Airbag light fix
01-06-2012, 07:16 PM
#1
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Airbag light fix
I thought I'd post this on it's own instead of bumping one of the other old threads. I tried the resistor trick when I installed my new wheel but it did not work. This one did. I found this solution over on M.net, but with inquiries about how to make it go away even here on MT, I figured it would help someone out.
Here's the copied post from M.net:
Here's the copied post from M.net:
Originally Posted by Captrage
After searching and searching, trying to absorb as much as I can about what makes my airbag light blink 4 times, then escalate to 10 times, I came up with a solution to shut it down without audible alarms or having to pull the bulb. At least until I can get the diagnostic module repaired or replaced.
I was about to just cut the wire going to the bulb, when I started looking at how the connector goes into the airbag diagnostic module;
The module has 2 plastic blades that go into the connector, keeping the circuit to the bulb open, once the connector is pulled out, the circuit gets closed and the airbag light comes on solid to alert that there is a problem with the system/connection.
I disconnected the module, got a medium sized zip tie, cut it to about 6 inches and inserted it into both holes of the connector, by looping it, where the earlier mentioned plastic blades would be ...and eureka!
No airbag light, no audible tone, no blinking, and best of all, no airbag in my face!
I've attached a picture (hopefully) and I hope this explains what I did.
I was about to just cut the wire going to the bulb, when I started looking at how the connector goes into the airbag diagnostic module;
The module has 2 plastic blades that go into the connector, keeping the circuit to the bulb open, once the connector is pulled out, the circuit gets closed and the airbag light comes on solid to alert that there is a problem with the system/connection.
I disconnected the module, got a medium sized zip tie, cut it to about 6 inches and inserted it into both holes of the connector, by looping it, where the earlier mentioned plastic blades would be ...and eureka!
No airbag light, no audible tone, no blinking, and best of all, no airbag in my face!
I've attached a picture (hopefully) and I hope this explains what I did.
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06-16-2013, 04:15 PM
#7
I found this thread searching to get rid of my airbag light. Thought I'd update it with a pic since the original link is broken.
The airbag module is a blue box just above the steering column. You just unplug the wires and jam a ziptie into the harness where the little plastic things go. It took 2 minutes and got rid of my light, I was amazed how easy and simple this was. Much better than messing around with wiring in resistors.
The airbag module is a blue box just above the steering column. You just unplug the wires and jam a ziptie into the harness where the little plastic things go. It took 2 minutes and got rid of my light, I was amazed how easy and simple this was. Much better than messing around with wiring in resistors.
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06-17-2013, 01:49 AM
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very good info but why do you need a crazy loop? cant you just use a small piece of plastic? i guess it is good to let people know this mod was made in case someone wants to undo it down the road.
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06-17-2013, 09:16 AM
#9
No need for the loop. That's how the first guy did it and I didn't see any reason not to do it that way. I could go in and cut the ziptie so it's not looped, but that requires more cuts and fiddling with a smaller piece of plastic in an already cramped area. Then if one end falls out I'll have to cut up another ziptie instead of just pushing the end that fell out back in place.
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06-17-2013, 01:08 PM
#10
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Cool story, but what purpose does that actually provide? does it break a circuit? does it push in some sort of button that tells the ECU it's plugged in?
WHAT IS IT MAN?!
anyways, if you have a 90-93, you just need to twist the two airbag wires together, otherwise it's best to just take a resistance reading of the airbag itself, then match that the best you can on the connector.
WHAT IS IT MAN?!
anyways, if you have a 90-93, you just need to twist the two airbag wires together, otherwise it's best to just take a resistance reading of the airbag itself, then match that the best you can on the connector.
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06-17-2013, 04:41 PM
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The approach I've seen suggested is to wire in a potentiometer and slowly adjust it until the airbag light stays off, then measure the resistance of the potentiometer and replace it with resistors of an equal value.
I don't know if that's 100% necessary, but when dealing with explosives, one cannot be too safe.
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06-17-2013, 05:17 PM
#13
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I've always heard this is a very bad idea, as the current a multimeter uses to test the resistance may be sufficient to fire the air bag.
The approach I've seen suggested is to wire in a potentiometer and slowly adjust it until the airbag light stays off, then measure the resistance of the potentiometer and replace it with resistors of an equal value.
I don't know if that's 100% necessary, but when dealing with explosives, one cannot be too safe.
The approach I've seen suggested is to wire in a potentiometer and slowly adjust it until the airbag light stays off, then measure the resistance of the potentiometer and replace it with resistors of an equal value.
I don't know if that's 100% necessary, but when dealing with explosives, one cannot be too safe.
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06-18-2013, 10:33 AM
#19
The guy that originally did it said:
Beyond that, I don't have a clue. I'm no trailblazer, I just try to copy what other people do. The light is off, the car hasn't caught fire, so I assume whatever it did was successful.
The module has 2 plastic blades that go into the connector, keeping the circuit to the bulb open, once the connector is pulled out, the circuit gets closed and the airbag light comes on solid to alert that there is a problem with the system/connection.
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06-18-2013, 11:02 AM
#20
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okay, that's what i figured. I just wanted confirmation. That's probably the easiest method since you've probably disabled the airbag in the first place to have airbag light issues.
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