I've searched all over, but have not found a definitive answer. I've read many different stories about just having the key out of the ignition, battery disconnected for 30 seconds, for 30 minutes...

I'll start simple:
Will the airbag light be set (light comes on and can only be turned off by dealer) when a drivers or passenger seat is removed (key not in the ingition, naturally)?

If so, what method can be employed to avoid setting the light during the process of removing and replacing a stock seat?

I would assume it would be the same case for removing the steering wheel airbag, so please do chime in about that one too.

Thanks,
Will

 

This works with any of the airbags and seat sensors. Disconnect the battery and wait at least 15 minutes before doing anything else. This will allow any stored power to discharge. The do what you need to do. DO NOT RECONNECT THE BATTERY UNTIL EVERYTHING IS RECONNECTED. After you double check that everything is reconnected, connect the battery. Everything should be good to go.

 

+1 I think I posted this information before, on my race seat replacement thread. I has worked for me many times. The passenger weight sensor is another matter...

 

I just checked my Bently manual and it says you only need to wait 5 sec but my E46 said 15 min. 15 min is still shorter than a trip to the dealer.

 

haha, good one! I find that if I disconnect the battery first, then begin working, it takes more than 15 minutes to get to the part where I disconnect anything. Still, I'm sure it's variable, and any reasonable time > 1 minute will suffice. There are few really large capacitors anywhere in the car that can store much charge for more than seconds.

btw, one warning. It's possible, by some weird combination of things, to close the boot lid with the battery disconnected, and not get back in, since the car is now locked. Not that it's fatal, but can be a pain with racing seats that don't fold forward...and if the back seats are up it's very hard to get the boot open. I just leave the boot open nowdays whenever I disconnect the battery!

cheers,

 

If you do happen to close the boot, there is a release under the rear seat. Lift it up and pull the handle.

 

Under the REAR seat (lift up the bottom part)

 

But once you have race seats in both driver and passenger, this option is not available...

 

Thanks MCS-WA for the concise answer. I did the swap last night and suffered no ills, save for needing to initialize the door windows and re-setting the clock. For the record, the battery was disconnected approximately 20 minutes before unplugging the seats.

Now, does anybody want a pair of leatherette seats?? (height adjuster busted on the left one)

--Will