Minor MOT problems

[kernowman]

Hi everybody, have not posted for a while - been a tad busy. Found I was five weeks out of date today on my MOT, so hastily got it into the garage. Pretty good as only failed on two points - handbrake, which I new about, and a non working horn. Worked OK at the beginning of the week - typical, dead for the MOT. Here comes the stupid question - where is the horn on the Ex - I can't locate it - have they tucked it away somewhere so it can't easily be found when the alarm goes off? Have checked relay and fuses - this just leaves wiring, horn connection and horn button to check.

 

[Blee1099]

There is a relay under the hood that controls the horn. Another thing to check is to see if your cruise control works. If it doesn't then chances are its a bad clock spring.

 

[swampyrbs]

im pretty sure its drivers side under plastic arch below ariel if i remember right?

 

[chrisquelch]

hornes

hi the hornes are on the n/s at the front above plastic arch cover. cheers chris

 

[kernowman]

Thanks for the help, guys. Decided to take the easy way for a moment just to get through the MOT - stuck a pair of cheap horns under the wing and wired to the horn relay output side, as evrything from horn button through to relay is working OK. When I get more time I will get to the old horns - probably going to be something like an earth connection..
Still can't find a way to get rid of my airbag light (flashes code 12). My local garage with their equipment can't clear it either - say only a garage with mega equipment can do it which will mean its going to cost me mega bucks. Our friends in the forum in the US seem to be able to clear their airbag lights easily with a jumper across the airbag computer, but we don't seem to be able to do it on ours. Fortunately, the airbag is not in the MOT. It just niggles with it on all the time.

 

[chrisquelch]

air bag light

hi air bag light on is usually caused by contacts behind steering wheel .cheers Chris

 

[Stenasev]

hi air bag light on is usually caused by contacts behind steering wheel .cheers Chris

That wouldn't apply (solely) to a Code 12 though.

Kernowman, as you already know Code 12 is low battery voltage. Have you taken steps to correct this situation before trying to get the code cleared? Because if the code is still flashing then I would suggest the fault still exists. I assume you have checked all relevant fuses and connection at the diagnostic monitor?

SS

 

[kernowman]

I agree with you SS, code 12 (and only this code, because it is a low battery voltage code), must be something other than contacts. Coincidence or not, the light problem came on overnight. At the time, I did have a rather dodgy battery that was easily flattened - however I replaced this - thought it might have cleared the light problem automatically after a while. Have checked all fuses - any idea where the airbag controller/monitor is situated? Posted this question some time back on the forum but didn't get any answers - US vehicles seem to have it fitted behind the side kick panel in the footwell - looked both sides but don't appear to have anything there, unless I did not recognise what I was looking for.

 

[Stenasev]

As you mentioned the diagnostic monitor is fitted behind the passenger kick trim. You can't really miss it. It has two multiplugs, one black and one grey.

Once battery voltage has been restored to the monitor the light should flash a code of 52 to say power has been restored. It would seem the fault is still present and probably not caused by a faulty battery.

SS