MOT fail - Sabelt steering wheel - lack of airbag

[Dredd]

Just at the garage having the MOT done on my 182. MOT tester has said it will fail because ‘original steering wheel airbag is missing and must be fitted’. There is no airbag light on the dash - it was switched off with a clip at Diamond Motors a couple of weeks ago, and it passed last year at a different MOT station with the Sabelt wheel no issues. Have I just got a stickler of an MOT tester?

Cheers,
Dave.

 

[yeecup]

yes, boy is being a knob.

 

[R3k1355]

Yea, although it is an MOT failure for an airbag to be missing when one was originally installed.

 

[Djw John]

It's an easier argument to win if you have buckets harness and cage. Get spending.


Or you know, just go elsewhere.

 

[White16valver]

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles

Inspection processes and rules for car, private bus and light commercial vehicle (class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicle) MOT tests.

www.gov.uk

>>

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles

Inspection processes and rules for car, private bus and light commercial vehicle (class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicle) MOT tests.

www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk

>>

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles

Inspection processes and rules for car, private bus and light commercial vehicle (class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicle) MOT tests.

www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk

7.1.5 Airbags
This inspection is for all airbags fitted as original equipment other than on Class 3 vehicles.

A passenger airbag that is switched off isn’t a defect.

Defect	Category
An airbag fitted as original equipment obviously missing	Major
Not in use	N/A
An airbag obviously inoperative	Major

I don't understand what 'Not in use' means?? but it would appear to be a way to avoid any issues if you have an MOT tester that is not anally retentive.

 

[Daz...]

Just take it somewhere else, mine has gone through the last 3 years with no issues.

 

[R3k1355]

I don't understand what 'Not in use' means??

Probably ones that you've turned off so you can have a kids seat or something else in the front.

 

[Clio_fool]

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles

Inspection processes and rules for car, private bus and light commercial vehicle (class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicle) MOT tests.

www.gov.uk

>>

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles

Inspection processes and rules for car, private bus and light commercial vehicle (class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicle) MOT tests.

www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk

>>

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles

Inspection processes and rules for car, private bus and light commercial vehicle (class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicle) MOT tests.

www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk

I don't understand what 'Not in use' means?? but it would appear to be a way to avoid any issues if you have an MOT tester that is not anally retentive.

So if you sellotape your airbag to the wheel its there but not in use so will be a pass. No?

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

As far as I'm aware, if the car had an airbag from the factory, it has to have one for the MOT, unless the car has clearly been modified for competition use.

You need to find yourself a friendly tester, or strip the car out and fit buckets and a cage

 

[Martin.]

So if you sellotape your airbag to the wheel its there but not in use so will be a pass. No?

No, that would come under obviously inoperative and be a major fail.

 

[william84]

Shocked to hear it's a fail. ?
I thought it went on the premise of if fitted must work...

 

[Brigsy]

Bang a stock steering wheel back on without plugging in airbag, then refit sabelt after test.

 

[william84]

If the old wheel per say was fitted but no airbag was in place I could see how that was a fail.
The fact it's an aftermarket steering wheel with no airbag placement leaves that up to question surely?

 

[Amos91]

If the old wheel per say was fitted but no airbag was in place I could see how that was a fail.
The fact it's an aftermarket steering wheel with no airbag placement leaves that up to question surely?

Not if you follow the letter of the manual. All Clio's were fitted with a steering wheel airbag as "original equipment".

And therefore "an airbag fitted as original equipment obviously missing" is a major.

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Bang a stock steering wheel back on without plugging in airbag, then refit sabelt after test.

Would that work? If the airbag is wheel, and the air bag light didn't come on (and go off again), is that still not a fail?

 

[Amos91]

Would that work? If the airbag is wheel, and the air bag light didn't come on (and go off again), is that still not a fail?

Yeah it will. The light operates like normal (passenger dash and seat airbags etc).

Tester can't tell its unplugged.

If you connected it, you'd probably get the airbag light as even though its coded out it can still see it and therefore throw a wobbly.

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Ah ok. Thought the light might stay on if the wheel air bag wasn't connected.

One thing I would take from this is that, if it's a road car, I think I'd just keep the airbags, it's a lot easier ?

 

[william84]

Then the debate starts over that it's modified surely.
And what defines a competition vehicle.

 

[BoatNonce]

Then the debate starts over that it's modified surely.
And what defines a competition vehicle.

Track day cars are specifically excluded from the definition. It must be cars that are prepared for competitive motorsport.

 

[MarcB]

I would do as suggested and slap on a standard wheel with airbag.

Just remember to plug the horn in and not the airbag as he will push the horn.

 

[NTG999]

From the way I understand it, the MOT tester is exactly right, if OE airbag in steering wheel it has to be there, your problem now going to another MOT station is there is a record of why it failed, buy a cheap steering wheel for MOTs

 

[bashracing]

Can't really say the tester's being unreasonable, your car simply doesn't meet the requirements for annual test,
sort the issue as stated above, get a non sport wheel and airbag for £20 off eBay

 

[Clio_fool]

Note to self, refit steering wheel, airbag and cat for mot next year. Damn I hope that list doesn't get any longer!

 

[barnesautos]

Well if that’s the case , I’m fucked , I don’t even have any Airbag ecu or squib anymore , so if push comes to shove , I’ll be wiring my airbag lamp to my abs bulb and both will come on and go out like normal and oh fit the Oe wheel and bag . [emoji6]

 

[bloke]

It's Schrödinger's airbag, the fail is on 'obviously missing' the tester can't prove there is no airbag there behind the wheel.

 

[Dredd]

Stuck the old wheel and airbag back on today for retest on Wednesay - fingers crossed ?

 

[Usr117063]

Anyone else ever had this?

 

[Darren61]

You just need an MOT done by someone you know and/or understands why the car is the way it is..

 

[Dredd]

MOT passed with original steering wheel and airbag fitted - Sabelt steering wheel now refitted lol

 

[R0CKET]

Anyone got an original steering with the squib they would be prepared to sell? MOT tester refuses to pass it now without this (never had an issue before), never had one for ours it was how we bought it.

Or be prepared to rent it to us to get it through the MOT.

 

[Cub.]

Anyone got an original steering with the squib they would be prepared to sell? MOT tester refuses to pass it now without this (never had an issue before), never had one for ours it was how we bought it.

Or be prepared to rent it to us to get it through the MOT.

Surely easier to just take the car for it's MOT somewhere else?

 

[R0CKET]

Surely easier to just take the car for it's MOT somewhere else?

It's on the service history now so any MOT'er could also be persuaded by this. Can try this but no guarantees this will work and in the meantime throwing money away.

 

[Louis]

It's on the service history now so any MOT'er could also be persuaded by this. Can try this but no guarantees this will work and in the meantime throwing money away.

That's why you turn up, ask if they care about an aftermarket steering wheel and if they say no let them MOT it

 

[G. Brzęczyszczykiewicz]

I hope Halfords don't notice mine 🙈

 

[Racky]

I hope Halfords don't notice mine 🙈