Left side thorax airbag fix recommendation

P

Purcy

Member
 Wales
Long story short I have been trying to troubleshoot by airbag light on my e85 2.5l.
I've had various codes all leaning towards the thorax airbag. I first assumed it was the module so I checked that out and it seemed fine but there was a little green tab that I snapped.
I've heard that if the black tab snaps on the black plug it can throw codes but I'm not similar with the green one.

I have cleaned all the plugs, connectors, even the door airbag connector and bst connector with contact spray.

When taking the door apart for the airbag to inpect I took plug off but the wire was brittle and just snapped in my hand. I have used a butt connector, crimped them and used a heat gun to try to splice them together.

I don't know if this is the correct method but the code is now a 98ea resistance too low. Before the fix it was too high.

Do I redo the wires with a heatshrink solder connector instead?

I've seen countless way people have done it and for the most part people have used the method I have done but it's not working as intended.
I have been troubleshooting for a week
 
I would probably start by replacing the whole door loom. It shouldn't be too hard, and will remove any wiring concerns, and give you a good solid base to start from.

If the wiring was brittle where you touched it, it is probably brittle/damaged elsewhere within the door.

I suspect the breakers on here will have the loom. They just unplug at the door hinge, so the wiring itself is contained to just the door.

I'd be prepared to replace the vapour barrier at the same time, as it will get damaged in the process. BMW sell them for not outlandish money.
 
Thanks for reply
Funny enough I did try get to the connector at the door but couldn't get anything behind the seal to get the plug. Also whilst I'm their i might as well do that aswell. Now it's finding a door loom
 
Your initial high resistance would most likely have been corrosion in the plug that connects the door to the a-pillar.
If all else fails, it is possible to code out the resistance checks to the thorax airbag, but that may mean it wouldn’t work in an accident.
Door looms are different depending if you have a 2 or 6 pin window motor, folding or auto dimming mirrors, standard stereo or speakers in the doors etc.
 
enuff_zed said:
Your initial high resistance would most likely have been corrosion in the plug that connects the door to the a-pillar.
If all else fails, it is possible to code out the resistance checks to the thorax airbag, but that may mean it wouldn’t work in an accident.
Door looms are different depending if you have a 2 or 6 pin window motor, folding or auto dimming mirrors, standard stereo or speakers in the doors etc.
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So i have just removed it and the bottom portion was covered in blue stuff from the factory that they use for the bolts? Also noticed one of the pins came out with the plug. I have cleaned it with contact cleaner but I don't know what that pins is responsible for. Either way if I was to connect a new loom that was an exact match I would still have a pins missing as the bit poking out of the car frame is a male connector
 
Purcy said:
So i have just removed it and the bottom portion was covered in blue stuff from the factory that they use for the bolts? Also noticed one of the pins came out with the plug. I have cleaned it with contact cleaner but I don't know what that pins is responsible for. Either way if I was to connect a new loom that was an exact match I would still have a pins missing as the bit poking out of the car frame is a male connector
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Sounds like you need to speak to @Umfaan for the car side of the loom too. Maybe you can use that to repin it.
Can't say I've ever seen any blue stuff used and there's only the one small bolt at the top? I reckon what you're seeing is evidence of corrosion.
 
bigwinn said:
I think the blue stuff is thread locker on the 8mm bolt
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That's what I'm thinking. Cuz I've seen that on the bolts but was confused to see it in the connector. Photos below show how much was in there. Bearing mind this was after I used contact cleaner.
 

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enuff_zed said:
Sounds like you need to speak to @Umfaan for the car side of the loom too. Maybe you can use that to repin it.
Can't say I've ever seen any blue stuff used and there's only the one small bolt at the top? I reckon what you're seeing is evidence of corrosion.
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Ye I'm not sure if you can see but you might be able to see the pin in the top right if the plug 1 down. Also shows how much thread locker was on the connector. Doesn't look like corrosion to me 🤷‍♂️ could've contributed to the problem.
EDIT: Second look and its definitely corrosion. It's more of a greenish hue. Explains how one of the pins just fell of most likely snapped when coming out as it was fragile.
 

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Purcy said:
Ye I'm not sure if you can see but you might be able to see the pin in the top right if the plug 1 down. Also shows how much thread locker was on the connector. Doesn't look like corrosion to me 🤷‍♂️ could've contributed to the problem.
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That is corrosion; seen it many times in those plugs. Have you looked at the route any thread lock would have to take from the bolt to get there!
 
enuff_zed said:
That is corrosion; seen it many times in those plugs. Have you looked at the route any thread lock would have to take from the bolt to get there!
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Ye silly me🤦‍♂️ just looked very blue when I pulled it out initially. I will now try get my hands of a loom and plug it in. If the code is still there I'm going to guess the pin was for srs system and re pin it. I will be back once I do it and have answers. Thanks for the help its very much appreciated!
 
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