Airbag warning Light - Fault Code 985C

[Caterham7]

So a quick forum search seems to indicate that I now have a common problem with my 2.5i Z4 - 2003 pre-facelift...

Red airbag illuminated on the dash board. Code Reader gives the fallowing diagnostic:

SBSL Control Unit fault - satellite B-Pillar Left - SBSL - Fault Code ID 985C.

First question - any tips on where I can find this on the car - where does it hide??

Second - I'm assuming they are not available any longer, even if I get it out?

 

[enuff_zed]

So a quick forum search seems to indicate that I now have a common problem with my 2.5i Z4 - 2003 pre-facelift...

Red airbag illuminated on the dash board. Code Reader gives the fallowing diagnostic:

SBSL Control Unit fault - satellite B-Pillar Left - SBSL - Fault Code ID 985C.

First question - any tips on where I can find this on the car - where does it hide??

Second - I'm assuming they are not available any longer, even if I get it out?

Welcome to the airbag forum! Every second post just lately!
The SBSL sits at the base of the b-pillar, under the carpet behind the passenger seat, bolted to the sill.
It is about 3 inches square, silver, with a multiplug and an optic cable.
You need to get the part number from the label: last 7 digits will do, or get a photo and post it on here. There are several that are exchangeable, you just need to pray yours isn't one of the batch that have lately become unobtainable.
Once you get a number, let me know as I have a few here and can hopefully help you get it swapped and coded.

If you find that it is wet under the carpet then obviously that'll be the cause. The foam holds gallons! You'll need to get that sorted first.

 

[Caterham7]

Thanks for the swift reply. Much appreciated. I'm hoping you can get it out without the seat needing to be removed?

 

[enuff_zed]

Thanks for the swift reply. Much appreciated. I'm hoping you can get it out without the seat needing to be removed?

You can, but it's a bit fiddly.
Also better to disconnect the battery anyway, otherwise it has a tendency to raise codes on the other modules (which can be cleared, but which can cause confusion with regard to the airbag light)

 

[Caterham7]

I had a quick look last night to see how to do it - and sadly I can feel water under the carpet under the seat. I've only had the car for a few weeks and its been dry over that time so guess it's been wet for some time (it was stored outside all last winter). :|

Are there any good guides on how to take out the interior trim? Found a few Youtube videos but nothing useful.

 

[enuff_zed]

Battery disconnected then seats out. If they are electric seats you need to motor them about to unbolt them before you disconnect the battery. Then pop the sill trims off and the rear corner ones. Then the carpet can be lifted enough to push a loads of towels etc in there. Push down hard on the carpet to squeeze out the foam. Do that a few times then leave it with towels in and weighed down.
Obviously you need to find where the water is getting in. Possibly from the door membrane. Poor water along the bottom edge of the window and see if water comes through at the bottom of the door card.
Check drivers side as well.
Get poly bags and some of those silica gel sachets like you find in shoe boxes. Bag up the left and right airbag modules and also the yaw sensor under the drivers seat.
And of course we need to find a new airbag module

 

[Caterham7]

Thanks for all your help - they are manual seats so that might mean an easier job. It will have to wait as too many other things on my radar at the moment, but will report back. Thanks again

 

[enuff_zed]

Thanks for all your help - they are manual seats so that might mean an easier job. It will have to wait as too many other things on my radar at the moment, but will report back. Thanks again

sooner you can get the module nunmber, sooner we can start looking.

 

[Zedebee]

It takes a loooong time to dry out a soggy carpet. A dehumidifier helps, if you have one.

 

[Caterham7]

I do - just need to be able to get the car in the garage

 

[Mike6]

Just accessed module on my car enlisting enuffs help and it's really easy. Just disconnect battery and leave for twenty minutes. No need to take seat out just push it to max distance towards steering wheel. Then pull out the rubber seal that goes just under hood to bottom of door. Pop up the short plastic trim piece that joins the rear panelling to the runner on the sill, pull up the carpet as much as you can and you will see the module along the inner sill, held in by 3 small bolts. Took me about 15 minutes to get module out but you should be able to read the numbers on it leaving it intact.

 

[Caterham7]

Thanks - That is really helpful. What a great t forum

 

[Caterham7]

Silly question - my coder said the problem was the LH side - just checking but I am assuming for a UK-spec car that is the 'passenger side' - LH to the driver when seated at the wheel?

 

[Mike6]

I had to ask the same question. Yes left side will be passenger.

 

[enuff_zed]

Silly question - my coder said the problem was the LH side - just checking but I am assuming for a UK-spec car that is the 'passenger side' - LH to the driver when seated at the wheel?

SBSL is left of the car
SBSR is right of the car
SIM85 is the main central one

 

[Mike6]

Hold your horses for the moment. Try this and report back:
Code out the fault on your scanner, then disconnect the battery for about 30 minutes. Reconnect battery and then start car and see if airbag light goes out.
It may just have worked for me

 

[Caterham7]

OK thanks - I coded out the fault on the scanner - without disconnecting the battery, and it has not appeared again over the past few days of local short trips.

If it comes back again, I'll try the battery disconnect trick.

Just to check - is there anything clever about disconnecting the battery - on my other BMW you have to programme the car again if the battery is disconnected (Battery Management System??). is this the case with the 2003 Z4?

 

[BumpyZ4]

No reprogramming required when the battery is disconnected or replaced.

 

[Mike6]

Disconnecting the battery can reset the functionality. No reprogramming required.

 

[Caterham7]

So, after much delay..... I finally took out the seats today to get to the offending module, which looks like this...

So does anyone know if this module is still available?

I also noticed there is plenty of water under the seats, although the module itself was dry and shows no signs of corrosion?