MOT testers - can I get a definite answer about airbags?

[BenzBoy]

I'm still really confused about what is and is not a fail on SRS systems. Every thread I've found on the internet ends up with a load of people arguing about safety, quoting old information, telling stories about a mate who failed an MOT or generally just giving their uninformed opinions.

Now, I've found this in the MOT tester's manual:

5.4 SUPPLEMENTARY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS (SRS)

REASON FOR REJECTION:

1.
An airbag obviously missing or defective.

Note: A passenger airbag that has been switched off is not a Reason for Rejection.


2.
A Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) malfunction indicator lamp:

. inoperative

. indicating a system malfunction.


Which seems pretty clear cut, however these new rules were suspended while VOSA tried to deal with all the problems. As I understand it the new rules were suspended a number of times. I'm now very confused and am tired of reading loads of internet arguments about it.

So, if an MOT tester could give a definite answer, I'd really appreciate it!

[kevfromwales]

if it's any help dean, there's an exemption we looked into for the e36 skidcar, that if the vehicle has been modified for racing / rally use,then airbags being awol is not an issue

ie if you'd caged car up / stripped the interior, and fitted a race type wheel, then the airbags being inop / airbag light on isn't an issue

when the old man (mot tester) come in I'll ask for more details

[BenzBoy]

Hmm, interesting. Cheers Kev! Looks like it isn't a straight forward thing then. If you could ask FatherKFW for further details that would be great!

[mrlivered]

I'd love to put together a list of MoT exemption rules, such as windscreen wipers not being tested if the screen folds, etc. I reckon it would be useful to those of us who need to get unusual/modified vehicles through tests designed primarily with mainstream vehicles in mind.

[froggy]

Light on = fail
Light not working = pass and advise
Aftermarket steering wheel etc in stripped out or modified car = pass and advise
That's how I see the current rules

[danburger28]

This is quite interesting, as I'm in need of deleting the airbag from our E36 trials car. It wont be caged, but obviously modified, so our worry about the light being on may not be necessary. Just a quick one though, if we disconnect the air bag by the module under the rear seat, is there any chance of the bag going off still?Even under hard hits?Sorry for the hijack, but would be useful to know.

[ejenner]

No, the airbags don't fire because they have been disconnected from the car. They only fire when they get the signal to fire.

There is a principle in MOT testing which says if the car does not have it then it does not have to work. The grey area comes into play when it's unclear whether the car is meant to have it but it has been removed. Like rear seatbelts or something like that.

[chairchild]

as above,the airbags need a current passing through them to deploy. There were some older cars which had a mechanical system in the steering wheel - with stories of them going off if the steering wheel was removed,and thrown across the garage (old Fiats IIRC)

I recall seeing the MOT manual mention you don't have to have a brake servo if the car's been obviously modified - not sure if that applies for airbags however.


And SRS light on = fail
SRS light failing to light at all = fail (used to just be an advisory however)

[BenzBoy]

Aug 31, 2013 19:27:26 GMT froggy said:

Light on = fail
Light not working = pass and advise

Sept 1, 2013 12:28:47 GMT chairchild said:

And SRS light on = fail
SRS light failing to light at all = fail (used to just be an advisory however)

This is the problem I've come across on every thread I've ever found about airbags and the MOT.

Are you both MOT testers? And if so, are you both interpreting the same rule differently?

[chairchild]

---

not a tester - but it states it very clearly in the handbook


Also.. I do see your point VERY clearly now

[markgenesis]

Sept 1, 2013 12:28:47 GMT chairchild said:

And SRS light on = fail
SRS light failing to light at all = fail (used to just be an advisory however)

I'd go with this, been looking into removing the airbags and ABS on my Disco (less to fix/go wrong), car is obviously modified as an offroader, pretty sure if i removed the airbag ECU and cover up the SRS signs on the dash and wheel i'll be fine.

Also an ABS system can be removed but has to be completely, i'e, pump, module, wiring and everything other wise the system will be failed for not working or incomplete.

Had to get the SRS light reset on my Beemer twice in the last two years at £20 a pop

[BenzBoy]

The trouble is though (and I mean this in the nicest possible way) everyone can give an opinion on what they think might and might not fail an MOT, or read the MOT manual and form their own conclusions - me included. But if our interpretation is wrong then it's a problem come MOT time.

I've quoted what I think is the relevant section of the MOT testers manual in my initial post, and from that it does look like SRS light on = Fail from my basic understanding, however I think Froggy is an MOT tester and he has said the opposite!

I think VOSA issued a number of notifications after initially bringing in these new rules, including suspending them whilst they tried to figure out the mess they would create. MOT testers will have received and read these so I'm presuming they'll have a more detailed picture of the rules (well, you'd hope they would! )

kevfromwales have you asked your old man?

[mk2cossie]

If the light is on=fail
Light doesn't work at all=pass and advise

VOSA keep changing their minds, but the last special notice we were sent says that the light not working is not a fail.

As for airbags missing/removed when fitted as standard, thats a tad trickier

[ChasR]

The biggest issue also is that every MOT will have his interpretation of the rules as well .

[froggy]

Sept 1, 2013 12:34:47 GMT BenzBoy said:

Aug 31, 2013 19:27:26 GMT froggy said:

Light on = fail
Light not working = pass and advise

Sept 1, 2013 12:28:47 GMT chairchild said:

And SRS light on = fail
SRS light failing to light at all = fail (used to just be an advisory however)

This is the problem I've come across on every thread I've ever found about airbags and the MOT.

Are you both MOT testers? And if so, are you both interpreting the same rule differently?

I'm an a/e so need to get things like this cleared by my area office so my staff don't decide to use their own interpretation ,

The only rfr is for the lamp indicating a fault in the system , nothing in the guide about the Light not working .

There is an rfr for airbags missing but the special notice about modified cars would cover this in most cases .

[wildy]

I'm a tester and here is THE definitive answer as of today:

[stealthstylz]

That to me backs up what Froggy has said (not that I didn't believe him).

Nothing mentioned about no light.

[froggy]

Airbags missing is I bit more tricky but an aftermarket steering wheel and all other bags removed is what i would need to see to cover myself to pass and advise .
The term used is cars converted for rallying but any stripped out car would fit the description

[vince70]

Mine passed today with the bulb taken out of the cluster, I need a new cluster anyway as mine plays up from time to time, plus I've ordered a new cluster and Vagcom lead so I want to have a play around with Vagcom and turn off the bulb, its just that the parts never arrived in time for me to do this before the mot.

[BenzBoy]

Thanks for all the replies, I feel we've thrashed out an answer even if it's not a definite yes/no!

I can see now how the light not working at all can be a pass and advise, as it isn't stated in the manual that a non-working light is a fail, only that an illuminated light means a fail!

This has been a really helpful thread, and much better than anything else I've found online. Thanks again!