Airbag warning

Q I have a problem with my Toyota Avensis T22 2.0 CDX. I have an airbag light showing constantly and have the fault codes ‘ B0138’ and ‘B1100’, which show as ‘left hand squib pre-tensioner circuit’ and ‘ECU fault’. I can find very little information on how to test these. Can you please advise? Graeme Gibson A As you say, the code ‘B0138’ refers to a short circuit in the passenger pre-tensioner squib and ‘B1100’ refers to sensor malfunction. This may simply be a matter of a bad connection on the pre-tensioner or squib wiring connector, or it may be the pretensioner or the squib itself at fault.

For around £4.50, you can buy a bypass module on ebay. By plugging this into the squib/pre-tensioner connection, you should be able to ascertain if one of these units is faulty, although you may need to have the fault codes cleared each time you bypass the unit with the module.

Given the dangers of remotely setting off the airbags, exploratory work on the airbag system is not advised. You may be better off finding a local specialist who has the equipment needed to test the airbag circuits.