Airbag warning light
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 911
Likes: 27
From: Southern IL
Airbag warning light
Ever since I bought my '98, I've always had the airbag light on the instrument cluster lit up. I've always wondered why, but now that I have more time, I'd really like to get to the bottom of it.
Some brief history...I have had my PCM in and out of my car (plus tuned twice) and battery disconnected countless times, and the light has never went away. The car was in a light fender bender that airbags were deployed at one time...several years and owners ago.
Also these are the only codes on my DIC. Could anyone give me a good place to start troubleshooting this?
P1545 H C - A/C Clutch relay (the fuse is pulled for now)
C2120 H C - No TPMS sensors installed
Some brief history...I have had my PCM in and out of my car (plus tuned twice) and battery disconnected countless times, and the light has never went away. The car was in a light fender bender that airbags were deployed at one time...several years and owners ago.
Also these are the only codes on my DIC. Could anyone give me a good place to start troubleshooting this?
P1545 H C - A/C Clutch relay (the fuse is pulled for now)
C2120 H C - No TPMS sensors installed
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
To be honest, I haven't worked on the C5 restraint system but have on several other cars.
There should be a code. Perhaps the SRS system requires a scan to find it?? My guess is the system wasn't fully repaired at the time of the accident. When bags deploy the SRS module will set hard codes. Also, if equiped, the seat belt pretensioners will blow on any occupied seats. Either of these will set the light. The manufacturer claims all components should be replaced but they can be repaired. Modules can be cleared and reinstalled and the belts can be reloaded. I use myairbags.com. The savings is huge.
There should be a code. Perhaps the SRS system requires a scan to find it?? My guess is the system wasn't fully repaired at the time of the accident. When bags deploy the SRS module will set hard codes. Also, if equiped, the seat belt pretensioners will blow on any occupied seats. Either of these will set the light. The manufacturer claims all components should be replaced but they can be repaired. Modules can be cleared and reinstalled and the belts can be reloaded. I use myairbags.com. The savings is huge.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
I did a little searching. It seems a lot of people have had problems with connectors under the seats. Maybe check there. You can easily spot SRS connectors as they will be yellow and have a safety stake pushed through them.
I couldn't find the SRS module listed in the modules that read to the DIC. Unless it goes through the body control module. Don't know on that one.
I couldn't find the SRS module listed in the modules that read to the DIC. Unless it goes through the body control module. Don't know on that one.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 911
Likes: 27
From: Southern IL
I did a little searching. It seems a lot of people have had problems with connectors under the seats. Maybe check there. You can easily spot SRS connectors as they will be yellow and have a safety stake pushed through them.
I couldn't find the SRS module listed in the modules that read to the DIC. Unless it goes through the body control module. Don't know on that one.
I couldn't find the SRS module listed in the modules that read to the DIC. Unless it goes through the body control module. Don't know on that one.
I was also hoping someone out there would have any info as to what conditions causes a solid airbag light that doesn't trip a code.
Or maybe i need to reset my battery and look for codes that come up in the history that I might have cleared sometime in the past?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 911
Likes: 27
From: Southern IL
How many airbag connectors are there? I know about a couple of them already...
1) underneath the steering wheel
2) underneath the front bumper
3) under the driver seat?
4) any others?
1) underneath the steering wheel
2) underneath the front bumper
3) under the driver seat?
4) any others?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls ON
Is it possilbe that a previous owner disconnected one or both of the airbags inside the car? Have a look under the steering wheel to see if anything is disconnected.
There is also the device under the HVAC behind the dash. If it is disconnected then the air bags won't work.
Not sure about 1998 but on my 2001 (and I believe from 1999 and up) there isn't an airbag sensor at the front of the car.
There is also the device under the HVAC behind the dash. If it is disconnected then the air bags won't work.
Not sure about 1998 but on my 2001 (and I believe from 1999 and up) there isn't an airbag sensor at the front of the car.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
I was reading the service manual and the fuse for the SIR system is #16 in the passenger footwell. May check that. I had a Mustang I replaced the bags & module in and the light was still on. Fuse was blown. Long shot but worth a look.
You are correct coupe, no sensors on my 99. I believe it all works off the brain box under the heater control.
You are correct coupe, no sensors on my 99. I believe it all works off the brain box under the heater control.
7th Gear
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Is it possilbe that a previous owner disconnected one or both of the airbags inside the car? Have a look under the steering wheel to see if anything is disconnected.
There is also the device under the HVAC behind the dash. If it is disconnected then the air bags won't work.
Not sure about 1998 but on my 2001 (and I believe from 1999 and up) there isn't an airbag sensor at the front of the car.
There is also the device under the HVAC behind the dash. If it is disconnected then the air bags won't work.
Not sure about 1998 but on my 2001 (and I believe from 1999 and up) there isn't an airbag sensor at the front of the car.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 356
From: Northville, MI
Another possibility is the Clock spring in the steering wheel was broken. If you have the steering column disconnected and turn the steering wheel more than 3 turns in one direction, you can break the clock spring and it needs to be replaced. If you get a used one to install, there is a procedure to reset it.
