Removing passenger seat & Wires (airbag light on!) Would this Fail an MOT? & reconnecting questions

Danny_G

When taking out the passenger seat, so there is space (so that more space is there to transport items in the car)

when you unscrew the 4 screws, and unplug the wires under the seat (seat belt wire, and airbag wire), then on the dashboard the Airbag light shows, showing that it is disconnected.

The 3 questions are,

a) when you reconnect the seat and the wires will this airbag light still be on and the garage would have to get their laptop/tablet device out, to re-configure it, to make the dashboard light go off?

b) If this dashboard airbag light is still on, and left on the dashboard, and you have an MOT, then will the MOT fail, for the light being on?

c) If fail, would they charge an extra ££ on top of the MOT to re-configure it with their laptop/tablet device?

Car is a WV 2009

alfie1950

It is not safe to transport items in the space left by removing the passenger seat unless they are properly secured .

angrycrow

If the airbag light is on it will fail the mot.

It is highly likely on a Vag vehicle that once the airbag wiring is reconnected the light will automatically reset but not guaranteed. It is likely to cost around £75 for a garage to connect it to a diagnostic unit and reset the light.

Could you not push the seat all the way forward and they tip the backrest backwards with the headrest off to creat a flat area to rest an item on. Other option is to push seat forward an angle backrest forward onto the dashboard.

Scrapit

Sounds like the wrong tool for the job. Rent a van to shift the stuff you need moving and leave the seat alone.

HHarry

Can you turn the passenger airbags off (as if you had a babyseat in the front)? That may prevent the light.

AdrianC

1. Probably.
2. Yes.
3. Of course.

Scrapit is correct - rent a van.

Retrogamer

MOT aside i don't imagine most mainstream insurance companies will quote favourably with a passenger side seat removed.


Some people when the airbag was removed used to solder in a resistor so that the light would come on for a moment then go off but that was older car's in the 90's

sheramber

Removing the passenger seat will upset the balance of the car.

You would have to notify your insurer that you have modified the vehicle .

They may or may not continue your insurance.

Norman_Castle

sheramber wrote: »

Removing the passenger seat will upset the balance of the car.

Really? They're far lighter than a passenger and most cars seem fine without one of those.

esmerobbo

Another point to remember is if the light is on your other airbags will not deploy.

prowla

It may be possible to get a plug-in widget to make it appear that the seat is connected.
You can get diagnostic hand-held units to view/clear faults yourself.