Nearside crash sensor needed please

[Si Mcinerney]

Spare Part Wanted UK

Hi there, my 99 plate 2.8 has failed it’s MOT with an airbag light traced back to crash sensor under passenger seat which has failed. Does anyone know where I can source a replacement please?

 

[t-tony]

@Sean d, @mrscalex , @spurs fan in a coupe , @Synclare , @BillyHughesZ3UK

Tony.

 

[Sean d]

@Sean d, @mrscalex , @spurs fan in a coupe , @Synclare , @BillyHughesZ3UK

Tony.

Thanks for the mention pal but I don't have one

 

[GZed]

Spare Part Wanted UK

Hi there, my 99 plate 2.8 has failed it’s MOT with an airbag light traced back to crash sensor under passenger seat which has failed. Does anyone know where I can source a replacement please?

I’m sure others will pitch in, but isn't this the notorious passenger occupancy sensor, designed to NOT fire the passenger airbag if no one is sitting in the passenger seat? Back in the 90s airbags were v v expensive so the idea was not to waste money unnecessarily. This sensor can be easily bypassed with a gizmo which means a)the airbag will always deploy in a crash regardless of whether or not anyone is sitting on the seat b) the fault light disappears so you get your MOT. BEWARE apparently there are some cheapo gizmos out there that just switch off the light, but the airbag remains disabled.....

 

[Si Mcinerney]

Thank you. I’ll search for a suitable gizmo

 

[mrscalex]

I’m sure others will pitch in, but isn't this the notorious passenger occupancy sensor, designed to NOT fire the passenger airbag if no one is sitting in the passenger seat? Back in the 90s airbags were v v expensive so the idea was not to waste money unnecessarily. This sensor can be easily bypassed with a gizmo which means a)the airbag will always deploy in a crash regardless of whether or not anyone is sitting on the seat b) the fault light disappears so you get your MOT. BEWARE apparently there are some cheapo gizmos out there that just switch off the light, but the airbag remains disabled.....

From what's been written 2 things are being mentioned here.

There are accelerometer devices fitted under the seats that watch out for unexpected forces on the car, eg side impacts. They are monitored by the SRS module which will make a decision based on the level of measurement whether to deploy the airbags. Have you been hit or are you going round a corner? I think this is @Si Mcinerney 's issue.

The device you are referring to is a mat inside the passenger seat. It detects whether a passenger is present - so an occupancy sensor. If a passenger isn't present then the airbag is not deployed that side. It's a safety feature. It can become faulty and the job of replacing it is a bit involved requiring stripping the seat down. So there's a £10 ish plug in device that connects to the harness instead to keep the SRS module happy. It's a frig. I don't know whether it sends a present or not present signal. But I would imagine for safety sake it sends a present signal. Either way the dash warning light doesn't come on. But the airbag would always fire if it sends a present signal defeating the original safety design.