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brentp

Hi, I have been asked to get a warrent on my recently passed sisters 1998 Ford Festiva Trio, it failed on a couple of minor issues but the major problem was no SRS light for the drivers airbag (only 1 airbag). I removed the dash panel to check if the bulb had blown, but discovered there is no SRS light on the dash panel. The car, only 2 owner, a family friend before my sister, has never failed a warrent check on this issue, the first WOF from John Andrew Ford in Grey Lynn, Auckland where it was purchased new from. I have contacted John Andrew with the same issue as I wanted a a letter to say there is no SRS light but have had no reply. I would very much appreciate it if you could look into this for me, Cheers Brent, long time AA member.

ABayliss

If the car is fitted with an airbag, it must have had a light originally, as it is a requirement for a WoF. The Ford dealer will not be able to write a letter that will enable the vehicle to be issued with a WoF.
The only exception on a car over 14 years old is if the system has been disconnected and made inoperable, but the vehicle must be certified by a LVV Certifier.
Please see this information from the WoF manual, which explains.

brentp

Thanks for the information but in this instance I think there is an issue to be answered as as I explained I removed the dash panel and there is no indication of an srs light on the dash panel which means the only way to get rid of the light would be to replace the dash panel which I would say would have been extremely unlikely, I will be looking forward to hear from John Andrew Ford or I will drop the car in their yard for them to resolve the issue, I can't believe that it has never been picked up before on the previous 30odd WOF CHECKS, go figure, motor industry has a lot to answer for, Cheers

ABayliss

By saying the motor industry is to blame, I presume you are implying that John Andrew Ford sold this car new in 1998 with the light missing? Even if the car was mis-built without the light (which would seem unlikely) as you say, on a 17 year old car someone would surely have picked this up on a WoF inspection before now, if not at the Pre-delivery inspection when the car was new.
If this car has an airbag, it is legally required to have a light. If you are completely certain that the instrument cluster does not have the facility for an airbag light, it is a mystery, and perhaps the cluster has been changed??
As I said, the only way John Andrew Ford will be able to resolve the issue is if they either install an airbag light or remove the system and have it certified. They will not be able to issue the vehicle with a WoF without an airbag light, or write a letter instructing another WoF centre to do so.

brentp

Hi, I took note of your reply and of course decided to investigate further. I went to Mangere pick a part who had just received two Festiva's of the same year, on removing the instrument cluster of both I discovered they are the same as the one in my sisters car and both have a drivers airbag, so now the plot thickens. Is it possible for you to delve into this deeper as it would appear that there is no SRS light in this model so may be an anomaly in the system. I did however remove the airbag capsule from the steering wheel of one of the cars and it appears there is a LED on the lower right spoke of the steering wheel which comes from the Airbag control pod. I wonder if this lights up red when there is a fault in the airbag system when the car does its start up system check. Any comments about that possibility, would be nice to get some value from my 28 years of being an AA member. Cheers Brent

ABayliss

Upon speaking with numerous people about this (including Ford Dealer workshops), one of our senior WoF inspectors recalls the answer is that the airbag light on this model is in the right lower corner of the airbag itself - on the steering wheel. So yes, the LED on the one you found at the wrecker's yard is the airbag light.
It must illuminate when you turn the key on, as you say, when the car does its start-up checks.

brentp

Hi, correct, on investigating further and for future reference I replaced the 25cent LED that had failed, there was power in the LED circuit when it was going through the check but no light, fitted the replacement and there it was, great result, thanks for the information, Cheers.

ABayliss

Fantastic.. nice cheap outcome!