Dollywobbler's Daewoo Dalliances - Matiz mostly HOME!

[mrbenn]

Think the 1996 onwards rule applies to cars made and sold in the US. For the UK (EU) it is cars made from 2001 onwards - ETA it is 2004 for diesel engined cars.

 

The Matiz of this age, from memory, has a 12 pin OBD 1 socket.

[dollywobbler]

Aye. It's a big old chunky thing that nothing seems to fit.

[LightBulbFun]

Aye. It's a big old chunky thing that nothing seems to fit.

 

do you know the pinout, and if the pins match anything else?

 

maybe make a DIY adapter

[Steve79]

In that case it sounds like a GM 12-pin ALDL cable.

 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F141924049984

 

Looks like the seller is up your way Ian

[beko1987]

Can't SiC knock something together?

[mrbenn]

It is indeed the old GM plug. Sadly, software is the main hurdle. My(decent) local garage couldn’t even read the fault codes in mine.

 

I remember the guys at Car Mechanics mag having trouble turning the airbag light off on the project Matiz. Could maybe have a word with them and see if they have any suggestions, Ian.

[dollywobbler]

I'm starting to think that the easiest course of action might be to simply remove the airbags. Not like I never drive around in complete death-traps anyway.

[MorrisItalSLX]

Is Mr MOT Man going to think that is a suitable solution?

[dollywobbler]

I believe it is a solution. As far as I know, there's no ban on fitting sports steering wheels to cars that had airbags originally for instance.

[loserone]

As long as the car was also sold without airbags. If every matiz had them, I think you need to keep them.

[dollywobbler]

Drat. Every UK Matiz had them. That seems an odd rule though.

[dome]

That's frustrating. Does the airbag have a separate ECU causing the EML?

 

If so could you replace it?

[Zelandeth]

I've got a diagram here for a PC ALDL interface (same system the TBi system fitted by Lada to the late 90s Nivas), if the software is accessible I could knock the hardware together pretty easily I'd think.

 

I've just not bothered yet as I've not actually needed one...

[Schaefft]

If you consider replacing the airbag steering wheel, you might as well just remove the bulb, get it through the test, put it back in and find a solution without throwing away money. Or would a non-illuminating airbag light be a fail?

[catsinthewelder]

I'm fairly sure that one of our more technically gifted members had a solution to that problem involving a small circuitboard that would replicate the light coming on with the ignition then quickly extinguishing.  It would be better to fix it properly if possible though as you might as well have working safety kit.

[Mrcento]

All you need really is to rewire the light from an alternate switched source (probably stereo) and fit a timed relay in, light will come on with ignition and extinguish after a few seconds.

 

Of course it's a bad idea 99% of the time and pretty underhand given it's all to create an illusion that a safety item is there and working, but when it's unfixable and that or the car effectively made un-motable and you'd just remove the airbag if it was allowed anyway, then it falls into the 1% of time it is ok.

[dollywobbler]

Well this is still crawling on. Car is now pretty much MOT ready bar the sodding airbag light. I think we may go 'bulb out' to get a pass. It seems a stupid rule, but apparently if it doesn't come on, it's not a fail. If it stays on, it's a fail...

 

After that, I still want to get it properly sorted out. I would never fit a timer to fake it. That's ludicrous on a car I might sell one day. 

[SiC]

Does a GM Tech II with a GM software loaded work on these? I know the GM software seems to work with most GM models for basic code reading/erasing of many modules. If so, I have a Tech 2 you could borrow and I think I have a ALDL connector in the box. I'll go check in a minute...

 

(I'll have to get a GM card or load GM software over the Saab software on the one I have).

[dollywobbler]

I have no idea. This is me way out of my comfort zone. I think it's one reason I sought the Favorit. Refreshingly light on computers (bar an engine ECU. I'll allow that).

[egg]

As posted on Facebook, My Mondeo has gone through 3 MOTs (2 testers) without the airbag even getting the advisory (it should have). My airbag control module is disconnected completely, so no chance of it firing. And of course, as was much lauded at the time, every Mondeo had a drivers airbag, even a base!

[SiC]

Which of these does the diagnostic port look like?

[SiC]

I believe it is a solution. As far as I know, there's no ban on fitting sports steering wheels to cars that had airbags originally for instance.

My mate has a Clio 182 that had an aftermarket non airbag wheel fitted. The car came with an airbag. Previous testers passed it. Latest failed it. Has to have an airbag wheel if the car came with one.

 

Clio is obvious to have one, Matiz maybe not. Won't help it though if airbag light is glowing.

[SiC]

I assume you've tried the trick of disconnecting the battery for half hour? Of course needs no active codes for that to work.

[mrbenn]

I assume you've tried the trick of disconnecting the battery for half hour? Of course needs no active codes for that to work.

 

This doesn't work on these. Tried it on mine with no success.

[Mrcento]

Well this is still crawling on. Car is now pretty much MOT ready bar the sodding airbag light. I think we may go 'bulb out' to get a pass. It seems a stupid rule, but apparently if it doesn't come on, it's not a fail. If it stays on, it's a fail...

 

After that, I still want to get it properly sorted out. I would never fit a timer to fake it. That's ludicrous on a car I might sell one day. 

 

Not as stupid a rule as it initially seems, some cars have airbags but no airbag light to illuminate, particularly ones with mechanically triggered bags, like my Discovery, likely certain early 90's jags etc.

[beko1987]

Sounds like it'll be much easier to get a pass with the bulb out, then a lovely hub nut video legal drive to somewhere with the kit and film it all working

[Noel Tidybeard]

https://www.chevroletownersclub.co.uk/forum/21-matiz/4038-air-bag-warning-light.html

[dollywobbler]

https://www.chevroletownersclub.co.uk/forum/21-matiz/4038-air-bag-warning-light.html

 

That doesn't appear to really move things along...

 

We're going bulb out.

 

SIC - I'm not with the car, so can't confirm what the socket looks like.

[dollywobbler]

Remove the bulb worked! MOT passed with advisory.

 

Annoyingly, I discovered this fact just after a friend and colleague departed my house for his home not a million miles from where the Matiz is. That was quite annoying. I also don't know how big the bill is going to be yet, but am fearing the worst. Probably going to jump on a train and collect it on Friday. Maybe.

[mrbenn]

Great news! I've been rooting for the little thing