V70 - Can I Disable Airbag Sensors?

[Jim_V70_2001]

How can I disable the sensor for the driver side airbag please?

The airbag hasn't deployed, its just that annoying light and warning, and I want to get rid of it.

I've checked the wiring under the seat as much as I can and all seems to be in good order, but I've not removed the seat to check thoroughly for chafing.

I realise this is stongly discouraged. But my car is worth peanuts, I love it and want to keep it, and a replacement airbag is more than I can afford, especially since the car has to go in for replacement suspension bushes at £300.

Thanks for any help to do this, I promise not to crash it from the side!

[gjuk]

It'll fail its next MOT with that lit.
fixing its the only way.

[owyn]

Try getting the codes reset, it may just go away. If not then get it fixed, it's an explosive device and I don't want to risk being anywhere near you when it goes off.

[EdmundIJones]

Originally Posted by gjuk

It'll fail its next MOT with that lit.
fixing its the only way.

That depends what is lit/the dim message.
If the airbag light (the red one on the bottom right) goes out then regardless to what the DIM message is, it should pass it's MOT.

If the Dim says "SRS service urgent" or similar and the airbag light is not lit then it will pass. I had a long conversation about this with the MOT people and mine passed in this situation, not even an advisory.

[chris vince]

Originally Posted by EdmundIJones

That depends what is lit/the dim message.
If the airbag light (the red one on the bottom right) goes out then regardless to what the DIM message is, it should pass it's MOT.

If the Dim says "SRS service urgent" or similar and the airbag light is not lit then it will pass. I had a long conversation about this with the MOT people and mine passed in this situation, not even an advisory.

It appalls me that so many of us Volvo owners are stuck in this position.
I like many others bought another Volvo having had very good previous experiences with the marque.
I also bought a Volvo because of the previous first rate safety features and records of earlier cars.
Yet, from a company that openly prides itself on their safety reputation, many of us are driving around with the SRS Service Urgent warning illuminated, due to a manufacturing defect with the DIM unit.
Volvo are obviously all to aware of this inbuilt generic fault, but for whatever reason have chosen to pretend that it is nothing to do with them.
When in actual fact it has everything to do with Volvo, they designed, created and built a defective component that now blights thousands of their products.
So much for a responsible safety attitude!
I can live with the 1. Defective handbrake shoes that simply de-laminate, 2. An oil core plug that throws itself out when the rubber coating (that should never have been there) has perished, 3. The intercooler radiator that is far too weak for purpose, 4. The alarm siren that when the easily replaceable NiCad battery is worn out, drips acid all over the PCB meaning the whole lot has to be replaced, 5. Master cylinders that drip fluid onto clutch position switches, 6. Concentric clutch slave cylinders that fail well before their time. Etc, Etc.
I forgive all these shortcomings because the average man can diagnose and fix them, some indeed can be considered wear and tear, but not literally thousands of DIM units!
They should have owned up to this problem like Renault did, recalled these defective DIM units, if this had happened they could have remained proud of their safety reputation, instead Volvo simply 'washed their hands' of it.
My car like so many others has reached the age where it is quite simply not worth spending such a large sum of money on it to solve an inbuilt fault, so we will continue to drive round with it, and if asked, correct other prospective Volvo customers misconceptions re: Volvo safety features.
Before it gets mentioned, I am aware of independent repairers.

[owyn]

Originally Posted by chris vince

It appalls me that so many of us Volvo owners are stuck in this position.
I like many others bought another Volvo having had very good previous experiences with the marque.
I also bought a Volvo because of the previous first rate safety features and records of earlier cars.
Yet, from a company that openly prides itself on their safety reputation, many of us are driving around with the SRS Service Urgent warning illuminated, due to a manufacturing defect with the DIM unit.
Volvo are obviously all to aware of this inbuilt generic fault, but for whatever reason have chosen to pretend that it is nothing to do with them.
When in actual fact it has everything to do with Volvo, they designed, created and built a defective component that now blights thousands of their products.
So much for a responsible safety attitude!
I can live with the 1. Defective handbrake shoes that simply de-laminate, 2. An oil core plug that throws itself out when the rubber coating (that should never have been there) has perished, 3. The intercooler radiator that is far too weak for purpose, 4. The alarm siren that when the easily replaceable NiCad battery is worn out, drips acid all over the PCB meaning the whole lot has to be replaced, 5. Master cylinders that drip fluid onto clutch position switches, 6. Concentric clutch slave cylinders that fail well before their time. Etc, Etc.
I forgive all these shortcomings because the average man can diagnose and fix them, some indeed can be considered wear and tear, but not literally thousands of DIM units!
They should have owned up to this problem like Renault did, recalled these defective DIM units, if this had happened they could have remained proud of their safety reputation, instead Volvo simply 'washed their hands' of it.
My car like so many others has reached the age where it is quite simply not worth spending such a large sum of money on it to solve an inbuilt fault, so we will continue to drive round with it, and if asked, correct other prospective Volvo customers misconceptions re: Volvo safety features.
Before it gets mentioned, I am aware of independent repairers.

Mines been pretty good, you must have a bad one.

[chris vince]

Originally Posted by owyn

Mines been pretty good, you must have a bad one.

Not at all.
One previous fastidious owner, perfect Volvo Main dealer history for the first 80k, then a specialist independent till 98 when we bought it, 128K now.
Ours has had most of the generic problems, we have not had the clutch cylinders go, but all the rest.

[gjuk]

Originally Posted by EdmundIJones

That depends what is lit/the dim message.
If the airbag light (the red one on the bottom right) goes out then regardless to what the DIM message is, it should pass it's MOT.

If the Dim says "SRS service urgent" or similar and the airbag light is not lit then it will pass. I had a long conversation about this with the MOT people and mine passed in this situation, not even an advisory.

its just that annoying light and warning

Looks like it won't pass it's MOT, warning AND light (the important one) are on.

I only know this as both mine are on atm also

[bullstiff]

Ok so when someone T bones you and your airbag doesn't deploy and you are seriously injured, you won't complain when the other parties insurance won't pay out for your injuries. I BET!!
The warning light is just that a warning that something may be wrong get I checked and get it fixed. NO EXCUSES

[crankie]

just put a bag of spuds on the drivers seat