I know this topic has come up several times, I just can't find the answer I am looking for.
Airbag light came on after major repair of vehicle. We took it to the dealership (MINI of Nashville, sucks) and they gave us a list of parts that needed to be replaced. Being the do-it-yourself kind of guy, I order the parts. The battery cable was the main one, but the one I got is different from the one in the car now. The new one has the squib, but the old one doesn't or at least isn't the same.
I'm not sure how the battery cable could be bad if the vehicle is running and has been for the last month.
I am going to replace the cable and take it back in to reset the airbag light. I am also going to ask them why they needed to order two additional 200 amp fuses and fuse block. Like I said, all systems are fully operational aside from the airbag light.

So, my question is: Can the BC affect the airbag system if it is still providing power to the starter? Do my airbags work with the advisory light on?

2004 MCS

 

A MCS battery cable does have the squib, or tiny explosive charge, that is set off by the airbag system in the event of a serious collision. There are two sources of power from the battery, one is from the battery through a 250 amp fuse mounted in the battery box, the other is direct from the battery to the starter and alternator circuits. Since fusing the starter circuit is not practical, the squib is used to disconnect the high current supply from the battery. The squib is self contained in the black housing of the terminal. If the squib detonator is defective, the airbag system will sense this the same way it senses a defective aribag module. The small black wires coming from the terminal are completely independent of the actual battery cable and only connect to the squib itself. Them cable could be functioning normally with a bad disconnect squib, or the squib can be fine on a cable that has gotten semarated from the terminal by some other means. Either way, it's an expensive fix, since one has to replace the entire cable that runs under the car to the jumpstart terminal under the hood.

Double check to see that the wiring for the squib along with it's connectors is not damaged or disconnected in some way. It's easy to do after changing a battery.

 

Thanks, I already have the cable so I'll just replace it.