I have Mini Cooper S 2009.

When a passanger sits down on the front right seat (next to the driver) the airbag light turns on after 8 sec. When the passanger stands up it turns off after 8sec, but, the seatbelt light stays on. Does it mean the airbag is malfanction or some sensor? How should I troubleshoot?

 

you will need to scan the SRS code to find the exact problem.

 

Don't let them sit down..

 

I had brake light warning and really needed to replace my brakes. I went to replace the brakes (pads+rotors+wear sensors) and when I told the guy about this airbag warning light, he said that the brake sensor and airbag warning are related and suggested that we finish with the brakes and if the airbag warning won't disappear, he will look at it. It seemed unlikely to me that the brakes and airbag were related. But after replacing the brakes, the airbag warning problem went away. I no longer have the airbag warning.
I still don't believe it's related and I think he just reset the SRS airbag fault and tried to sell me the story that brake and airbag warning are related.
What do you think, are they really related?

 

No! the ABS and SRS are not related other than the fact that the ABS and SRS modules talk to each other over the network (CAN). The brake wear pad sensor input feeds the ABS module through the Electronic Junction Box. All of the restraint system inputs and outputs feed the Multiple Restraint System Control Unit directly. Maybe you have some wiring damage or an intermittent SRS sensor input.

Perhaps "the guy" has some blinker fluid or a good used muffler bearing for sale.

 

I don't seem to have the airbag warning anymore.

1. Does that mean it is working fine or is there a possibility that even though there is no warning, the airbag is faulty?
2. Could it be that he just reset the SRS error code and that's why I don't have the airbag warning? If the airbag is faultry the light would have come on, right? So, I can assume that there is nothing wrong with the airbag?

 

No light = good.

There are a whole bunch of things that can cause the Air Bag light to illuminate. The driver-side air bag, the passenger side air bag, the seat occupancy sensors, the impact sensors, and don't forget all the other air bags in the A-pillars, the roof and the knee bolsters. Then there's the module; if the module has an internal fault, that can cause the light to come on too.

 

I'll keep that in mind. I just was worried that there can be a positiblity that though there is no warning light the airbag can be still faulty.

 

Well, that's kinda like the trust fighter pilots have with their ejection seats .... they trust that it's going to work when they need it too, but they aren't going to pull the handle to find out.