SRS Light & the MOT

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Discussion

Brigand

Original Poster:

2,544 posts

168 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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I'm fairly certain I know the answer already, but I'd like the PH consensus to confirm or allay my thoughts.

My MOT is due soon and the SRS light came on in my car. A couple of years ago when I first bought it, the light came on after I'd removed the seats to thoroughly clean them and the carpets. I mustn't have left the battery disconnected long enough before removing as once I put them back in the SRS light came on. Soon after it was due an MOT and it went through, with the garage saying the passenger's seat sensor needed replacing. This was done (and not very cheaply either!) and the light went out.

Fast forward two years and the light came on again, mid-journey with only me in the car. I'm not sure whats caused it this time, but the simple fact is I cannot afford to shell out on what could well be another failed sensor somewhere. The car is a classic PH shed and over the past couple of years I've already spent more than I bought it for keeping it going (although nearly £400 of that was a full set of tyres) I've taken the bulb out of the dash binnacle to stop it shining in my face constantly, but the question is, is the light, or lack of, an MOT failure now?

I'm almost certain that new laws came in a little while ago stating that the light should illuminate then extinguish as normal upon startup, so taking the bulb out won't work as it wont light up at all, but a quick search on here doesn't seem to give any up to date information on the matter.

E30M3SE

8,465 posts

195 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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If you present it for MOT with the SRS light 'on' it will fail.

SonicShadow

2,452 posts

153 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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Taking the bulb out or otherwise disabling the SRS indicator will get it through an MOT, though you're still going to have a malfunctioning SRS system. You should fix that really.

Brigand

Original Poster:

2,544 posts

168 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
quotequote all
SonicShadow said:
....though you're still going to have a malfunctioning SRS system. You should fix that really.
You're exactly right, and not something I'd normally be happy with, but funds are tight at the moment so shelling out on expensive sensors just isn't possible. I'd have to plug a diagnostic machine in and find out exactly what is wrong with it, but if it turned out to be the passenger's seat sensor again it would cripple me to spend £170 on a new one - I imagine other sensors are not much cheaper.

rovermorris999

5,195 posts

188 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
quotequote all
SonicShadow said:
Taking the bulb out or otherwise disabling the SRS indicator will get it through an MOT, though you're still going to have a malfunctioning SRS system. You should fix that really.
This is right.
Chapter and verse here :
http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s05000401.htm

Note it doesn't say the light must illuminate only that a fault should not be indicating.

SonicShadow

2,452 posts

153 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
quotequote all
Brigand said:
You're exactly right, and not something I'd normally be happy with, but funds are tight at the moment so shelling out on expensive sensors just isn't possible. I'd have to plug a diagnostic machine in and find out exactly what is wrong with it, but if it turned out to be the passenger's seat sensor again it would cripple me to spend £170 on a new one - I imagine other sensors are not much cheaper.
Can the system be reset with one of those generic OBDII (assuming it's OBDII) readers, or a bluetooth ELM327 and smartphone app, or does it require a manufacturer specific one to do that? I'd be checking all the connectors (especially around the seats) before worrying about a new sensor.

SonicShadow

2,452 posts

153 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
quotequote all
rovermorris999 said:
This is right.
Chapter and verse here :
http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s05000401.htm

Note it doesn't say the light must illuminate only that a fault should not be indicating.
Indeed. I think people often think the SRS light is subject to the same testing routine as the ABS light, which needs to follow a sequence on ignition.

Brigand

Original Poster:

2,544 posts

168 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the info Rover, its put my mind at rest a bit, but the fault remains which is another concern altogether.

Brigand

Original Poster:

2,544 posts

168 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
quotequote all
SonicShadow said:
Can the system be reset with one of those generic OBDII (assuming it's OBDII) readers, or a bluetooth ELM327 and smartphone app, or does it require a manufacturer specific one to do that? I'd be checking all the connectors (especially around the seats) before worrying about a new sensor.
From previous experience, being a Mercedes it needs their STAR system to be read and reset, although a generic device might work. Again it comes down to money though, a good device is a fair chunk of cash, and although I'd like one in my toolbox it ain't going to happen anytime soon.

mcford

819 posts

173 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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SonicShadow said:
Indeed. I think people often think the SRS light is subject to the same testing routine as the ABS light, which needs to follow a sequence on ignition.
The ABS light is only required to illuminate to prove that it works and not to be illuminated so as to indicate a fault, it no longer has to follow a set sequence.

andymc

7,334 posts

206 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
quotequote all
Brigand said:
SonicShadow said:
Can the system be reset with one of those generic OBDII (assuming it's OBDII) readers, or a bluetooth ELM327 and smartphone app, or does it require a manufacturer specific one to do that? I'd be checking all the connectors (especially around the seats) before worrying about a new sensor.
From previous experience, being a Mercedes it needs their STAR system to be read and reset, although a generic device might work. Again it comes down to money though, a good device is a fair chunk of cash, and although I'd like one in my toolbox it ain't going to happen anytime soon.
generic wont knock it off

ezi

1,734 posts

185 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
quotequote all
SonicShadow said:
Taking the bulb out or otherwise disabling the SRS indicator will get it through an MOT, though you're still going to have a malfunctioning SRS system. You should fix that really.
Unless the tester checks that it lights up when turning on the ignition like it should do.

rovermorris999

5,195 posts

188 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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ezi said:
Unless the tester checks that it lights up when turning on the ignition like it should do.
RTFM

robertrobertson

60 posts

110 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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Bung the mot man a ton low and be hold no problem lol

23rdian

387 posts

162 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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A ton. That's expensive in my experience.

mcford

819 posts

173 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
quotequote all
ezi said:
Unless the tester checks that it lights up when turning on the ignition like it should do.
Interesting, can you show me where the SRS light is required to illuminate?, I can't and VOSA told me some years ago that it doesn't need to work.

ezi

1,734 posts

185 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
quotequote all
mcford said:
ezi said:
Unless the tester checks that it lights up when turning on the ignition like it should do.
Interesting, can you show me where the SRS light is required to illuminate?, I can't and VOSA told me some years ago that it doesn't need to work.
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/car-servicing-repair/mot-changes-2012.html

"Warning lights
As well as electronic parking brake and electronic stability control warning lights (where fitted) the MOT test will also include checks for the correct function of the following, where fitted;

Headlight main beam warning light
Electronic power steering warning light
Brake fluid level warning light
Seat belt pre-tensioner warning light"

GreigM

6,726 posts

248 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
quotequote all
"Taking out the bulb" is often harder than fixing the fault. Anything even slightly modern you'd have to disassemble a huge amount of the dash only to find a LED on a circuit board which definitely can't be "taken out".

Cheapest route here may be a diagnostic lead depending on make of car.

mcford

819 posts

173 months

Monday 26th January 2015
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ezi said:
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/car-servicing...

"Warning lights
As well as electronic parking brake and electronic stability control warning lights (where fitted) the MOT test will also include checks for the correct function of the following, where fitted;

Headlight main beam warning light
Electronic power steering warning light
Brake fluid level warning light
Seat belt pre-tensioner warning light"
That's a bit of inaccuracy by the AA. MOT testers have to go by the official testers manual and the fails & advisories that are selectable when entering the test result. The official testers manual is here:

http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4i00000101.htm

The only fail listed in it which mentions a SRS light is:

2. A Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) malfunction indicator lamp indicating a system malfunction.

Which is quite self explanatory. A non functioning SRS light is not mentioned and I know for a fact that a non functioning SRS light is a pre prepared advisory that is selectable from the test results screen, which means that removing/masking/disabling the warning light source is not a MOT fail.

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Monday 26th January 2015
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In my experience, the SRS light being on usually just means a plug has fallen out of the bottom of one of the seats/seat belt buckles. The fact you've just had the seats out would sort of reinforce that theory. smile