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Airbags and pretensioners



This is for the Mk2 Clio owners only.

Once you have set an airbag or pretensioner off no other airbags or pretensioners can be set off. The computer is useless the light will stay on on the dash.

If you have had an airbag or pretensioner activated you have only a few ways of getting rid of the light.

1) New airbag module (£150 to £350 depending what model you have) then Renault to program it to your car. ALso replace the side impact sensors. Then either
a) Put a resister in the loom to make the airbag computer think a airbag is present.
b) Put a new airbag in.

2) Unplug the light from the dashboard

One note to make if the airbag/pretensioner ligh is on due to a fault etc then the airbags shouldn't go off. However owners who have crashed cars with airbags on have said the airbag system still works.

The Clio detects the airbags being connected by checking the resistance of wires in the of the airbags.

So long as the resistance is in the correct range then no warning light will be set off.

If you disconnect any of the airbags (so long as no other have been set off) all you need to do to stop the warning light coming on is stick a resister in the wiring looms to make the airbag computer think there is a airbag present.

The figures below are ones the airbags computers need to sence to think an airbag is connected.

Drivers airbag between 1.8 to 6.2 Ohms. This runs through the lines 1 and 2 of the airbag/pretensioners computers.

Passenger airbag between 1.8 to 4 Ohms. This runs through the lines 3 and 4 of the airbag computer.

Side airbags between 1.8 to 4 Ohms. Passengers line runs through the lines 18 and 19 of the airbag computer. Drivers line runs through the lines 16 and 17 of the airbag computer.

Pretensioner between 1.8 to 4 Ohms. Passengers line is marked D and is track 6 and 7 on the 30 track connector. Drivers line is marked C and is track 3 and 30 on the 30 track connector.

So long as the resistance is between these values above (I'd a resister value in the middle of each of these values) then no warning light will come on.

The airbag computer needs to be supplied with between 10.5 and 16 Volts otherwise a fault will be raised.

Clio 172 Cup owners don't have side airbags so if they change there seats then there is no trouble with warning lights (so long as they either leave there seat belts plugged in)

If you wish to remove your side airbags for aftermarket seats then you can either do as the above says regards sticking a fuse in the circuit or ask your local Renault dealer if they will adjust your cars airbags computer via there Clip laptops so that it thinks there isn't an airbag there (some of the the lower spec cars didn't have). However many dealers are will refuse to do this.

The airbags module decides if/how to fire the airbags depending upon a different set of conditions ie if you are belted in speed etc. The system detects if you are belted in via the black wire in the seat buckle. If you cut this wire then the computer thinks you are belted in all the time no warning light will ever come on telling you to do your belt.

If you want to swop your seat belts for harnesses then you will have to decide what to do either:

1) Remove the seat belt buckle from the car and stick the resister in the wiring loom.

2) Keep the normal buckle in the car and either
a) Cut the black wire on the buckle and make the car think you are always belted in.
b) When you are wearing a harness you will have to put a switch on the black wire so you can turn the light off so the airbags operates safly rarther than thinking your not belted in when you are.

Depending upon which airbags/pretention are set off you will also need to change.

If the pretensioner is activated the seat belts and pretensioner units much be replaced
If the drivers airbag is activated the stearing wheel must be replaced.
If the passengers airbag is activated the corss member lining must be replaced.
If the side airbag id activated then the seat frame must be changed.
Also it is important to check:
The inhibitor key, the keys which switches of the passengers front airbag ie the one you put your key in which is on the passeners door (this should read 400Ohms when the switch is open and 100 Ohms when closed))
The seat position sensor reads 400 Ohms when the seat is upright and 100Ohms when reclined

There is a common problem with Clios with the the SERV and AIRBAG lights come on it usually happened in the first few month but older cars out of the 3 yr warently have had the problem. Its due to the fact that the wires under the seat don't make a good conection and they can give a reading of a resitance over 4 Ohms when they do this it causes the warning light to come on. A simple short term fix is to fiddle with the wires under the seat and the problem will go away.
On the early cars the solution is to look under each of the seats. You will see a grey connector.
On the passenger side disconnect it and cut the Blue and Brown wires off both sides. Then solder the Blue wire to blue, and the Brown to the other brown. Make sure you use insulating sleeves over the soldered connections..
Under the driver seat there are two pairs of wires in the grey connector.. Only cut the Blue and Brown wires and solder them together as above.. Reconnect the connector..
On the facelift cars it is ONLY the passenger side connector that is affected.. So again cut and solder the Blue and brown wires.
There is a Renault technical note out though and it will be done under warently if you car is affected.
 
  RenaultSport clio v6
edde said:
If you wish to remove your side airbags for aftermarket seats then you can either do as the above says regards sticking a fuse in the circuit or ask your local Renault dealer if they will adjust your cars airbags computer via there Clip laptops so that it thinks there isn't an airbag there (some of the the lower spec cars didn't have). However many dealers are will refuse to do this.

can you expand on this at all - i am just about to change my seats for buckets - where exactly does the resistor need to go? i assume the side airbag wiring is he greyish connector with one brown and one blue (i think) wires into it - so does the resistor need to connect to these (from one to the other?) or just on to one of them?

sorry for all the questions just need to be prepared!!

pics would be excellent :)
 
TomV6 said:
can you expand on this at all - i am just about to change my seats for buckets - where exactly does the resistor need to go? i assume the side airbag wiring is he greyish connector with one brown and one blue (i think) wires into it - so does the resistor need to connect to these (from one to the other?) or just on to one of them?

sorry for all the questions just need to be prepared!!

pics would be excellent :)
I'll have a look for you tomorrow at work. This was one of the things I should have done when i posted the topic.
 


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