I did an audio install about a month back and had the entire interior out of the car including the seats and the center console. I started the car several times to test the installation and even drove it back and forth to work one day with just the drivers seat no console (so no airbag control module).

After the install the airbag light wont go out.
Does anyone have experience with this?
Can the dealer reset the system?
Do I need a new module (I know on some cars after several faults the module essentially flips a switch and needs to be replaced)?
What about people who replace their front seats is that light just on forever?

 

Ive replaced my steering wheel, so my light will always be on.

When people do racing seats, they put a resistor inline, i believe its a 3.3, i got them from radioshack.

they dealer will reset your light, but it will cots an hour of labor.

 

I set my light off by taking out the passenger seat to get the NAV computer out (long story). But anyway my airbag light came on and I took it to the dealer, played dumb, told them it just came on, and they said the seat belt tensioner went off and replaced it and turned off the light. My car is still under warrenty though. So go to your dealer and play dumb, my SA said sometimes they go off on their own.

 

Hey Sean, good question Now, does anyone know whether this light means that he airbags are dissable due to the seat being removed and replaced, or will the bags still work with this light on? Anyone know how to remove the seat w/o triggering this light? My seat is out but I haven't started the car since the removal. Guess if I don't hear from anyone, I'll try putting the seat in before starting the car and post the results.

 

always always always disconnect the battery and let the car sit for about 1/2 an hour before messing with ANY system that might be associated with the airbags!!!!!!

Not only is it dangerous to mess with these things with the battery connected, but, when you disconnect the battery and work with the battery disconnected, you wont trip the airbag light.

 

Dammm, I knew I should have asked that before taking the seat out. Is it too late to disconnect the battery to avoid this light tripping and again, does anyone know if the light is tripped does that mean the airbags won't work now?????

 

The airbags are fine, but when working with them while the battery is connected, you run the risk of accidentaly tripping one off.

 

Can you picture that, no seats in the car, changing out a head unit, trip the airbag, and boom, you're knocked out the back of the car on your A$$ I'm going home during lunch and disconnecting that baby right away.

 

I was told by a repair shop that the airbags remain active, and that the light only indicates that a fault code was triggered and stored. If you never turned on the ignition since removing the seat, I would guess that you are probably okay but I would still disconnect the battery now as a precaution. The critical issue is whether any electronics were active to detect the missing airbag while your seat was disconnected.

 

Thanks for the scoop Kinda want my airbags to work for the Dragon, just incase I don't brake hard enough and smack into a mountain.

 

Nah, you dont need the airbags.

I got 200 Bucks a piece for both of my fronts on ebay!

 

$200 bucks a piece? Hummm, that could go towards some nice brake pads or some Wilwoods, then, no worries about hitting any mountains

 

Exactly, my side curtain and seat bags are gonna buy me a pulley, lol

 

Thanks for the responses they were very helpful.

And I am pretty sure if you haven't started the car you wont get the light just from disconnecting the seat, because I had my seats out of the car prior to the install to measure space in the floor etc. and didn't have the light come on when I put it back together. And I didn't disconnect the battery.

 

Is there a way to reset the airbag light through the speedo? I just removed and replaced my seat, to clean under it, and now the airbag is on... any ideas? Dealer only? Thanks!

 

damn, thats a good idea...sell the airbags. I guess i dont really need them anyway. seatbelts are a must in my car, so why front airbags?

 

I heard that just unplugging the battery for a few minutes will make it go out. Could just be a myth though...

 

I heard the same thing though, only the negative terminal and that will reset the ECU or something. I know there is a way to check some of the fault codes through the speedo, but I don't know what series of buttons to push.

 

Found out that if you disconnet the battery for about 20 mins, the airbag light should go out... Thanks to Randy for a great writeup...

https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5387&highlight=remove+front+seats

 

I went and tried this today after reading thru this thread, I disconnected my battery for about 45 minutes. After I reconnected the battery the airbag light stayed on. It came on in the first place because my steering wheel airbag got disconnected while my power was on, and now its all reconnected.............. I'm trying to get the light off without going to the dealer.

 

AZ - I tried this too. I removed my seats and the airbag light came on. I removed the negative terminal of the battery for a few hours while I ran a few other errands... Light still on. Anyone else have any ideas? I think there is a way using the trip reset as when you reset the service indicator. I guess I'm going to go to the dealer damn it!

 

I installed the Pioneer Avic N2 in my 06 a few months ago. I turned the key on with the pass side seat out. The light tripped and a fault code was stored. There is not a way to reset this yourself! I looked far and wide for a way to do it myself so I wouldnt have to drive 300+ miles to the dealer and pay them to reset it. You need the MINI diagnostic computer hooked up to your car to check the sytem and to clear the any fault code and reset the light.
THERE IS NOT A WAY TO DO IT YOURSELF!

 

What about the Peake BMW airbag reset tool? Expensive but cheaper than 70miles of driving and an hour of labor.

Links here