If the airbag light is turned on accidentally is there away to turn it off by unplugging something or is this a scan tool or dealer only deal?

 

In most cases, once the airbag light is triggered, it will stay on permanently until reset by a tool or computer. What were your circumstances of "turned on accidentally"? The exception is the passenger airbag off light, which may reset by itself if the error condition is no longer detected.

 

You either have to have a scantool that is SRS (airbag) capable or take it to a dealer/shop to have them turn it off. I've tripped mine a couple of times by removing the passenger seat, and a local shop just resets it for free. Takes about 5-10 min and most of that is them looking for their scantool.

 

B200 scantool does it. If yours has the passenger seat weight sensor & it's faulty, you'd need a new 1 or do the resistor mod.

 

I just got quoted $1500 for a new seat bottom

Any links to this resistor mod? Will the airbag actually work? I'm selling the car, I'd hate to sell someone a deathtrap with a disabled warning light.

 

The '05+ passenger seat sensor communicates with a digital signal. A resistor mod isn't possible.

The only known way to disable the warning is through NCS Expert programming: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t-no-more.html

Please file a safety complaint online with the NHTSA: https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
Enough people complained about the same problem on BMW models that they were forced to extend the warranty. We need to make this happen with MINI as well.