micky22

New Member
hi guys

Ever since i bought my 1996 p38 diesel its had an SRS fault i wanted to know if i disconect the ECU for the SRS System would the light and the message on the message centre stay on or go off and aslo where is the ECU for the SRS system i got told its under the centre console but i cant find it?
 
Don't think you can turn it off. SRS as I understand is now MOT requirement, I had a light come on last week, cleaned the connectors under the front seats, then when I restarted the car the SRS did it's circuit check and it went off.
I think the srs sends a signal around the circuit, if this check does not complete the circuit the system is disabled - try connectors first.
 
when i start mine the srs light blinks then stays on and wheres the conectors under the seat there is two under both front seats on mine will that be them i know it is an mot failure thats why i need to sort it what if i put another ECU on it will that cure it?
 
The one on my RRC needed a fault code reset on the ECU, think it was a dodgy resistor in the circuit somewhere..
 
Hi, the ecu is under the console cubby box. You can remove the whole unit or I did as follows: the cubby box has a false bottom/loose insert. This you can prise out. The next bottom covers the ecu. I drilled 4 holes as corners of a square in it and cut between them with hacksaw blade. on removal you will see the ecu. As per RAVE disconnect battery and do not disconnect any part of airbag circuit for 10mins after battery. You need a known good ecu to fit in.

The problem could also lie with the rotary coupling in the steering wheel under the airbag. If the horn is not working it would point to a short in this, but of course you could have one short without the other. There are resistors in the loom which I have read about but never found, maybe someone can point the direction.
I still havn't found what I'm looking for.
 
How is the light flashing? completely on/off or on/dimmed? If it's completely on/off change the blown bulb as there's 2.

If there's yellow wiring under the seats its a common place for dodgy connection due to movement of seats, (none on my 95 HSE)

Get the codes read, replacing parts method is expensive and you may end up with a simple reset as the cure.
 
when i start mine the srs light blinks then stays on and wheres the conectors under the seat there is two under both front seats on mine will that be them i know it is an mot failure thats why i need to sort it what if i put another ECU on it will that cure it?

If it blinks on/dimmed when starting and then after a while stays on i will suggest a reset as the cure. If it blinks on/completely off check bulbs.
You may not have the connectors under the seats, look for the bright yellow SRS harness. None on my 95 HSE.
 
yeah it blinks on/dimmed then stays on after a while. i know there is two conectors under each front but cant remember if they are bright yellow or not i will have a look and if no look with finding the wires i will go for a reset thanks for all the advise guys
 
yeah it blinks on/dimmed then stays on after a while. i know there is two conectors under each front but cant remember if they are bright yellow or not i will have a look and if no look with finding the wires i will go for a reset thanks for all the advise guys

Look at the seat backs, if it has side airbags there will be a little tag sown into the seam. If you have the tag there will be a yellow cable under each front seat, these connectors play up.
Before you consider replacing the SRS ECU, get the fault codes read as putting a good ECU onto a faulty system will simply log the fault again.:)
 
The problem could also lie with the rotary coupling in the steering wheel under the airbag. If the horn is not working it would point to a short in this, but of course you could have one short without the other. There are resistors in the loom which I have read about but never found, maybe someone can point the direction.
I still havn't found what I'm looking for.

This is exactly what I thought and what my reality is! I thought the rotary coupler had failed (cruise control also not working), turns out the rotary coupler was fine and it was a faulty resistor somewhere.

Unfortunately the resistors were not located consistently (e.g. "within 500mm of connector") so it is pretty much a case of trace each wire on the loom and test each resistor.

Resetting the fault code on mine has work but could easily come back I am sure. Mine is a soft dash Classic btw.
 
All they do is reset it. If the problem is persistant the SRS light will come on again.
I've never seen an SRS module failure, & the system is simple as the diagnostics tell you where the problem is.
 
Hi,
The best thing to do is send your srs ecu which is located under the heater matrix
off to a place on ebay called ECU-REMAPPING I have just done mine and it works, cost £23.95.

Their address is SRS RESET, 25 MAIN ST, WAWNE, HULL, HU75XH
Holy reincarnation:eek: this thread is 2 years old.
 
If the light is on its an mot fail, but if it does not illuminate the tester can only put it down as an advise, iv'e just had a similar problem with a ford focus about a month ago and a friend of mine who's a tester wised me up and i stuck a bit of tape over it for the test, mot passed, one advise "srs light not illuminating" kind of makes a mockery of the whole thing but it might help get you through the test
 
If the light is on its an mot fail, but if it does not illuminate the tester can only put it down as an advise, iv'e just had a similar problem with a ford focus about a month ago and a friend of mine who's a tester wised me up and i stuck a bit of tape over it for the test, mot passed, one advise "srs light not illuminating" kind of makes a mockery of the whole thing but it might help get you through the test

Nonsense an inoperative SRS lamp is a straight fail. No if's or but's about it the tester was wrong.
 
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Sorry wammers, your mistaken, the tester showed me the relevant section on the vosa web site for mot inspectors, if i get time when i get in tonight i will take a picture of the mot certificate for the focus and post it on here to prove it:):)
 
i'm with luckymark,they changed the rules again last april(I think)you can take the srs bulb out and it will pass.silly isn't it
 
When the ignition is switched on the light has to illuminate and then go off ( normal operation ) if that is not the case it's a fail.
Them's the rules
 
Sorry wammers, your mistaken, the tester showed me the relevant section on the vosa web site for mot inspectors, if i get time when i get in tonight i will take a picture of the mot certificate for the focus and post it on here to prove it:):)

MOT information - Supplementary Restraint Systems (SRS) Introduced in Jan 2012 with a years grace at which time it was an advisory, became enforceable and a straight fail in March 2013.
 
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i'm with luckymark,they changed the rules again last april(I think)you can take the srs bulb out and it will pass.silly isn't it

Would certainly be silly if it was true but it isn't. If the SRS lamp does not come on with ignition then extinguish after system self checks it is a straight fail. If SRS lamp comes on and does not go out after system self checks it is a straight fail. Simple as that.
 

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