Driver and Passenger Airbag Lights

So friday my airbag light on the gauge cluster came on as well as the light for the passenger airbag says "off" even if someone is sitting in it and the passenger seat belt sensor doesn't sense if the seat belt is on with a person in the seat.
So yesterday I check all of the connections under both seats and took out the clock spring and checked for continuity and all connections passed. So the doing those 2 things hasn't changed/ fixed the problem.
I figure that its the pressure sensors in the passenger seat and it is just going to disable my airbags from deploying when they need to.
So today I'm going to "fix" the problem by eliminating the pressure sensors and seat belt sensor by grounding them.

What do you all think about this "solution"?


PS: I can't stand the dealership on things like this, because I know I will have to go back at least 5 time for them to even notice what the problem is and I don't have the time nor the patience for that kind of crap, and I'd rather work on my truck then let a person I know nothing about touch her.

 

I don't think grounding the sensors will work. The system detects resistance in the circuit, not ground. To eliminate the sensors you would need to get the correct resistors and wire them in. I saw another thread on here where someone put WRX seats in their truck and did that to eliminate an airbag light.

When I installed my aftermarket HU my airbag light came on because I had the clock/pass seat belt thing unplugged when I tested the stereo connections. To get the light to reset I just had someone sit in the pass seat while I turned the ignition on and the light went away. I don't know if that will help but that's one way I've done it.

Unfortunately it's hard to diagnose what's really wrong with your airbag system without scanning it for codes. If the light is on there will be a code set that tells you where to look for a problem. Which means going to the dealership. Unless you know someone with a fancy scan tool.

 

hmm, I guess they aren't just standard pressure switches (with enough weight it makes connection). I'll try to take one out and play with it.

I'll try to search for that thread about the subbi seats.

I've tried sitting in the seat and turning it on and off multiple times with manny combinations.

I really hope this doesn't come to the point of selling my soul and going to the dealership.


EDIT: Thanks for the help NelsonTacoma, much appreciated!!

 

There is a manual way to check for codes.

1. Turn ignition to on for 60 seconds
2. Then connect a jumper wire from terminal 4 to terminal 13 in your OBD II port.
3. Count the flashes and you have your code. I.E. 3 flashes then 5 flashes is code 35.

 

No problem at all. I work at dealership in the used car department and have to work with all kinds of cars, so this stuff comes naturally to me.

 

Saw that, when searching. I'll give that a try.

And on the resistor thing it looks like its just if the truck is equipped with side airbags, which I would be disabling them even if my truck had them. All I'm doing is telling the truck that there is always someone in the pass seat with the belt fastened.

 

I see. If you need me to look up the code I can. Otherwise let me know how it turns out. Good Luck!!

 

I'm gonna go do the code thing right now.

I'll post updates and pics as I go along.

 

I did the test and it flashes 3 then 2. What code is that?

 

Bump

 

Code 32 is occupant classification system malfunction. So the problem is either in the pass seat sensor, the seatbelt dispaly below the radio, the wiring going from the air bag computer to the display below the radio, or the wiring leading from the Air Bag computer to the pass seat sensor. Worst case also is the air bag computer is bad too, but it usually sets a different code for that, but is still possible.

 

Thanks a ton!

I closed the seat sensor circuits and determined that the sensors are just fine. So after lunch I'm gonna check all the wires for continuity.

 

Nice. If you need a wiring diagram or connector end pictures I can try and find it and post it up.

 

I have the wiring manual, cause one of the techs threw it in last time I went.

The harness is good under the seat. In the process of checking the rest of the harnesses. I'm thinking it could be the little computer thing under the seat the the harness plugs into.

 

I have the seat belt display apart, what should I be looking for to see if it is bad?

 

It's hard to say. Maybe you could smell it to check if the internals are burned . Otherwise the only other way (without a scan tool) is to substitute in a known good one. I diagnose a lot of electronics that way.

 

I didn't smell anything, and it looks fine to my eye. It seems to be the airbag on/off switch.

 

Have you tried tapping on the switch or switching it on/off rapidly? Sometimes you can jolt them into working again temporarily. That's another simple way I diagnose electronics. Can't tell you how many instrument clusters and window motors I have diagnosed simply by tapping/banging on them.

 

Ya I've tried all of that.

I bypassed the switch and still the airbag light on dash is on and the seat belt (for the passenger) does not light up and it say airbag off on the dash. I'm going to take a guess and say the computer under the seat is bad along with the switch. I'm gonna pick one up and see if it works, unless there are any other ideas out there.

Thanks again for the help NelsonTacoma!!

 

Always happy to help out!!