something everyone should check - especially newbies

[Rick-sta]

Evening all, thought I'd make a post about this as I keep coming across this time and time again. I've had an instrument cluster in today to have some work done. After taking the clock set apart, I noticed that the LED for the airbag warning light had been removed by a previous owner of the car in order to get around the airbag warning light staying on. The current owner had bought the car like this and had no idea that the airbag warning light wasn't working. I've now installed a replacement LED for the airbag warning light, and chances are the light will probably illuminate when the clocks are refitted to the car signalling a fault with the airbag system.

I've come across many customer instrument clusters with either the Airbag warning light or the ABS system warning light covered up or removed completely to hide a fault, with the current owner having no knowledge of this.

As you can imagine this is extremely dangerous, especially when owners are not aware of warning lights being covered up. My understanding is that if the airbag warning light is on the airbag system is disengaged, meaning no airbags will go off in the event of an accident. Also, I know from experience that when the ABS warning light is on the ABS braking system is disengaged.

If you're viewing a 75 or ZT to potentially purchase, or are not sure whether the airbag light or ABS light on your own 75 or ZT works, it is very easy to check. When you turn the key in the ignition to position 2, the ABS and airbag warning lights will both light up for a couple seconds and the go out (unless you have a fault in which case the light will stay on). If you try this and find the warning lights do not illuminate, this means the LED has either been covered up or removed. It's something to always check when making a new purchase.

Both of these faults are fairly easy and inexpensive to fix in most cases. The airbag warning light is usually caused by the airbag plugs under the driver's seat becoming loose. Pulling the plugs apart, cleaning and plugging them back in usually cures it, or replacing the plugs completely is a good fix. The ABS warning light is usually caused by a faulty sensor on one of the wheels. If it's the front driver's side sensor that's faulty you lose your speedometer with it, if it's the front passenger side you lose your cruise control (if you have it). So this makes it a little easier to track down which of the 4 sensors are causing the issue.

If you're struggling to locate these faults, take your car in to be checked with someone who has a t4, as that flags up what is causing the issue. Something that I've had to do in the past to help me locate a airbag and ABS fault.