my MX5 has a really ropey steering wheel with the outer grip loose on the metal frame. I have the opportunity to purchase an aftermarket steering wheel and boss but I am wondering what to do with the airbag? I know with care it can be de-armed and I can remove the wheel but while I have no qualms about running without the airbag, will that throw up an issue with ecu? I have not noticed an air bag warning light when I switch on the ignition (too busy grinning like an idiot at driving my toy again!) your advise and thoughts would be most welcome before I throw money away on stuff I cannot use
If you have a factory fitted airbag, you should be aware there are changes coming next month in the MOT which will including checking of factory fitted airbags. If the car was supposed to have an airbag, its supposed to work. I’m not sure of the case of Mk1s with optional airbags, if those airbags were removed.
If fitting a non-airbag wheel, you need a special boss for your car, not the same boss as used on non-airbag wheels. I fitted a Nardi wheel and boss that came off a 1994 Roadster to my 96, and I had to take a little off the boss for it to fit, without rubbing on the steering column cover. My car has a lot of the same features as yours; its like a airbag car with a factory airbag delete (so bent stalks etc). You will need to remove a spacer off the steering column, otherwise the new wheel will be rubbing on your legs. In addition, you need to take some stitched loops out of your seat belts, to bring them to the standard of non-airbagged seatbelts. Might be a good idea to have a word with your local MOT tester, who might have a better understanding of the new regs, and how it applies to cars with optional airbags, before you start making expensive changes.
Jan 2012 regs say and air bag that was fitted as original equipment must be fitted. So if it was optional and that option was chosen then it needs to be there. The reason for rejection is an air bag obviously missing or defective. I think “obviously” is the key word there.
there are wires you can buy that will turn the airbag warning light off if you remove the airbag, as the being factory fitted when going to test if it’s not got one and it looks as if it never had one will there be a list saying which mk1s had them as standard???
I doubt there’ll be a list. I would think that if it seems to the tester like there was never one there then it won’t be too much of a problem. Crash sensors could be a give away to an eagle eyed tester to the fact that an air bag was once fitted, as would a passenger one being there and a drivers one not. A pyrotechnic seat belt pretensioner (if visiable) would also point to the fact that an air bag was once there too.
By the way muppet, are you aware or would you like to make the person responsible aware, that on the 1st line of the solentmx5.com website home page it says “chassic”.
I expect they will need to introduce opt-outs or derogations:
Non-UK spec imported cars; airbags may have been removed prior to import, but in line with local regulation. Certain overseas standards are taken as equivlent to UK.
Cars prepared for road-rallys; they need to be registered for use on UK roads, but typically have all airbags removed for obvious reasons. As it stands, they will no longer be legal.
Airbags are supposed to have a limited lifespan, but they don’t carry any obvious date stamp. There are cars out there (Americans) with airbags over a quarter of a century old. Of course, the owners of these mid-80s Mustangs, Corvettes and Camaros may have tossed the original steering wheels years ago.
thanks everyone for your advise I am going ahead with the purchase after considering all your comments. as it is an option I shall not have a light showing come MOT time and it should be ok, that and I shall get it MOT’d where I work
I did a small write up with photos earlier this year when I changed mine out on my Mk2. You can read it on the link below. I didnt just want to remove the warning bulb as I wanted to know if there was a problem with the system as I retained the passenger airbag. You can see how I did this.
As the others above had already pointed out though, the MoT rules are changing in January. I intend to speak with my tester before I take mine in. I have retained all the original equipment so can if nesessary re-fit it all in about 30 minutes.
I read your thread with interest as I have recently bought a 1997 1.8i Mk1 with am mx5 Momo wheel similar to the photo below(this isn’t my cars though). I was under the impression that this was the original wheel, but I’ve noticed that i also have an ‘airbag’ indicator on bottom of the rev counter next to the headlamp popup indicator. This never comes on when he ignition is on prior to start up, or after engine is on. There is no space for an air bar on the steering wheel and there is no airbag logo either stamped on it. Any ideas? Is the indicator there to cover cars of this age that had the ‘option’ of an airbag? Is this not the original wheel even though it is an MX5 Momo? Will it pass the new regs as it is? Is the issue for an MOT whether a warning light is on? Any thoughts would be very welcome.<o:p></o:p>
This is a factory wheel, and is of the same type I replaced with a Nardi. All Mk1 MX5s (at least from 1992) will have a redundant airbag light fitted to the dash (no bulb); US spec cars always had an airbag, and from 1992, it was an option in Japan.
AT thanks. So they were an option in the UK as well? I forgot to mention mine is a UK car. Whats your view on what an MOT tester will think about seeing a warning light that does nt ‘appear’ to work with no airbag in wheel. ie they dont know the manufacturing spec/details of these cars. The AA site says:
Warning lights
As well as electronic parking brake and electronic stability control warning lights (where fitted) the MOT test will also include checks for the correct function of the following, where fitted;
Headlight main beam warning light
Electronic power steering warning light
Brake fluid level warning light
Tyre pressure monitoring system warning light
Air bag warning light
Seat belt pre-tensioner warning light
Supplementary restraints
The vehicle will fail the test if any airbag fitted as original equipment is obviously missing or defective.
A seatbelt pre-tensioner fitted as original equipment but missing or that has obviously deployed will be a reason for failure.
Seatbelt load limiters that are missing where fitted as standard or folding webbing type limiters that have obviously deployed are also reasons for failure.
The vehicle will also fail if an SRS malfunction light is missing, not working or indicating a fault.
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