Dreaded airbag light on E85 2003 z4

E

Ericb

Member
Well I have the error showing as " 988F Seat-belt buckle : short circuit " Ive replaced the seatbelt buckle and pre tensioner and the yellow plug.....to no avail...has anyone had this error and have they managed to resolve it ......any help or suggestions or checks would be great. Thanks in anticipation. The OBD shows it in " body " and then B pillar
 
Are you in the UK? I may be able to help.
Is it left or right side satellite module giving the code?
 
It is b pillar, so passenger side
 

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Ericb said:
It is b pillar, so passenger side
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There are b pillars both sides of the car and a satellite at the base of each one. That is the SBSL. Other side is SBSR.
You have a very rare one.
When I get back home shortly I’ll send you a list of compatible numbers to look out for
 
There is one on eBay right now, very cheap at £94. But it looks suspiciously like the usual areas where corrosion shows have been painted over. I wouldn’t risk that personally.
 
MikeyH said:
Is it corrosion that stops them working or general old age, enuff_zed?
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Yes.

Mostly due to damp under the carpets, but I've had a few where it just seems to have been age.
I'm sure someone on here opened one up and ran a heat gun over it which cured a dry solder joint, so maybe that is a first stab to try?
 
We took it out yesterday but didnt open it up...but no signs of the powdered Aluminium rust on it. No puddles on the floor. Thanks all for the responses. Is the fact that it says belt buckle short circuit....something I can check ? The OBD says passenger side
 
Ericb said:
We took it out yesterday but didnt open it up...but no signs of the powdered Aluminium rust on it. No puddles on the floor. Thanks all for the responses. Is the fact that it says belt buckle short circuit....something I can check ? The OBD says passenger side
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Sounds like you have replaced the parts that would cause a short circuit, unless somehow it's in the car side of the loom.

If you have NCS Expert you could try coding out the check of the belt buckle within the SBSL.
But with what you've done so far, pretty likely to be the SBSL.
 
I just spoke to my mate... so we are going to swap the modules over, and see how that goes. So working one on one pillar, for hopefully the faulty one. Thanks again for your help
 
Ericb said:
I just spoke to my mate... so we are going to swap the modules over, and see how that goes. So working one on one pillar, for hopefully the faulty one. Thanks again for your help
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What?
Swap left and right? That won't work!
You need to source and fit the correct replacement. The software inside them both is different.
If you do that you will probably end up with two dead modules instead of one.
For starters, even if you could swap them you would need to use INPA, WinKFP, NCES Expert and Tool32 to code them to their correct locations.

Please do a bit of reading back through the many posts on these airbag modules: many of which I have contributed to and helped fix.

Or start saving for more modules!
 
Take a look at the plugs. They will physically fit in the holes but the wires are all in different places. Not only that, but when the central SIM85 sends out it's regular check signals via the fibre-optic line it is going to get mighty confused when the wrong one answers. If nothing else it will register faults in that SIM85 too.
 
Catastrophic Bang incoming …..oh and post Bang 🙈💥🔥…I have just the spares you will need …Pristine Dashboard, Door cards ,all Airbags, pre tensioners and everything else that needs replacing ⚡️at you peril .
 
Ericb said:
Ooofft..... thanks for that.
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Well anyway, I'm off on my hols tomorrow and not home until 24th March, so if you get stuck you'll need to ask around to see if anyone else can help......................... or wait a fortnight.
 
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