Hello and sorry if this has been asked before. Does anyone know what year the mk1 first had airbag steering wheels?
I have a 98 mk1 with an airbag steering wheel and want to change it for a momo prototypo. I am assuming the removal of an airbag steering wheel would be an MOT failure.
I am just trying to work out how many mk1S would have been produced with an airbag. I can’t seem to find any info on the topic
ant help appreciated.
Well, technically 1989 for the US market Miata. From 1991, the airbag was an option (albeit rare) option in other markets
As far as an MOT is concerned the tester would have to prove that the vehicle in question had an airbag as standard
as theres no listings for airbags especially on a car model that they were not always fitted on it would have to be a pass
the official fail line is worded “An airbag fitted as original equipment obviously missing”
So no you wouldn’t fail an mot test
hope this helps
I would remove the light
if it comes on and goes off with a resistor the tester will fail the car for an air bag missing as the light basically tells him it should have one
There weren’t many cars fitted with an airbag. Almost exclusively MK1 1.8 starting in late 1994.
The main issue with the MOT would be an airbag light flashing at the MOT tester.
If the light were absent and no other obvious sign of ABS being fitted, the car will pass its MOT.
That’s what I was thinking too. Thanks.
You need an airbag bypass relay,about £3.00 ,off the bay.Makes the airbag light go off as it does when the airbag is there.
It is fine if you want to do this if you are the only driver. But what if a third party uses the car and suffers injury because a steering wheel airbag was removed. Will the insurance pay out if you have removed the system ? I have seen a few people with catastrophic facial injuries before the advent of air bags.
No he doesnt
if he does put a resistor across the air bag to trick the system he will get a fail
as said above twice the light coming on and going off says there was an air bag fitted so it would be deemed to be missing and fail
the only way is remove the air bag light source
I’m not sure which is worst on this thread, a guy with a whim to remove a safety device in order to fit another - without any safety, or the members and non-members who actively encourage him to do this without considering the possible consequences - I.E. smashed in chest and face.
I wonder if any of these will offer any sympathy when crunch time comes?
“Me - tell him what? - Never.”
Several assumptions are obvious - 1) ‘Option’ a casual comment? check before you jump.
2) Insurance company must be advised, otherwise policy cancelled if the OP needs to claim.
3) All insurance investigators are thick as two short planks (they aren’t)
4) No-one has original bill of sale, or spec of car either. (there are means, see 3)
5) If someone else is involved - i.e. another driver, his insurer will not dig into this cars history (Don’t bet on it)
All up - similar to the Mk4 exploding bonnet saga. ("Do I leave it alone, or can I remove it?)
RIP.
Good arguments Gerry and being honest if it were my car I would keep the airbag alive for as long as possible. Having said that these are all starting to fail now and often not possible to replace the parts to keep the airbag system functional on the MK1. What does one do, scrap the car, sell it cheap or simply remove all evidence of the airbag system.
I am in favour of airbags, passenger and driver as well as ABS and down here in Devon on dirty, wet narrow lanes, 4 wheel drive. I am 55 and ride a motorbike and drive an MX5 with no ABS, 2 wheel drive and no airbags. Am I irresponsible? - on the face of it yes but I think the main point is I am human and prepared to take some risk for enjoyment. Unfortunately fun and safety don’t go together although I could have possibly found a MK1 1.8 with a drivers side airbag and looked selfish and irresponsible when carrying a passenger.
Jimny passed (shoot work horse) and it has a relay fitted.It only travels 4 miles on public roads between shoots.The keeper fitted a cheap steering wheel (no airbag) and it got a new ticket only 2 weeks ago.Light still come on goes off as passanger airbag is same light as steering wheel.
As said it is reckless to put a standard wheel where a wheel was fitted with a life saver.
i Understand the implications from an insurance perspective so will speak to my insurer about it.
The risk to injury would be the same as driving a pre 1994 mk1 though surely?
The risk to personal injury is no greater then any of the pre 94 mk1s in the road that never had an airbag.
I accept the insurance side of things could be tricky and I will be speaking to them about this modification.
I have listed with them already all the other modifications I’ve made to the car to make sure I’m safely in the road and insured.
I’ve added coilovers, roll Bar and had a turbo conversion. All listed and accepted by the insurance company
There is actually a contra argument with some safety features. Not so much airbags but I suggest that some poor driving, tailgating and the like is due to the extra confidence and ability created by superior brakes with ABS and 4 wheel drive, etc.
We are all pretty basic at the end of the day and generally abuse the extra facility rather than engaging it as a genuine safety feature.
One of the main reasons I drive with reasonable care is because I do not want to replace my car or repair the damage that would occur in a largely avoidable accident. Personal safety is very much a secondary consideration.
I agree with that. I am a 46 yr old who has spent a lot of time, effort and money to make my car what it is today. I also drive sensibly and cautiously to minimise risk to damage to the car. And the obvious safety of others, be that passengers or other drivers.
Do either of your mx5s have an airbag?
For me the most important thing here is the validity of the insurance. I would hate to be uninsured if I was to cause damage or harm to a third party.
Well he shouldn’t have
You don’t get passengers airbags without Drivers ones
So the vehicle in question should have failed for a missing airbag .
We were answering a question asked on a Forum
The if buts and maybes are the original OPs choices and not for the parents to lecture the children on .