DISCLAIMER: Please do not flame me, I understand you cannot diagnose a problem completely on the internet!! (as i have read other posts were people go crazy flaming the OP for asking for knowledge and no helpful advice is given.)

I am seeking knowledge from experienced C5 corvette owners regarding the airbag light, please don't say go search and look up "Air bag light " thread as i have read many.. as I am looking for advice regarding my own unique situation...please read ahead..

Background info: Last year before the start of winter (car stored in winter) I had some new rear tires put on. At this time I made the mistake to let the service guy start my car, I forgot to instruct him on how to start a C5 corvette (which is slightly turn the key wait for a couple seconds while the low ignition sound hums then turn the key fully to the right which fires up with a healthy growl) anyway....

First of all he plopped down into the drivers side seat kinda lazily! which makes me think he possibly loosened the connection underneath. I weigh 170lbs, this guy looked 185-190 lbs (which this could be the answer to the problem) BUT keep reading...

Secondly, He cranked the ignition key very quickly all the way to the right and I heard an face cringing scratchy squawk ignition noise as the car started up not per its usual correct routine. (Is it possible to blow an ignition SDM fuse doing this?)

Thirdly, He said he was going to try to do a free Alignment, but he said he encountered an issue where something was bumping underneath the car and he could not do an alignment. ( I don't know if it was bumping in the front or back, he didn't specify) Did he possibly damage the airbag deployment mechanism???, where is this mechanism and how easy is it to damage?

My question is, as my airbag light is on, what seems to be the more likely culprit?

1)The service guy plopping down hard onto my driver side seat therefor loosening the connection? or

2)Him turning the ignition to the right way too fast? (as I have read about a SDM fuse 16?)

3) Service guy (whom is actually a dumb tire guy at a tire store not a mechanic) said something was bumping underneath the car and he could not do an alignment, is it possible to damage the air bag deployment mechanism somewhere in the front or rear underneath car?

From c5 owners knowledge and expertise, what do you think is the most likely occurrence? and no I cannot look underneath the car it is way too low and no i cannot jack it up on stands as i dont have the tools nor garage space...and would prefer to not bring it into a stealership.

Also, I have tried to move the driver side seat all the way forward and in the most upward position to look for the connection underneath the seat that every airbag light thread keeps mentioning, but it is impossible to see it with limited space as this is a Zo6 model there is no room behind the driver seat as maybe compared to a hatchback...Do you have to remove the seat from the car to do the ZIP TIE connection mod?

Any advice would be much appreciated, please read the whole thread slowly..Looking forward to your advice..Its starting to make me paranoid to drive the car thinking about the airbag either not deploying or randomly exploding and killing me (head trauma) and others on the road...

Thanks C5 Guys and Gals! (it is a 2001 zo6, 68k miles) the light was not on until this event had happened..

Look forward to hearing back soon! All advice much appreciated! GOD BLESS! and HAPPY COMING 4th JULY!

 

Thank you for the sound advice, I will write them down. Im also going to try to get underneath the driver side seat again w/flashlight...