Airbag light

J

Jcm325

Member
So I have the dreaded red airbag light on the dash, it appeared today, car has not been driven much over the last 8 weeks as I've been away for work.
Drove about 10 miles or so today and no issues, went to collect a battery for my wife's car and put it the passenger footwell then started the car and the airbag light stayed on .
Is it possible the weight of the battery has dislodged something under the carpet?
I'll investigate more thoroughly tomorrow and get the fault code etc but just wondering if the battery is coincidence or not?
 
Nothing in the footwell you could have affected
Get the codes and hopefully we can help you.
Where are you?
 
Did you lean on the passenger seat when putting the battery into the footwell, you might have broken the seat occupancy sensor pad inside the seat, that would set the light. Code reader should pinpoint it if it is indeed that. If it is you could fit a bypass emulator under the seat at the pads connector. It restores the resistance reading for the duff pad and keeps the system happy. It will of course fool the car into thinking there is a passenger in the seat at all times and in the event of an accident the passenger bag will fire, passenger or not.
 
Morning, thanks for the responses
I don't think I put any weight on the seat.
I've just checked the code and cleared it using my creator c310 but the red light persists.
The code i got was

987B coding, firing circuit, belt pre tensioner rear left at variance.

Any pointers would be appreciated
 
Will be something on your seatbelt

Check the connection (battery off) and clean it, ensure it’s sat correctly and not damp where it connects under the seat
Check the buckle and the clasp

If the light still persists after that think about a new one
 
Jcm325 said:
987B coding, firing circuit, belt pre tensioner rear left at variance.
Click to expand...
Is that the only code? Nothing about E85, maybe in brackets?
That code is for 'rear' left which obviously you don't have, but the modules are used in E60 models too.

You should try all the connections first, but i'm thinking it's a module failure.

Looking back I can see yours is a 54-plate, so fingers crossed you may not have one of the earlier SBSL modules as these are like rocking horse droppings and priced according;y!
 
Actually looking at the description it may point to the SBSL being at fault OP- but worth checking all points and connections regardless
 
Ok just had another look with the code reader.
That is the only code showing.
Whilst in the code reader I cannot reset this light when the engine is off ,key at pos 2.
But when running I can extinguish the light, it stays off until I stop and restart.
I can in the data stream see my passenger seat belt being connected and disconnected but this does not show for drivers belt.
I'm going to start at the drivers connection unless anyone else has a better idea?
If the module was bad would i be able to reset as above?
Whats the best battery disconnect procedure? I'm reading conflicting advice.

Many thanks
 
Jcm325 said:
Ok just had another look with the code reader.
That is the only code showing.
Whilst in the code reader I cannot reset this light when the engine is off ,key at pos 2.
But when running I can extinguish the light, it stays off until I stop and restart.
I can in the data stream see my passenger seat belt being connected and disconnected but this does not show for drivers belt.
I'm going to start at the drivers connection unless anyone else has a better idea?
If the module was bad would i be able to reset as above?
Whats the best battery disconnect procedure? I'm reading conflicting advice.

Many thanks
Click to expand...

I actually had similar recently

Issue was with the SBSL which in hindsight I think is your issue as opposed to the seatbelt

I would look at the two SBSL modules on the sill at the base of the doors to check that they aren’t wet OR as was in my case the module is not properly grounded- that caused the airbag light to behave in the exact same way yours does
 
Jcm325 said:
Ok just had another look with the code reader.
That is the only code showing.
Whilst in the code reader I cannot reset this light when the engine is off ,key at pos 2.
But when running I can extinguish the light, it stays off until I stop and restart.
I can in the data stream see my passenger seat belt being connected and disconnected but this does not show for drivers belt.
I'm going to start at the drivers connection unless anyone else has a better idea?
If the module was bad would i be able to reset as above?
Whats the best battery disconnect procedure? I'm reading conflicting advice.

Many thanks
Click to expand...
No point in messing with the righthand side as that code is quite clearly for the left satellite module.

Disconnect the battery negative terminal and wait ten minutes.
Unbolt the seat, lift it forwards and tip it back so you can access the yellow plug underneath.
Check all the connections are secure and no signs of corrosion.

NB. If your seats are electric then you need to motor them back and forth first to access the mounting bolts, then disconnect the battery, wait 10 minutes etc.

Do not reconnect the battery until all the plugs are refitted.

The SBSL is mounted at the rear of the inner left sill under the carpet and secured with three 8mm nuts.
You need to remove the sill trims and pull the carpet away from the sill. Best done with the seat moved fully forward, or indeed removed from the car.
The yellow plug is a fibre-optic cable and can be very brittle on the release tab. You can leave it alone unless you want the module right out of the car.
If there is any sign of damp under the carpet then that could well be the cause of your issue.

To answer your final question, it is very common to have the symptoms you have. The light will reset and then only light again when you turn the ignition back on and the system does a self test.
 
But by all means check the drivers seatbelt connection too- that data suggests something amiss

Disconnect the battery for 15 mins or so before disconnecting any plugs etc
 
bigwinn said:
Jcm325 said:
Ok just had another look with the code reader.
That is the only code showing.
Whilst in the code reader I cannot reset this light when the engine is off ,key at pos 2.
But when running I can extinguish the light, it stays off until I stop and restart.
I can in the data stream see my passenger seat belt being connected and disconnected but this does not show for drivers belt.
I'm going to start at the drivers connection unless anyone else has a better idea?
If the module was bad would i be able to reset as above?
Whats the best battery disconnect procedure? I'm reading conflicting advice.

Many thanks
Click to expand...

I actually had similar recently

Issue was with the SBSL which in hindsight I think is your issue as opposed to the seatbelt

I would look at the two SBSL modules on the sill at the base of the doors to check that they aren’t wet OR as was in my case the module is not properly grounded- that caused the airbag light to behave in the exact same way yours does
Click to expand...
Stuart, we seem to be causing an echo. :D
 
enuff_zed said:
bigwinn said:
Jcm325 said:
Ok just had another look with the code reader.
That is the only code showing.
Whilst in the code reader I cannot reset this light when the engine is off ,key at pos 2.
But when running I can extinguish the light, it stays off until I stop and restart.
I can in the data stream see my passenger seat belt being connected and disconnected but this does not show for drivers belt.
I'm going to start at the drivers connection unless anyone else has a better idea?
If the module was bad would i be able to reset as above?
Whats the best battery disconnect procedure? I'm reading conflicting advice.

Many thanks
Click to expand...

I actually had similar recently

Issue was with the SBSL which in hindsight I think is your issue as opposed to the seatbelt

I would look at the two SBSL modules on the sill at the base of the doors to check that they aren’t wet OR as was in my case the module is not properly grounded- that caused the airbag light to behave in the exact same way yours does
Click to expand...
Stuart, we seem to be causing an echo. :D
Click to expand...
Echo echo
 
bigwinn said:
But by all means check the drivers seatbelt connection too- that data suggests something amiss
Click to expand...
That does seem a little odd?
I wondered if maybe it didn't need to know, as the drivers side airbags always deploy regardless?
But why isn't it causing a 'bong' while you're driving if it doesn't know it's connected?
 
[ref]Jcm325[/ref], if your code reader is decent tyou should be able to view version information for the module.
If so, can you get the part number? 7 digits, starting with a '6'.
Then we can start looking in case you need a replacement one.
 
Jcm325 said:
Morning, thanks for the responses
I don't think I put any weight on the seat.
I've just checked the code and cleared it using my creator c310 but the red light persists.
The code i got was

987B coding, firing circuit, belt pre tensioner rear left at variance.

Any pointers would be appreciated
Click to expand...

Using the Creator 310, you might find airbag errors in any of three menus:

BODY
- SBSL (Satellite, B-pillar, left)
- SBSR (Satellite, B-pillar, right)
- SRS (Airbag)

Make sure you scan them all and clear any codes. For instance, disconnecting the seats will throw an error in the SBSR and the airbag warning light which can’t be cleared from the SRS menu.

The rule is - if you have a warning light, you will have an error code somewhere. It’s just a question of finding it.
 
Easiest way to check the drivers buckle sensor is to go for a drive without the buckle inserted. Takes roughly 30 secs for the dash light to come on.

I don't think the seat buckle would bring on an airbag bag light. The buckle would need a circuit board inside with a separate switch and also the need of 3 wires. A positive, ground and then signal wire. I am quite confident that clipping in the buckle just closes a circuit using a simple switch. The pretensioner which fires during an accident is most certainly checked. This is the only part, I believe, would give you an airbag light on the selt belt buckle do dah.
 
Zedebee said:
For instance, disconnecting the seats will throw an error in the SBSR and the airbag warning light which can’t be cleared from the SRS menu.
Click to expand...
Only if the battery wasn't disconnected first.

And I'd forgotten how 'clunky' the Creator is! I was guilty of assuming he'd done a system scan. :thumbsup:
 
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