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[Viral_Jim]

Evening all.

Setting off this morning I had an intermittent airbag light that could be gotten rid of for a time by restarting the car. I'm also without the Chrysler atm so it's my only car.   

By the time I got back it was on and wouldn't go away by restarting. Currently it comes on with the key in position 2, goes out when the key goes to position 3 and stays off for maybe 1-2s after the engine catches but then comes back on.

MOT is in the next couple of weeks so any pointers would be greatly appreciated before I either spend some money on a diagnostic kit that will read the SRS system, or open up the dash binacle and change the warning light to take a power feed from a different light (CEL maybe)  .

[Andy B]

Barry has an iCarsoft 

[dave the builder]

check the connections under the seats (common problem)
but ideally you need to read the codes ,and I don't think the codes reset ,so you might NEED a suitable code reader to reset /turn the light off anyway.
damaging the bulb (LED) , black tape or other bodgery/masking will render ALL the air bags ,seatbelt pre-tensioners etc inoperable ,so not a good idea 

[countrywoman]

Seat sensor wiring or column/clock spring wiring I suspect.

[Viral_Jim]

Fair enough, I will bite the diagnostic bullet  .

Seat sensor wiring or column/clock spring wiring I suspect.

Clock spring might not be a bad shout, I'm pretty sure that a number of times the light triggered I was making significant steering inputs (parking rather than tear-ar$ing it about).

check the connections under the seats (common problem)

Is this the large black plug at the front centre of the seat? I think it was the only one I could see. No heated seats or electric adjustment in mine so I'm guessing it's that...

[dave the builder]

Fair enough, I will bite the diagnostic bullet  .

Seat sensor wiring or column/clock spring wiring I suspect.

Clock spring might not be a bad shout, I'm pretty sure that a number of times the light triggered I was making significant steering inputs (parking rather than tear-ar$ing it about).

check the connections under the seats (common problem)

Is this the large black plug at the front centre of the seat? I think it was the only one I could see. No heated seats or electric adjustment in mine so I'm guessing it's that...

Air bag plugs etc tend to be yellow but may well be plugged into that black plug ,along with the belt socket switch wiring, etc

but ,,, as you will need a "code reader" to reset codes ,to turn the light off ,you may as well read the codes to point you in the right direction, rather than introducing new codes whilst messing without proper diagnostics 
 

[Viral_Jim]

rather than introducing new codes whilst messing without proper diagnostics 

As if I would ...

[TheBoy]

Get the codes off, as pissing in a force 9 gale is never successful.

If you pass this way, I think I have my CANdi for Tech2.  Or I think even the crappy software that cant be named can do SRS ECUs?

[Viral_Jim]

I bit the bullet and bought an iCarSoft.

£159 and I can load up to 10 manufacturers worth of software included in that price. Considering the fleet in responsible for includes Chrysler, BMW, JLR and vaux, it feels like I'll get my monies worth pretty soon. 

I also got under the driver's seat, looked at the wiring, cleaned and re-seated the multi plug, all seems fine and no change to the light.

[Doctor Gollum]

I bit the bullet and bought an iCarSoft.

£159 and I can load up to 10 manufacturers worth of software included in that price. Considering the fleet in responsible for includes Chrysler, BMW, JLR and vaux, it feels like I'll get my monies worth pretty soon. 

I also got under the driver's seat, looked at the wiring, cleaned and re-seated the multi plug, all seems fine and no change to the light.

Passenger seat has an airbag or two as well as the pretensioner, and probably an occupancy sensor. So rather than assume, keep investigating

[dave the builder]

Get the codes off, as pissing in a force 9 gale is never successful.

as long as you piss in the same direction the wind is blowing it's fine ,stops any drips on your shoes 

If you pass this way, I think I have my CANdi for Tech2.  Or I think even the crappy software that cant be named can do SRS ECUs?

indeed it can read & clear all modules, live data and output tests on 1996 to 2012 Vaux/opel models 
 but you have to be careful ,know what you're doing and what buttons you press   

that said , caution is advised when working on SRS and airbags whichever software & diagnostic interface is used

you could end up with a bag of white powder in the face , and i'm not talking about the moreish Columbian white powder either 


 

[Marks DTM Calib]

Its strange that the light is going off sometimes, for any safety system if a real fault code is logged that impacts any of the safety functions then it has to latch the light until cleared.

[Viral_Jim]

I wasn't aware of this Mark .

It's now on constantly with every start up. I will update once I have some codes...

[Marks DTM Calib]

It might be something related to the non-safety bits like maybe passenger seat occupancy sensor or similar. If its related to the airbags, tensioners, impact sensors etc then it does have to latch

[TheBoy]

that said , caution is advised when working on SRS and airbags whichever software & diagnostic interface is used

you could end up with a bag of white powder in the face , and i'm not talking about the moreish Columbian white powder either 

I had one go off using one of the dodgy options, can't remember if it was the software than cant be named, or its predecessor, Cheapo-Tech2.  Less concerned about the smattering of power, or my temporary deafness, but more about how much I could fill my pants.

Genuine Tech2, no such concerns, will happily sit in the driver's seat, diagnosing the SRS ECU