 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  |  09-20-2006, 08:23 PM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Memphis, Tn Posts: 1,299 |  Airbag light is On!!
My airbag light came on after i started my car but wouldnt go off. So now everytime i drive or turn on the car, the Airbag light will stay on. what does this mean?? i am thinking bout going and seeing the dealer if no one has any ideas.  __________________
custom dual exhaust,M3 front and rear bumper, 10.4 inch roof mount drop screen, Viper alarm system, DSII's rims, M3 Vader Seats, M3 Mirrors, Carbon Fiber CAI, Smoked Corners, Side Markers, Leatherz armrests, black grilles
225k miles and still the Ti goes on |  |  | | 09-20-2006, 09:18 PM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 |
Common topic lots of info in the board.
There are a couple parts that die a lot and cause this....
Seat sensors and carpet sensors.
Dave __________________
Dave - PDX
1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan.
2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | | | 09-20-2006, 11:11 PM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 |
Also seat tensioner. If you have the diagnostic tool (Peake) it will throw a code telling you the problem. __________________
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ZOMBIES. | | | | | 10-19-2006, 01:36 AM | #4 | | Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 37 |
I've heard its a PITA to try and diagnose what exactly the problem is, seat belt tensioner, belt clip, seat sensor. Not to mention, I've heard its fairly common for whatever broke to break again due to bad design. I just popped the cluster out, and removed the bulb. the damn thing still lit up because i guess it has a backup light, so i just hit it with some black paint inside where the bulb goes and she's out. Now i'm all good to get inspected and didn't cost me a nickel.  | | | | | 10-19-2006, 09:24 AM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bremerhaven, Germany Posts: 977 |
The only drawback of a cosmetic fix is that the car may deploy both airbags in a crash, when only one was needed or when they weren't needed at all. Fixing the aftermath could cost a good many more nickles. | | | | | 10-19-2006, 03:31 PM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 |
As was said in the movie "Spinal Tap" , there is a fine line between brilliance and stupidity!  Quote: Originally Posted by septimus  I just popped the cluster out, and removed the bulb. the damn thing still lit up because i guess it has a backup light, so i just hit it with some black paint inside where the bulb goes and she's out. Now i'm all good to get inspected and didn't cost me a nickel. | __________________ 
1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd
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I had the same problem. If the airbag light is on while driving, the airbags will not deploy. There was a service bulletin for the seatbelt pre-tensioner, the wiring fails. There is a service kit for these. Unless you have the Peak airbag tool, you will have to get your mechanic or dealer to reset the light. Either way you will probably have to spend some money. | | | | | 10-19-2006, 10:35 PM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bremerhaven, Germany Posts: 977 |
Whether and when the airbags deploy depends on the failure that set the SRS light. The system does whatever is least risky to the possible occupants.
If the passenger seat mat sensor has failed and set the SRS light, so that the system doesn't known if someone is sitting in the passenger seat, the system will do the least risky thing and fire both airbags in a crash. If the driver seat belt switch fails and sets the light, so that the system can't know if he has buckled his seat belt, the system assumes he hasn't and fires the airbag even in mild crashes to protect a possibly unbelted driver.
Unless you know what has set the light, you don't know what the system will do. There are a number of common failures (e.g. the two I have just mentioned) that will set the light and needle$$ly fire the airbags in some crashes. Ignoring or covering up the SRS light could thus be an expensive gamble. | | | | | 10-20-2006, 12:29 AM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 |
Quote: Originally Posted by Calgary98TI I had the same problem. If the airbag light is on while driving, the airbags will not deploy. There was a service bulletin for the seatbelt pre-tensioner, the wiring fails. There is a service kit for these. Unless you have the Peak airbag tool, you will have to get your mechanic or dealer to reset the light. Either way you will probably have to spend some money. | Any information on this? I'll dig around a bit, maybe you've got it in a handy location. __________________
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ZOMBIES. | | | | | 10-20-2006, 04:44 PM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bremerhaven, Germany Posts: 977 |
The seat belt switch wiring is failing? I have only seen a service bulletin about a failing seat belt switch assembly on pre-97 cars. | | | | | 10-20-2006, 06:37 PM | #11 | | Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 89 | SRS
I am just going by what the mechanic said. The kit was available from the dealer and was also noted as a common failure. From what research I did on BMW forums it is common on most E36. This is a couple of years ago now, so I am going by memory. | | | | | 10-20-2006, 07:14 PM | #12 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bremerhaven, Germany Posts: 977 |
Your dealer may have read and followed a newer bulletin. The one I know about specified an improved seat belt switch assembly which in at least one case I know of, only "fixed" the problem for a few more years. | | | | |
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