Project Jaspis Green jewel juggernaut

[ainarssems]

Just a cheeky though but could you just apply sticker from another airbag with different part number/date if only just as temporary measure to get them off your back. Would be easier to mail just the sticker instead of whole airbag. Or even print your own. As a more permanent option is the inflator exchangeable on airbag? I understand problem is with the inflator so if you could get good inflator and a sticker with different part number you would be sorted.

[27litres]

Originally Posted by C4R 100N

I found it to be funny at any rate!

I actually wrote an email to John Cadogan about this issue when the news broke (as well as the ACCC - who haven't replied yet).
For those who don't know, John Cadogan is a Mechanical Engineer and Motoring Journalist who has been the Editor of Wheels Magazine and had various other media motoring gigs. These days he is a consumer advocate who operates his soap box via YouTube and also runs a website which handles new car sales negotiations on behalf of buyers to try and get the best possible price.

Anyway his reply to me was:
"Martin,
I'm not a lawer but I don't see how they can compel you to sell. Fixing it is their responsibility, I would have thought.
JC"
That was sent to me the same day the video went up, so I can't claim responsibility for that!

[C4R 100N]

Originally Posted by ainarssems

Just a cheeky though but could you just apply sticker from another airbag with different part number/date if only just as temporary measure to get them off your back. Would be easier to mail just the sticker instead of whole airbag. Or even print your own. As a more permanent option is the inflator exchangeable on airbag? I understand problem is with the inflator so if you could get good inflator and a sticker with different part number you would be sorted.

Nice idea with the sticker! I figured that the person inspecting would take pictures though someone might notice something fishy.

It seems that the Takata ones are hard wired, whereas other brands such as TRW, have a connector. Also, the Takata ones, as far as I can tell, all have the same part #, ie. BAM-PT1-0593. This seems true for all units of a certain vintage that I can find pictures of. 1996-1999 seems to be a rough date range, and is installed in A4, A6 and A8 vehicles. Does not seem to discriminate between markets either. Since I've been looking, I have found examples in Germany, Latvia, Poland, UK, USA, Australia, all with that same part number.

[C4R 100N]

Originally Posted by 27litres

I actually wrote an email to John Cadogan about this issue when the news broke (as well as the ACCC - who haven't replied yet).
For those who don't know, John Cadogan is a Mechanical Engineer and Motoring Journalist who has been the Editor of Wheels Magazine and had various other media motoring gigs. These days he is a consumer advocate who operates his soap box via YouTube and also runs a website which handles new car sales negotiations on behalf of buyers to try and get the best possible price.

Anyway his reply to me was:
"Martin,
I'm not a lawer but I don't see how they can compel you to sell. Fixing it is their responsibility, I would have thought.
JC"
That was sent to me the same day the video went up, so I can't claim responsibility for that!

Thanks for posting that Marty. Very interesting reading!

[C4R 100N]

I got a letter from Audi on Friday advising of an urgent recall on the airbag. Not unexpected. They must have got my details from the registration regulatory authority here in NSW, the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).

I am off for a drive tomorrow to the only wreckers within Kooee of here that might be likely to have a salvageable steering wheel / airbag. My registration is due on the 27th January. I have been scouring the internet for a local source but so far have only managed to find candidates that are compromised in the same way as my vehicle.

So, I am looking for an A4 - 2001, or an A6 - 2001 to 2003. Are there any other vehicles that would suit? TT? A8 with a tiptronic wheel? I can fit a 4 spoke A8 wheel post 2001 I am assuming?

Thanks for all of the advice kind people!

Paul

[MikkiJayne]

TT I'm not sure. A8 2001/2002 will work. Also Allroad as thats the same as the A6.

Do you know if simply replacing the wheel with an unaffected one is an acceptable solution to re-registration yet?

[roberto]

heres one for you ....
i had this lovely A8 steering wheel on my Ford Galaxy 2004 (the galaudi)
perfect fit
So the Ford Galaxy will fit perfect on the A8

why not ... ooh and front A8 seats too

[C4R 100N]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

TT I'm not sure. A8 2001/2002 will work. Also Allroad as thats the same as the A6.

Do you know if simply replacing the wheel with an unaffected one is an acceptable solution to re-registration yet?

Thanks for the extra information MikkiJayne.

I went in to Audi just before Christmas to ask them about the recall. I was speaking to their head of service. He read from his screen some of the information regarding the inspection process....
A couple of the points that he mentioned were:-

Airbag not Takata- no further action required.
Airbag date of manufacture later than 2000 - no further action required.

I also asked him what the stance would be if the steering wheel was one of those aftermarket jobs that has no airbag, ie momo or similar. He said that if that was the case then there would probably need to be an engineering certificate supplied stating that the wheel was safe, etc.

I think he was guessing on that point though.

I can’t remember how the conversation turned to this next bit, but he also said that if there was some “other“ airbag there, how would they know? He suggested that as long as it was not an affected airbag, then it should be ok. He also said - we never had this conversation, so I don’t know is the short answer as to whether a retrofitted wheel / airbag would have negative consequences.

Having spent way too much time thinking about this, as well as spending some sleepless nights, I am inclined to be thinking that a different wheel/airbag than what was originally installed on the vehicle should be OK. If it fits and operates the same as the original, with the same electrical connections then I can’t think of a reason for it being a problem. Except if the case is that the airbag control module is unhappy with the replacement?

After all, there would be other examples of cars on the road with different wheels that sail merrily through registration inspection process year after year. Much the same as there would be millions of cars that ‘carry on’ with airbags installed in them which are well beyond their use by date. I have not heard of someone having their registration denied over these things, but it has probably happened I suppose.

The mechanic that has worked on my S8 in the past when it was owned by the previous owner has emphatically stated that he will issue a ‘pass’ safety inspection for the car so long as the airbag light is not on in the dash. That was said with full knowledge that the car was subject to a safety recall for the installed airbags. This mechanic is a VW Audi Porsche specialist, So, I don’t know.

[MikkiJayne]

It sounds to me then that we need to meet one or both of the 'no further action' criteria then.

Assuming you draw a blank on finding something locally, PM me your address please and I will get a proper quote for sending you a complete UK steering wheel and airbag

[C4R 100N]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

It sounds to me then that we need to meet one or both of the 'no further action' criteria then.

Assuming you draw a blank on finding something locally, PM me your address please and I will get a proper quote for sending you a complete UK steering wheel and airbag

Ideally, both criterion, but beggars cannot be choosers, as the old saying goes.
All of the local contacts for prospective solutions that I have managed to discover are on Christmas holidays still, so I have a bit of a wait. Even so, it is not clear whether the parts that I have been able to identify as potential solutions, are indeed such!

On a happier note, I was able to renew the registration on the S8 today! So, maybe the pressure is off in the short term?

EDIT: I tries to private message you but I am not convinced that it worked, so I will send you an email