air bag light stays on
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
air bag light stays on
I drove a manual tran. c6 2007 along a road that was as high as 8000ft. After I finished my hike, I return to find the little person with a beachball on his/her lap.
I am assuming the air bag system is in alarm. Where do I start troubleshooting this? What tools do I need? Is there a quick fix to check first, like a fuse somewhere? or a power down reboot or reset? Can't help wonder if the lower air pressure from the elevation caused the failure/alarm. The car has spend its life at sea level.
I did add an aftermarket radio to the car last month, means I was fiddling around behind the center console.
I am assuming the air bag system is in alarm. Where do I start troubleshooting this? What tools do I need? Is there a quick fix to check first, like a fuse somewhere? or a power down reboot or reset? Can't help wonder if the lower air pressure from the elevation caused the failure/alarm. The car has spend its life at sea level.
I did add an aftermarket radio to the car last month, means I was fiddling around behind the center console.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
The most common problem with the air bag light is the connection under the seats. If you have power seats there are five connectors. The ones you want to check are at the back of the seat and should be clipped the the rail. Make sure they are connected properly. I zip tied my together and have not had another problem. This was after numerous trip's to the dealer with no help from them.
This is what the passenger seat connector with my zip tie looks like.
This is what the passenger seat connector with my zip tie looks like.
Last edited by VET4LES; Jul 3, 2011 at 05:57 PM.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6
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Like whoa! mama! Look at all those connectors. I did a quick feel around and tried to look under the driver seat. Felt one connector, seemed closed? This quick blind feel may mean the problem is elsewhere...
I will get a flashlight and investigate thoroughly the connectors under each seat. I have been jamming "things" under the seat, such as small netbook, removeable face radio etc, could be disturbing the connectors.
Thanks for the info. Any wiring diagrams you have discovered and/or fuse and or other sensors that could go bad with the airbag system?
I will get a flashlight and investigate thoroughly the connectors under each seat. I have been jamming "things" under the seat, such as small netbook, removeable face radio etc, could be disturbing the connectors.
Thanks for the info. Any wiring diagrams you have discovered and/or fuse and or other sensors that could go bad with the airbag system?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
Move the seat all the way foreword and raise it. You will see the yellow connector attached to the seat rail. Just because it looks closed doesn't mean it's making contact. I found the zip tie fixed it permanently. Pull it up tight. Good luck. 
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Seems the airbag light is much more complex than just an airbag (that's why I was looking for a schematic):
I stopped by a place that pulled the code: right passenger seatbelt indicator open. It cleared while we fiddled around that area/and or he cleared the code and it didn't come back (the famous "cleared while troubleshooting"). Either way it is gone now.
I have the passenger/parking brake panel still off-due to on going stereo installation/mod project.
I guess I will dab a few drops of rtv on each connector, after reseating these connectors.
I stopped by a place that pulled the code: right passenger seatbelt indicator open. It cleared while we fiddled around that area/and or he cleared the code and it didn't come back (the famous "cleared while troubleshooting"). Either way it is gone now.
I have the passenger/parking brake panel still off-due to on going stereo installation/mod project.
I guess I will dab a few drops of rtv on each connector, after reseating these connectors.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
Good news. You should post a complaint with NHTSA. It only takes a few minuets and it's the only was we can get GM to correct this serious issue.
http://www.nhtsa.gov/Vehicle+Safety/Recalls+&+Defects
http://www.nhtsa.gov/Vehicle+Safety/Recalls+&+Defects
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2013
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. Thanks a bunch. On a short trip to eat light was on wife's car.freaked her out she did not want airbag slapping her in face.after reading your post raised seat a little and it went off .was my fault,when driving her car the other day I lowered the seat & I guess that caused it thank again saved me my 1st trip to dreaded dealer
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
Is that good news? Do they have a fix? After several years my light came back today. I'm looking at stronger zip ties.
Last edited by VET4LES; Aug 30, 2013 at 06:02 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 16,018
Likes: 830
Hi Les,
I cannot diagnose any car online.
What I can do for those who take their Corvette into the dealership is provide another level of Customer Care. I will work with the dealership to leverage our internal resources to help y'all. If needed I will also get your District Specialist involved.
I always have liked zip ties!
(that however is not a Chevrolet recommended repair)
Kelly J.
Chevrolet Customer Care
I cannot diagnose any car online.
What I can do for those who take their Corvette into the dealership is provide another level of Customer Care. I will work with the dealership to leverage our internal resources to help y'all. If needed I will also get your District Specialist involved.
I always have liked zip ties!
(that however is not a Chevrolet recommended repair) Kelly J.
Chevrolet Customer Care
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,519
Likes: 1,305
From: Windermere FL
8th Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
Kelly J., I can't agree more. Zip ties are not the way a phenomenal product, an ICON, like the corvette should be fixed. However, I agree with most people in saying that if we have to pay a mechanic more than ten dollars to fix what potentially costs us ten cent............. Well, you get the point. Thanks again for your offer to assist.
Thanks again for your offer to assist.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,063
Likes: 9,825
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
One thing that may surprise people who are looking at those connectors is they also separate along their length. When I remove my seat to install race seats I have had them come apart like that several times. Another thing to watch for is to make sure the blue locking tabs are inserted correctly so you don't need to use the zip ties.
Before working on those connectors remove the air bag fuse in the instrument panel electrical center and wait one minute before removing the 4 nuts holding the seat to the floor, lift the seat off the studs, shove a couple of 2x4s/2x6s under the seat to hold it up and then using the power seat switch raise the seat to its highest point. That will make it much easier to work with the connectors.
Bill
Before working on those connectors remove the air bag fuse in the instrument panel electrical center and wait one minute before removing the 4 nuts holding the seat to the floor, lift the seat off the studs, shove a couple of 2x4s/2x6s under the seat to hold it up and then using the power seat switch raise the seat to its highest point. That will make it much easier to work with the connectors.
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
Hi Les,
I cannot diagnose any car online.
What I can do for those who take their Corvette into the dealership is provide another level of Customer Care. I will work with the dealership to leverage our internal resources to help y'all. If needed I will also get your District Specialist involved.
I always have liked zip ties! (that however is not a Chevrolet recommended repair)
Kelly J.
Chevrolet Customer Care
I cannot diagnose any car online.
What I can do for those who take their Corvette into the dealership is provide another level of Customer Care. I will work with the dealership to leverage our internal resources to help y'all. If needed I will also get your District Specialist involved.
I always have liked zip ties!
(that however is not a Chevrolet recommended repair) Kelly J.
Chevrolet Customer Care
GM closed down my local dealer. It's a long drive to the next one and my GMPP has expired. Why should I give my C6 to any dealer for a day when I know ahead of time they don't have a permanent solution. Air bags have been around a long time. "It's not difficult".
Last edited by VET4LES; Aug 31, 2013 at 11:17 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,503
Likes: 71
the zip tie trick only works because you disturbed the wiring making the connection to work temporarily. yea it made the light go out, but more then likely there is a broken wire. I fix them atleast once a week. these connectors are pretty good, but the wires are sometimes crimped to tightly causing the wire to fatigue and break. the seat moving and from the weight of the driver/passenger pushing down on all the wires under the seat is the culprit. ive even eliminated the connectors sometimes because its a more permanent repair
Last edited by erikszr1; Aug 31, 2013 at 06:53 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
the zip tie trick only works because you disturbed the wiring making the connection to work temporarily. yea it made the light go out, but more then likely there is a broken wire. I fix them atleast once a week. these connectors are pretty good, but the wires are sometimes crimped to tightly causing the wire to fatigue and break. the seat moving and from the weight of the driver/passenger pushing down on all the wires under the seat is the culprit. ive even eliminated the connectors sometimes because its a more permanent repair
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,503
Likes: 71
from my experience 99% of the time its a broken wire real close the the connector, so just disturbing the area usually will make the light go off temporarily until that connection is broken again from moving the seat. im not saying the connectors are all perfect, im just sharing what ive found many times on corvettes as well as other GM vehicles.