Here's my stats..

02 MCS.

The other night while driving - nothing too crazy - normal "spirited" driving - I noticed that my AIRBAG became illuminated.

I did a search and found out that it was a somewhat common problem for some of the earlier models.

I haven't been able to actually find how it was fixed.

Do I HAVE take it to the dealer to get it cleared?

Or -

Is there a simple fix - like a loose wire or something?

TIA!!!

 

I can't say for sure, because I haven't owned an '02, but the rumor mill is the wiring harness under the seat loosens and causes a poor connection. The airbag module will detect this change in impedence and will deactivate [either that bag, or the whole system, not sure there]

There is supposedly a new harness available, but that hasn't seemed to fix any, or many, of the '02's airbag light problems. Unfortunately, you have to get the airbag light reset at the $tealership; I'm not aware of any OBDII interface that can do it. (though I'd like to find out if one can!)

Good luck!

 

I was afraid of that.

It makes absolute sense that you wouldn't be able to reset the system unless done by the $tealer.

I know for my M3 I can reset it with a tool I have.

Thanks...

 

I had this in my original 02 MCS.

The wiring loom under the seat is the weak point.

Seems that they made them too short, and moving the seats back and forward to let people into the back causes the connections to be stressed and go high resistance.

The airbag system sees this as a fault, and the light goes on.

Sometimes it goes off again by itself, only to come on again later!

Fix was to get the dealer to do a warranty swap out on the wiring loom.

New loom has the problem fixed, and no more airbag light

Chris.

 

Had the same problem happen to me-stumped the technicians at first, they thought i tried to take the seat out. We got the car back around a weak later. It was aggrivating, but solved hassle free. We try not to jerk the seats back and forth to much now. Good luck, that most likely what it is.

 

It happened to me twice and it was the passenger front seat connection. I unplugged them and re attached and after clearing th ewarning light it was no problem. Any decently equipped independent shop can read and clear warning lamps for the most part.

 

Happened to me too. Covered under warranty.

 

My 03 MCS went back twice to the dealer. One was a harness replacement under the seat, the other, buckle replacement.

Good luck!

regards,
Red

 

The 2004 demo S we drove in early 2004 had the airbag light come on while I was driving it. It had like 100 miles on it.

But it went out after 15 mins.

 

This is a classic 2002 model year problem. It also happened to us last March and the harness was replaced under warranty:

The Air Bag light also went off in our '02 Cooper CVT back in early March coming 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.

 

Yep, I agree.

 

Mine just went on last weekend. I had a passenger ride along at an autox, she did adjust the seat back and forth a couple of times. I noticed the laight was on when I left to drive home. It looks like another trip to the dealer .

Good thing it's still on warranty. The joys of owning an early build 2002!

Once again NAM is the best source for info on MINI related problems.

 

Wow...

Talk about a thread from the dead...

I sold my MCS - this last december and got an 05 Evolution VIII.

I loved my MCS, but this car can do things I wouldn't even had attempted in the MCS.

Motor on!!!

 

Wow, that is an old thread.

Congrats on your EVO.

How's your gas mileage? My friend at work gets 160 from a tank!! I think that's too low and he says he doesn't drive it hard. Maybe, he does too much city driving?

 

I get about 250ish a tank.

I remember I used to get around 300ish with my MCS. I miss that aspect of the car... lol...

I do a lot of town driving. When I get on the highway I can get about 270ish or so.

Of course it all depends on how much you get on it.

 

One thing is that his car only has 1400 miles on it and I think most of it is stop and go traffic. He told me he loaned his car to his brother and he got about 230 a tankful. So I guess his mpg is normal.

 

Had the same problem with my August 2003 Cooper. Both the seat belt lamp & air bag lamp would intermittiently come on. Dealer took care of it during "Inspection 1". All they replaced was the driver's side seat belt tensioner. Neither lamp has come on since. And thank goodness. It was a treat explaining those lamps being on to passengers when you're a "spirited" driver. Nobody wants to see a faulty restraint/saftey system, regardles of your driving style.

 

My airbag light went on yesterday. My odometer is at 51K so even though it's a typical 2002 issue, it probably will not be covered under warrantee for me! I go to the shop tomorrow. Wish me luck.

 

Plug in your seatbelt into the psgr buckles and turn the car off. Wait 5 secs and turn the car back on.

Should work.

Had it on mine

 

Kesh,

Tried it out and it didn't turn the light out. Must be something different. Thanks for the suggestion anyway!

I looked under the seats for loose connections and found one loose wire under the driver's seat with a connector on it but couldn't find a place to reconnect it. (I could not find a corresponding wire under the passenger seat.) It doesn't appear to be related the the 3 connectors near the front edge of the seat.

Thoughts?

John

 

It happened on my '05 MCS with about 400 miles on it. Under the passenger seat, I pressed the connectors together for the airbag wiring, heard a click as if it was not seated properly, and presto, light has not come on since.

 

It's worrying... I know.

I was on a road trip from Tampa to Chicago and the light came on. Having totalled my 1st MCS with a Suburban after one week of ownership; I was scared.

I tried everything for about 4 hours while driving and it worked.

On the way back I stopped at the Atlanta Mini Dealer and they fixed it. Get it sorted ASAP. The mini is the safest car on the road when the safety features work. I know 1st hand. I think I was the 3rd ever totalled Mini in the USA. I had the 9th MCS EVER in Florida and the 72nd MCS registered in the USA.

I walked and the Suburban driver didn't.

It is a serious safety issue not a small inconvenience.

Regards,

Kesh

 

Went to the shop this morning. They replaced the harness ... and said they'd "take care of it". No charge, yeehaa! Those guys are great! They even found the slider to my CG lock lost for ages under the seat.

 

I guess I'll pick this "thread from the dead" to ressurrect.

My airbag light on my 2003 Cooper just came back on, again. This is an older MINI without the passenger's seat weight sensor thingy.

I've had seat airbag wiring harnesses replaced three times already, twice ages ago, and once just a few months ago. The last time, I was told that the "new fix" is better than the "old fix" I got years ago. But, either it's not good enough, or something else has failed. :(

If the dealership wasn't 3.5 hours away, it wouldn't be that bad.

 

sometimes its just better to live with the light on!