Airbag light on with no codes stored

So my 2015 Tacoma hit a deer in March and the whole front end had to be replaced. The airbag never deployed which surprised me. So 2 months later I have it back now but with the airbag light on and no codes present. I even took it to Toyota which thankfully the repair shop is covering it. The master technician at Toyota is also stumped and currently has no solution. Anyone have a clue at all?

 

You will need to replace the airbag computer. It's usually located in front of the shifter/under the hvac controls. On the part description, it comes up as an airbag sensor, but it's not. A lot of times when the airbags are deployed, this computer takes the damage too, even if not technically damaged.

 

I have used these guys in the past for module reset/repair--good service. Dealers just want to sell you a new one...

 

Odd. Trucks not fully repaired until light is off.. Repairshop/insurance should continue to cover diagnostics and parts.

 

I agree...

 

Yeah they are still paying for everything. I'm thinking it's a bad module.

 

You shouldn't have to think. Tell the insurance company you're not driving an unsafe vehicle with nonfunctioning air bags and they need to put you in a rental vehicle until someone figures it out.

 

The Dealer should have been able to scan this and repair it pretty quick. I would question them and ask for a copy of what they did when they finish.

 

Any dealership "master technician" that is "stumped and currently has no solution" over an SRS MIL being illuminated should be reported to the dealership's owner and if no satisfaction is found there then to Toyota who I guaranty has enough lawsuits going on that they will sort it out. If that doesn't work report it to the NHSTA as a serious issue.

This is a slam-dunk wrongful death lawsuit waiting to happen.

 

I agree. Before I retired My Toyota Master techs were all over these kinds of repairs and we were not a Dealership we were a City / Government shop.

 

The FSM has pages of diagnostics for SRS MIL ON and no DTCs, probably 8 to 10 hours or more of back-and-forth test this/test this crap; but also a concise "if there was a crash this, this, and this MUST be done section.

However I bet it's a heck of a lot easier and less hassle to tell the customer "Gee I'm stumped, no charge, good bye."

 

Lazy ass tech, he should of filed a case with technical support

 

I'm betting its a sensor as well. If the bags did not go off, the ECU does not need to be replaced or sent in for resetting.

Check the connectors to the sensors on the side that took the most hardest of the hit.

 

The SRS onboard diagnostics "should" detect a bad sensor or bad communication with a sensor--however there's a whole bunch of things in the world that "should" happen but don't.

Everything there is can be boiled down to three fundamental classifications:

• Things that can't be helped;
• Things that won't be helped;
• Things that shouldn't be helped;

 

Unfortunately many of them are, as soon as the going gets rough they get dumbfounded...

 

Ok.... You guys obviously ignored what I said. If I read the post right, the airbag light is on but no codes detected. REPLACE THE AIRBAG ECU! Insurance will cover it. Don't screw around with aftermarket stuff. Get the dealership to replace it.

 

Yeah Toyota called today and we scheduled a time to replace it.

 

Get documentation from Toyota and put it with your other paperwork. just in case.

 

I know this has been a long time ago; but, I am curious. Did you ever get this issue resolved? I have a similar problem that seems to have "stumped" the experts. My 2002 Tacoma TRD was not wrecked but the light came on. I had DTC codes for the air bag control module and Passenger on/off switch. I replaced both. I used a salvaged air control module that checked out. Toyota wanted way too much to replace. Now, there are no DTC's but the light remains. Like you, I had a similar experience with Toyota. I was told they cannot clear a light, if there is no DTC. I had another mechanic check it out and he too found no codes. The sensor idea someone floated may be worth checking out.

 

Take an air blower and clean your seat belt buckles. You may have trash in the switches. I have seen this several times.