Air bag Light

[jonco]

I am trying to resolve an Airbag fault which INPA tells me is Fault 6 Ignition circuit 2 -> passenger seat belt tensioners
My airbag light is not functioning (I have yet to source new bulb) but I can just about see the back-up and it is ON. It goes through the start-up check and then stays on.

I have been checking wiring to tensioner today because it was badly kinked and flattened. Got a bit confusing because I discovered somebody had previously spliced a different coloured cable into the feed to the yellow plug under the seat.

Continuity is surpisingly Ok ( I was sure there would be a broken wire) and I am measuring 2v either side of tensioner switch - anybody have any ideas whether this is correct?

 

[jonco]

Now sorted I hope - another one to make your blood boil
Took instrument cluster out today and removed bulb but extracted a 30mm length of 10mm dia tubing from the bulb aperture.
Fitted working bulb and re-tested - still very dim light. Had a further look and poked about through the aperture with a screwdriver - extracted a blob of black silcone rubber from base of bulb hole. Could have killed the irresponsible **** at this stage - just as well I don't know who he is.

Re-fitted cluster - air bag light was now well and truly lit. Connected INPA cleared error memory - light now functioning as it should.
When I was checking wiring yesterday I unplugged the tensioner and re-inserted it - maybe ............. watch this space.

 

[GazHyde]

So the main issue was the light was actually always on, but obscured by someone blocking it off! Some people are really nice..

 

[jonco]

So the main issue was the light was actually always on, but obscured by someone blocking it off! Some people are really nice..

If they go to those lengths I suppose I will now have to check there is actually an air bag still installed!!!!

Pic shows tubing used to conceal light - main bulb was blown but back-up still illuminated

 

[Loz3]

Is it easy to get to those bulbs/access the rear of the dash?

 

[jonco]

Is it easy to get to those bulbs/access the rear of the dash?

Yes - there are two screws to undo in the upper arch of the cluster enclosure. You then need a rubber suction cup eg. from kids bow and arrow set or a flat halogen bulb extractor, to withdraw the cluster from the housing. Once clear you can manoeuvre the cluster around the steering wheel to access rear and bulbs.

Note: bulbs are ~£5 from dealer.

 

[Loz3]

Thanks,

Your instructions are very clear and easy to understand. Lord know's they'll need to be for me to get it.

one more job on the horizon....

 

[jonco]

Thanks,

Your instructions are very clear and easy to understand. Lord know's they'll need to be for me to get it.

one more job on the horizon....

There are lots of guys on here who will give you better instruction/advice than I can.
Not clear why you are wanting to access - do you have any failed bulbs?
There are a couple of indicators which have a back-up led soldered in - air bag is one of them. The guy who had fiddled mine was blanking out the back-up as the main light bulb had failed and presumably he could not reset fault. I even had a look yesterday to make sure there was actually an airbag fitted - relieved to find there was but hope I never have a situation to check whether it would actually work.
Cheers

 

[Loz3]

Il have a very dim odometer readout. Its all but invisible in daylight. Thought I might have a look at it.

 

[Loz3]

Where are the connectors for the air bag? Does the seat need to come out?

 

[jonco]

Il have a very dim odometer readout. Its all but invisible in daylight. Thought I might have a look at it.

This following is an extract from a thread on another forum which included this same problem.
The odometer (mileage and trip) display should be backlit with equal intensity to the service lights and it should be a nice orange colour (though the bulb is white). There are two bulbs, one for the mileage display and one for the service lights. As the mileage display is on all the time the ignition is on, it will burn out first. I just replaced mine. It is a different size to the airbag telltale. Both bought from my local BMW dealer.

The guy who started the thread actually bought a second hand cluster for £20 off ebay and got himself a nearly full set of spare bulbs. As they cost ~£5 each from dealer it was a good buy.

 

[jonco]

Where are the connectors for the air bag? Does the seat need to come out?

The connectors for the pre-tensioners are under the seats (yellow plugs) - I don't have a photo of the plug but this is the passenger side wiring - blue/red and blue/brown at lower right go to tensioner.

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The connector to the driver's air bag is under the steering column. It is the orange plug. Note: if you are working on this disconnect battery and wait 10mins to avoid risk of firing bag.

​

 

[Loz3]

Thank you for the photos and tip! I found the underseat fellas and am going to give them and the locking mechs of the seatbelt a little dose of wd40. Then dare I ask, is there any truth in the "disconnect battery terminals for 5 mins to reset light" that I have read about on line?

 

[Loz3]

scratch that,tried it. fail

 

[Loz3]

b800 reset tool coming tomorrow

 

[amancuso]

be weary of the B800. It incorrectly read the codes on my Z3. Said it was side airbag sensor errors, but my indy's big bucks console scanner indicated seatbelt buckle switch. B800 was wrong. It's great for clearing the codes though.

 

[Loz3]

It did clear and it has not come back on, so all good!