my air bag light is on
does that mean my air bags are disabled?

 

Yes. One, some, or all.

 

Get that baby to the dealership ASAP! Don't need an air bag deploying by surprise when motoring!

 

Actually, the liklihood of the airbags unexpectedly deploying when the system is disabled (that's what it means when the light is on) is pretty much zilch. Rather, the opposite is more likely to happen -- i.e., that they wouldn't deploy when you actually need them; and the MINI is engineered to require those airbags (some or all) to save your butt in the event of even a relatively minor collision. The airbags aren't "extra protection" in the MINI...they're fully integral to the crashworthiness of the car.

Of course, I've never gotten the sense that having his car automatically save his butt is something that's particulary high on Koolmini's list of priorities.

(the basic point though is well taken...the dealer needs to reset the system/turn off the light if you want your airbags to be functional again)

 

The Air Bag light also went off in our '02 Cooper CVT back in early March driving back from South Carolina to Miami.

The cause seems to be fairly common in 2002 MINIs and it is referred as the Driver's side seatbelt harness assembly. The dealer replaced it under warranty and have not had any issues with the light any longer.

The car had about 20K miles when the light went off for the first time ever.

Lauderdale MINI, replaced the following parts:

INSTALL HARNESS FOR SIDE AIRBAG AND BELT TENSIONER-720103

1 61-12-6-937-521 REP. CABLE
1 61-12-6-937-522 REP CABLE
4 61-13-0-141-326 CABLE STRAP
8 61-13-0-149-205 CABLE CONNECTOR
8 61-13-0-149-206 HOSE
2 61-13-0-302-824 CABLE STRAP


CAUSE FOR AIRBAG LIGHT ON: EXCESSIVE PLAY IN REGULATORS.


BELT TENSIONER CIRCUIT PASS SIDE WTY CHECKED MRS FAULT MEMORY F/C 03 BELT TENSIONER FRONT PASS, RESISTANCE TOO HIGH PERFORMED SERVICE BULLETIN S. I 72-01-03 D/CODE 61-12-91-79-00

WARRANTY (N/C)

Hope this helps.

 

That's great. By the time my 2002 MCS had 20K miles, I'd been to the dealer to have the airbag light reset 4 times.

Finally, the dealer got the word that the thing to do was to use cable ties to stabilize the unusually sensitive connectors under the seat. Not a problem since then. And I can rest easy in knowing that I also have all sorts of new airbag hardware that was installed in a misguided attempt to fix problem (before the application of $0.10 of cable tie).

 

I had the seatbelt problem mentioned above in my 2002...but it was the passenger side . I drove around for a while with the light on cause i was at college which is 4 hours away from a dealer , had no problems, but probably wasnt the best idea.

 

Taking the seats out will trigger the light... Go get it checked.