I have a really bad problem.
We moved from Ca. to Nv. and went to register/title the FD in Nevada. Even though our Ca. title shows clean, the NV. dmv said the car is salvage.
If that’s not bad enough in order to title it in Nv. we need to pass a safety inspection or the car can’t be titled in Nv.
The safety inspection wants the air bags to be working because they are original equipment.
I called the dmv, no working air bag no pass, even though we can register it as a classic car and not have to do smog.

Well the air bags never worked, the diagnostic module was bad and caused the horn to constantly beep, or perhaps something else is wrong with the system.
The diagnostic module was removed and the garage that did the work did not give it back. I didnt think I would ever need it.

There is no air bag lite on in the dash, I dont know if removal of the diagnostic module would cause the lite to come on or not, I do think there is a lamp
in the dash but probably need to double check.
Also, have an aftermarket steering wheel, but I DO have the OEM steering wheel and air bag.

So I think I have 3 options:
See if the car will pass a safety inspection as is since there is no air bag warning lite.

Get a used air bag module and try to make the system work or

being the engineer I am, design a circuit to make the air bag lite work as if the module was present and working.
This is not easy because the diagrams are missing some details that would be helpful.

So I wanted to check if anyone has ideas or someone has run into this before.

 

If there's no module there's no light or alarm, I think they look for it to flash on startup, but best thing is to get a module and a stock wheel. They can't test-fire the bag.

 

That's odd. I can't help on your questions but I might still have the airbag module that is under the dash alongside the hvac / heater core thing.
So might others that part these cars. Post a WTB thread in the Marketplace if you want to try and replace.

 

I'm not familiar with Nevada inspections, but if their inspectors are not particularly sharp, or they offer you the option of getting inspected at an independent shop, I'd think the first (bolded) option above would be the easiest. The FD is an old car and you're registering it as a classic/historic vehicle, so your FD with an aftermarket steering wheel and no blinking airbag lights just might pass - they don't see these cars often.

Maybe some of the Nevada locals on the forum could give you better intel on this?

 

I need to go to an indepedent Nevada shop that has a DMV business license, the form that needs to get filled out has a place for that.

 

Like ptrhahn said, they should be looking for the airbag light to illuminate at key on, then go out. This would indicate the system is in place and working. BUT, like Pete said, many of those places aren't always the most observant. If you put your stock wheel back on, and there is no light that just MAY be enough to squeak through. If it were me, I'd give that a try. They aren't going to crush your car or not let you fix the issue if it doesn't pass.

Best case scenario, it passes and you have nothing to worry about. Worst case, you have to go back and install the system and you're out a few extra bucks for the system and a second inspection.

I'm hoping to take my module and sensors out this weekend if it's not too cold in my garage, so I may have the parts (I'm a LHD '94 car for reference. I think that will matter when dealing with airbag stuff).

 

Can you send the car back and get your money back? It's not right to buy a clean title car to then find out it's a salvage/rebuilt title.

 

I wish we could send it back. Easier said than done.
We (my son and I) have sunk a crap load of money into the car- New haltech ecu, engine harness, cooling system, big inter cooler, and currently undergoing engine rebuid and single turbo conversion.
It was while the car is in the shop we found out the bad news.
The car will be very cool (400hp) when we get it back.

The dmv reported the salvage title was due to a reported car fire back in 2002.
The shop doing the work has found no reason to see why it would be a salvage but none the less the value of the car has crashed.

I think I will first put the oem wheel back on and see if we can squeek by, everything else in in great shape.

In the mean time a forum member has sold me a used diagnostic module, so if needed I can try to rebuild the the air bag system.

I am also studying the wiring diagrams to build a circuit to flash the air bag warning lite when the car is powered on.


REnaissance_Sle7in:Thanks for the offer, our car is a 93.

 

I'd say repair the used diagnostic module (whatever code comes up when it flashes), and use a resistor for the steering wheel airbag. I don't think repairing the "system" to get it to flash properly at startup is hard... Looking at the wiring diagram, the crash sensors can be tricked using the proper resistance values if you don't have the crash sensors on the car.

 

I have all the crash sensors still, I need to check the continuity again, they did check good before.
Do you know waht value of resistor can be used to emulate the steering wheel air bag?

I am waiting for the used diagnostic module, then will plug in to see what flashes if anything.
When we fixed the horn constantly going off by removing the diagnostic cause the diagnostic proceedure
said the module was bad, there was nothing flashing.

 

Not sure of the airbag resistor value, from the forum search it looks like a range of 1 to 3ohms 10watt resistors. Or eliminate the guessing and get a Works Bell resistor that plugs directly in...

 

Before you put any work into this and spend money, just take it in with a stock steering wheel and see what happens. Will probably pass if the light isn't on.

 

found on the forum from Banzai Racing use a 330ohm 1watt, only cost pennies.
I couldnt find where to get a work bell resisitor/air bag defeator for the fd.
If anyone knows please share.

But our plan is to first try and get it pass with stock wheel.

 

Yeah. The resistor is to get the airbag light to turn off. If yours is already off then should be fine unless they are literally looking for it to come on at start and then turn off.

 

Don't know why people pull airbags. Racecar thing i guess. You should try to get it fixed

 

When you guys talking about the module do you mean the clockspring?

 

Not the clock spring.
There is a module buired in the drivers side console (I have LHD) that controls the air bag.
When we bought the car this tested bad, and we put an after market steering wheel on,
so we removed it, as many on this forum do.
Now trying to fix it with used module from a forum member.

 

Ahh I see. Would you happen to have a pic? I may be in the same boat as you..

 

Here is a pic of the module. I cannot take a pic of the location in the car cause our car is in the shop getting a new engine.

 

Thanks for the pic boss