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MG MGF Technical - Wire under seat

Removed my passenger seat this morning so that I could remove the seat belt from the T-bar (brilliant bit of Rover design, gap wasn't wide enough to remove star rachet when seat belt bolt was half way out, although the drivers side was wide enough...strange anyway) underneath the seat I discovered a large yellow insulated wire clipped to the underside of the seat....I assume the same is found on the drivers side! It runs into the gap where the handbrake adjuster is located. Without a manual I'm not sure what this wire does...any ideas?
Rob

I think it's for the seatbelt Pre-tensioners
all wires that have a yellow cover on them are to do with the safty system and care should be taken when dealing with them as i'm sure a lot of people will tell you.
There is a correct way to disconect these wire.
Anybody??
David Smith

Yeah, just unplug it (what I did, several times)
Or the MGR covering our backs version
Remove the car battery for 15 minutes before disconnecting/reconnecting

It is the explosive trigger wire.
Will Munns

Like this?

>> http://www.sfforever.co.uk/viewgallerypicture.asp?id=6-23-115-116-117-118-119-120-121-122-123-124-125-126-127-128-129-130-131-132-133-134-135-136-137&queryon=17 <<

and

>> http://www.sfforever.co.uk/viewgallerypicture.asp?id=7-23-115-116-117-118-119-120-121-122-123-124-125-126-127-128-129-130-131-132-133-134-135-136-137&queryon=17 <<

If so then yes, this is the seatbelt pre-tensioner wire. The pretensioner has a small explosive charge inside and there is a (very) small risk of accidentally triggering it (and the airbag(s)) if you disonnect any of the wiring with power still in the system. The safe way is to disconnect the battery (both terminals) and leave the car for 10 to 15 minutes (there is a battery backup in the SRS system). This will give enough time for the system to discharge and you can work on it safely.

SF
Scarlet Fever

That's the one Andy, blimey Charlie, didn't realise I could have set the airbag off.....fortunately I haven't got a passenger side airbag.....i assume the passenger side tensioner would only set off the p/s airbag. will be more careful on the drivers side! Amazing creatures these F's, you try and improve them, show them car and attention and all the while they are waiting to kick you in the ass! gotta love em!
Rob

Not sure on that one Rob, i suspect that the entire system would have been triggered (both pre-tensioners and the driver's airbag), but the risk is pretty small. The workshop manual goes on about it in BIG BOLD LETTERS, but this is probabaly as Will says more to cover thier *rses.

To be honest, it is for this very same reason that the 'disconnect the battery' proceedure is on the SOS site as well. These days i always follow it (just in case), but for ages i was happy in my ignorance and had the seats out numerous times, disconnecting the multiplug without a care and with no problems - then i read the manual! :-O

I have never heard of the system being actually triggered in this way and have done the job (before i knew better) a number of times with no ill-effects.

Ignorance is bliss eh?

;-)

SF
Scarlet Fever

Don't assume here, either all the airbags go off, or not (why would only the passanger side trigger in an accident?)

These systems are designed with safty in mind, there have been quite a few (although none recently?) threads about the connectors working loose and lighting the diagnostic lamp, but NEVER any reports about airbags being errorneously triggered. In fact if you search you will only find threads about 'why didn't my airbag trigger' not the other way around.

You know it love you like you love it ;-P
Will Munns

This thread was discussed on 17/09/2003

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