Airbag Light

I

IMZ4N

Senior member
 Orange County CA
I have an airbag light in the cluster. Had the car looked at and I'm being told that the cause is the pressure pad in the seat. They them tell me that before 11/03 build you could just replace the pad and after 11/03 build you now need to replace the bottom part of the seat to fix the problem. So I'm looking for a non-sport seat, black leather, electric, heated for the passenger side.

I was wondering if the pad from the pre 11/03 would work and just place it under the leather.

Any thoughts?
 
Citation 650,

Depending on the code being shown. There are many codes that will cause the light to come on.

My code said there is an error in the pressure pad that sences a body in the passenger seat is not working correctly. In the pre 11/03 build the pad was replaceable as just the pad. After that build the entire bottom of the seat needs to be replaced.

If you have the light on in the cluster, none of the airbags would work in an accident. Not a good feeling for me.

I might need to start driving like I own it instead of like I stole it.
 
Citation 650,

From what I am learning. You have censors in the front bumper the back bumber , front passenger seat and in the doors as well at each airbag. If you unplug the seat or unplug an airbag or take off the steering wheel without disconnecting the battery the light in the cluster will come on. If you have done any of those things a simple clear of the light will most likely fix the light and airbags will then work fine.

The code shown points to a low voltage causing the light and points to the passenger seat pressure contact . I'm thinking about getting a pad from and 03 and trying it in place of what I have now.
 
I'm not sure you already want to go ahead and replace the seat cover right away. I would first check the connection under the seat and make sure it's plugged in right and it's not oxidized. There's some spray you can pick up at Radio Shack that cleanse connectors.

About the airbag not deploying in the event of an accident I don't believe it's the case: the sensor in the seat tells the airbag module that the passenger and airbags on both sides need to deploy in case of an accident (if there's not a passenger and under certain conditions only the driver side airbags would deploy). If the sensor is malfunctioning the system goes in "safe mode" and deploys both. This is just a very simplified explanation: airbag systems are extremely complicated with several checks and alternative procedure to guarantee a high level of safety in case of minor malfunctions (such as yours).

I wish I had the Carsoft software so we could actually do some more in depth diagnose and try the connector.
 
ZetaTre,

That IMHO would make more sense. To be in a safe mode and all deploy.

I have heard that if the light was on, nothing will deploy. Perhaps that is a scare tatic just to get you to fix it.

I will disconect the battery and check the connector. Thanks for the help.
 
If you read some of my airbag posts, I have the same problem.

Disconnecting the battery will NOT clear the light. The code must be reset in the Safety and Information Module (SIM).

The reason on the change in the passenger seat sensor around 11/03, is before that date, the electronics is in a little box (A113) under the seat the pad is connected to that box and that box is then connected to the system. On cars after that build date, the electronics is built in to the passenger seat pad.....

I am currently looking for the BMW part number just for the pad since my build date is before 11/03.

Look at this post for further troubleshooting of that area.

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3914&p=64683&hilit=passenger+seat#p64683

Also, on my website, here is the electricals for that circuit.
http://www.shipkiller.com/Z4PassSeat.html
 
Shipkiller,

Awsome Ship look like great information. :thumbsup:

I may just owe you some beers at HC 08.
 
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