what happens.
Regards ......... Rob
-
If the light is on, the SRS system is disabled. Regardless of any faults or not.
If the light immediately comes on after resetting, the ecu is detecting a fault still.
Sounds like this does need a better diagnostic than your friend can supply (with no disrespect meant to him). Given your location, contact Marks DTM Calibration - I will personally vouch for him any day of the week, I'm sure virtually everyone on this site would as well :y