Passenger Seat Airbag Sensor

[davebird61]

We own a 1998 318ti.
When we purchased the car it had just had the passenger Air Bag sensor replaced due to it not resetting properly.
We have had it for 12 months now. Recently we had a major electrical problem that shorted out some wires.
Since then the Air Bag sensor light came on.
We purchased the Peake Airbag reset tool.
It wont reset and the fault code indicates the Passenger Air bag sensor again.
Is it possible to bridge the sensor out to indicate that someone is in the seat at all times?
What happens when different seats are fitted? How do they still use the sensors.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated as I dont want to send it to the BMW dealer to try and sort it out.

[Mallard]

it may well be the connetion to the mat that is at fault and not the mat itself in this case :)

locate the connector under the seat and inspect the connection, maybe the conector is damaged and not holding together..

try this first before you decide to remove bulbs or bridge connections

[davebird61]

Thanks Mallard,
I will check out the connection. I dont want to remove the bulb as I would like to know if the other sensors are working.
If the connection is not at fault I would prefer at this moment to bridge the sensor so it thinks there is someone in the seat.

Just to get my mind around it straight. If the sensor is not triggered it beleives that there is no passenger so that airbag doesnt deploy.
Is that correct?

If that is the case I would rather ensure that the airbag goes off in case of an accident to ensure the passenger is safer.

Thanks for your help.

[M4YTY]

I probably shouldn't say anything but i'll cover the badge on my coveralls. As mallard said, check the connector under the passenger seat. Its a really common problem, even with later E46's and especially Mini's. If the problem persists cut the connector out of the system and just join the wires together under the seat and tie the excess cable to the underside of the seat base. Makes seat removal a pain but how often do you do that!? The connectors move slightly causing a high resistance in the circuit causing the light to come on. Usually just unplugging it, plugging it back in and resetting the light does the job. Good luck!

[davebird61]

Thanks M4YTY,
Much appreciated.
I am overseas at the moment and will be home in 4 weeks so I will try it out and report back.

Thanks for your help.