Constant Airbag and Seatbelt Warning?

[pilotnick1203]

Hi guys,
After a day of owning the car, I love it I have one concern however. The Seatbelt and Airbag warning lights won't turn off. According to the dealer it has not done that. A result of being shipped in cold weather and a drained battery or something else? What should I do?

[danewilson77]

Mmm.... Airbag light can only be turned off with the SRS reset tool.

Three causes are seat belt switch, tensioner, or passenger occupancy mat.

This dealer is reputable?

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[Avetiso]

This makes me wonder...

Who the hell has my tool? :rofl PM's, incoming.

[johnrando]

I have the srs tool

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[pilotnick1203]

Mmm.... Airbag light can only be turned off with the SRS reset tool.

Three causes are seat belt switch, tensioner, or passenger occupancy mat.

This dealer is reputable?

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http://exclusive-auto-imports.ebizautos.com/detail-2004-bmw-3_series-330ci-used-11254489.html I may tajke it up to European Motorsports or Baron to see if they can reset the SRS... I will have them look at the Seatbelt light too. Thanks!

[danewilson77]

Hopefully it can be reset. My experience is that something needs fixed unless the dealer had the seats out, or door cards off and didn't disconnect the battery (soft fault).

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[ELCID86]

Will a code reader help isolate the issue?

[brettbimmer]

Hopefully it can be reset. My experience is that something needs fixed unless the dealer had the seats out, or door cards off and didn't disconnect the battery (soft fault).

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+2. What seems odd is that he is getting both airbag and seatbelt lights on at once. When I have had a tensioner "fail" in the past, it was only the SRS airbag light that came on.

Nick, did you check the connections under the driver's seat where they plug into the harness near the carpet to be sure that they are secure? If anyone was riding in the back seat and bumped the plugs with their feet or during the seat being tilted and moved forward for coupe rear seat access, I am wondering if that is causing you the lights? Perhaps a detailer removed the seats for interior cleaning before you received the car, and after several starts (with plugs loose or unplugged) and a change in the wire resistance, the lights for both are now on. Just a hypothesis given my trouble with a chafed harness in my E36 seatbelt wiring under the seat, but this should be simple to check. Sadly, airbag light needs to be reset by a tool, even if this does in fact turn out to be the problem. Hope this helps. Let us know what you find.

[pilotnick1203]

Hopefully it can be reset. My experience is that something needs fixed unless the dealer had the seats out, or door cards off and didn't disconnect the battery (soft fault).

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:/ let's hope!

[pilotnick1203]

+2. What seems odd is that he is getting both airbag and seatbelt lights on at once. When I have had a tensioner "fail" in the past, it was only the SRS airbag light that came on.

Nick, did you check the connections under the driver's seat where they plug into the harness near the carpet to be sure that they are secure? If anyone was riding in the back seat and bumped the plugs with their feet or during the seat being tilted and moved forward for coupe rear seat access, I am wondering if that is causing you the lights? Perhaps a detailer removed the seats for interior cleaning before you received the car, and after several starts (with plugs loose or unplugged) and a change in the wire resistance, the lights for both are now on. Just a hypothesis given my trouble with a chafed harness in my E36 seatbelt wiring under the seat, but this should be simple to check. Sadly, airbag light needs to be reset by a tool, even if this does in fact turn out to be the problem. Hope this helps. Let us know what you find.

Just saw this, I am actually out to go take a look at it now. Thanks!

[danewilson77]

If you unplug them and check them secure, you will surely get an SRS light. Ensure you disconnect the battery first.

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[pilotnick1203]

Roger, I'll go check

[pilotnick1203]

11815 11816

[pilotnick1203]

1181711818

[Cadeez]

My airbag light comes on and off intermittently when someone is sitting in, or gets in/out of the passenger seat. Usually it eventually goes off, but it's been on for a couple days now. I've been googling the issue and have read tons of info on this site, bimmerforums, E46fans, etc... I did replace the passenger window regulator/motor a while back, and may have unhooked the airbag with the battery hooked up, turned the key while it was out, etc. So that could be the issue, or a number of other things (tensioner, mat, etc). I guess what I'm wondering is, will this tool do the trick and reset the codes so the light goes off, like the guys on E46fans state? Seems cheap and easy, but the software seems potentially problematic, per the feedback. Is there a different tool?

http://www.amazon.com/iSaddle-Scanner-Programmer-Eeprom-Diagnostic/dp/B008RHJTS2
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=945638

[danewilson77]

Most likely it's the passenger occupancy mat.

The air bag code (read with an an srs code reader) may help you narrow it down.

"No flamesuit required"

[LivesNearCostco]

Cadeez, I had that issue when I bought my car and it was the passenger seat occupancy mat. But I knew that because during the PPI an indie read the codes for me. I bought the mat and paid an auto upholstery/sunroof shop something like $170 to take apart the seat bottom and replace the mat. I heard it normally costs $200-$240 in labor (more at most dealers). Normal OBD-II reader/scanner won't explain the codes. Can you borrow a BMW-specific code reader or get a cable and set up the soft reader on a laptop?

[danewilson77]

:rofl

"No flamesuit required"

[LivesNearCostco]

Dane, you read my mind!

[danewilson77]

Dane, you read my mind!
Yep.

"No flamesuit required"

[Cadeez]

:rofl

"No flamesuit required"
Funny guy Dane!


Cadeez, I had that issue when I bought my car and it was the passenger seat occupancy mat. But I knew that because during the PPI an indie read the codes for me. I bought the mat and paid an auto upholstery/sunroof shop something like $170 to take apart the seat bottom and replace the mat. I heard it normally costs $200-$240 in labor (more at most dealers). Normal OBD-II reader/scanner won't explain the codes. Can you borrow a BMW-specific code reader or get a cable and set up the soft reader on a laptop?

Ugh, so what you're saying is that BMW scanner tool won't tell me what it is? Balls. And no I don't know anyone with an srs code reader, but where could I get one of those? I hate that damn light, but that job sounds expensive and like a huge pita... Why couldn't it just be an easily replaceable sensor or relay!

[LivesNearCostco]

I didn't meant to imply that. Was just saying a standard, generic OBD-II scanner (like the Acton I have) will only read OBD-II codes and won't read SRS codes or other BMW-specific codes that don't have an OBD-II equivalent. The BMW scanner tool might do it. You want to read the code because replacing the sensor mat then finding out it was a problem with the seat belt buckle sensor would be expensive and painful.

If you verify it is the sensor mat, there is a way to buy or build a small circuit that emulates an occupied mat. You plug it in then reset the SRS light, and your car thinks the passenger seat is occupied all the time. If you crash hard enough to trigger the driver's airbag, the passenger airbag will deploy too, whether the seat is occupied or not.

Also Dane opened up his passenger seat and replaced the sensor mat himself. Requires patience and a special pair of upholstery pliers. He posted a story about it somewhere...

[Cadeez]

I'm not sure if i have the patience or expertise to open up one of my seats, I'm pretty handy mechanically but upholstry might be out of my wheel house. I may just have to get used to the light. I guess I could always take it to my local indy and have them run it as well for like $45. Thanks for the info though

[Vas]

I have the same issue with my airbag light. At first it would turn on and then off and now it is just on.

Ran the codes with the scanner and it is the occupancy mat. Just need to buy the part and either fix it myself or have a shop do it.

[danewilson77]

I'm not sure if i have the patience or expertise to open up one of my seats, I'm pretty handy mechanically but upholstry might be out of my wheel house. I may just have to get used to the light. I guess I could always take it to my local indy and have them run it as well for like $45. Thanks for the info though
Are you required to pass annual inspection in your car?

"No flamesuit required"