TRW MPS (TYPE 1)

A far from bland coloured box, this Red & Yellow ECU is instantly recognizable. It is one of the earliest TRW Airbag systems and had no internal impact sensors relying instead on two external sensors mounted directly behind each headlamp on the inner wings. Whilst the ECU itself may be buried anywhere in the vehicle these sensors are easy to spot especially as they are always either bright Yellow or Orange. Indeed the wiring of the entire Airbag system is independent to the vehicle and covered in bright yellow flexible conduit or tape to specifically denote its usage from other wiring as a safety related matter. Looking for these sensors is the easiest way to determine if a vehicle built in 1996 when this system was replaced across the entire model range, has this ECU or the TRW SPS1 which replaced it. Although in all other countries this ECU was changed to the later SPS type 1, it seems that North American Range Rovers (P38), continued to have it fitted until 1999. The MPS designation is in respect of Multi Point Sensing.