Working on SRS.

Hi all,
Not posted for a while as the P38 has been in mothballs over the spring/summer period but, now autumn is with us it's being put back on the road, and it's the turn of the MG to be laid up until next spring.

To the question as in the title.

I have the SRS warning light on and the message centre reporting "Airbag Fault". Checked with Nanocom and it's reporting "Drivers Airbag Open Circuit".
I understand that battery disconnection is highly recommended but wondered if the same can be achieved by removing the SRS fuses.
I always have problems getting the b*****d to go after battery disconnection, have to prat about with the keys in the door locks to get the fobs working and the immobiliser off.

Thanks in advance Guy's

Never had a problem disconnecting the battery on mine, done it many times. for safety always diss the battery and wait per the handbook before working on the SRS.
Sounds like either the roatary coupler behind the steering wheel or the connector behind the binnacle.

Pulling and replacing the fuses always carries the risk of a spark. With the SRS system I'd rather not take that risk. Disconnect the battery then go and have a cuppa before you start.

Thanks for the replies.
Datatek.....It's a strange one but disconnecting the battery always gives me problems. Just putting the keys in the ignition fails to re-sync them, never works, I guess the pick up coil around the ignition barrel isn't woking. I have to put the keys in the door lock, hold the lock button, and turn to the lock position. Sometimes it sync's within a few seconds and sometimes it can take up to 30 seconds. I am always afraid that one of these times it will fail to work. It has a mind of it's own.
Dogsbody.....You have a fair point, not worth the risk.

If you sync your keys by pressing lock button and then locking with the key (or pressing unlock on the fob and unlocking with the key), you shouldn't have the "friendly sync" coil fitted.

This was the original way to sync that was replaced by "friendly sync" in later model years.

Perhaps being a 1999 model it didn't get the sync update although it is a Motronic engine,
or it has been messed with at some time in it's past.
Anyhow, problem with SRS now sorted.
I remembered that 12 months ago I had the same problem after changing the Heater Core O rings and I had disturbed one of the connectors behind the dash so, before doing anything else, I had a play under the dash again and the Airbag Fault message has gone away. Cleared stored faults with Nanocom and can now take it for MOT.
Thanks to all who replied.

tony2 said:

Perhaps being a 1999 model it didn't get the sync update although it is a Motronic engine,
or it has been messed with at some time in it's past.
Anyhow, problem with SRS now sorted.
I remembered that 12 months ago I had the same problem after changing the Heater Core O rings and I had disturbed one of the connectors behind the dash so, before doing anything else, I had a play under the dash again and the Airbag Fault message has gone away. Cleared stored faults with Nanocom and can now take it for MOT.
Thanks to all who replied.

Click to expand...

Auto sync was around a long time before 1999.

Hi Wammers,
When was it introduced ?
I had a 1997 P38 a few years back and that didn't have it either.
It does say in the handbook that my car has it but, yet another LR foible.

You don't need to hold the button at the same time as turning the key btw. You simply press the button, and then turn the key.

Thanks jacckk, will try this next time.

tony2 said:

When was it introduced ?

Click to expand...

Mid 1996 IIRC. So it's only the earliest ones that don't have it.

I thought it was a replacement system, but it looks like friendly syncing is additional to the old method. Good to know if my coil ever packs up!

When I put my key in the lock the LED flashes, I always thought this was the friendly sync operating as the fob code being was read.

April 1996 in fact...



Any BECM after part number AMR5145 should have it!

Thanks for the info.
My key fobs definately do not flash when inserting key into the ignition so, I guess the coil is not working, never mind I can live with it, or without it should I say !!!!

tony2 said:

Thanks for the info.
My key fobs definately do not flash when inserting key into the ignition so, I guess the coil is not working, never mind I can live with it, or without it should I say !!!!

Click to expand...

They can flash even before the key gets into the lock and it's very brief flash.