Srs light is on ( which code reader)

[Vince]

Yesterday I decided to take my Z3 for its first drive of the year and it was gleaming after a good wash and wax and noticed after having a flat battery while it's been in hibernation that the SRS light was stuck on ( but it might of been set off by a passenger sitting in the passenger seat) so I plugged in my cheap draper code reader on the car but it's not picking up a code so I can't reset the light.

I just wondered if anyone had advice on a good cheap BMW code reader. I do have a Bmw diagnostic disk set and lead I bought off eBay but being a complete computer novice I can't get them to install on my laptop and would prefer something that would work straight out the box.

 

[t-tony]

Hey Vince search on eBay for Z3 airbag light reset tool. No expensive at all.

Tony.

 

[colb]

B800 reset tool with BMW round diagnostic plug and socket
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Airbag-Re...696883?hash=item465a2e5633:g:hVQAAOSwVL1V~o6x

You need the round cable to connect to the diagnostic socket under the bonnet as airbag system is only accessible via that port you can't use the OBD2 socket under the dash as that only reads engine module.

 

[Vince]

Cheers I've just bought it although being a tightarse I got it a bit cheaper lol.

There was even a cheaper one that said it was an airbag reset tool but to me it looked like it only did the oil service lights plus on some of the descriptions it said for 2000 onwards.

I already have the extra lead for the underbonnet socket

 

[Vince]

I normally useable old draper code reader which I bought a few years ago on Amazon for £8 but it only does the basic stuff but it did tell me I had a duff camshaft sensor but it didn't find any codes this time.
I preferred it when you gave things a tap with a hammer to get them working again all this modern technology is witchcraft to me.

 

[Vince]

So if anyone in the East Sussex area now needs an airbag reset done for free I'm your man

 

[colb]

Yes the second one is for service lights if you dont want to mess about with a paperclip!

 

[Firefox116]

I just had my camshaft sensor replaced. £230.

It began as an intermittent fault. Slow to start, fluctuating revs loss of power and random stalls. All sorted now.

 

[Firefox116]

What I forgot to add......£110 of that was diagnostic testing and resetting of fault codes ! (£55 a go). No he didnt have a mask or a gun.

 

[Vince]

When I did the camshaft sensor sensor on my E36 it only took about 20 minutes but maybe 40 minutes at a push as I stopped to have a chat with my neighbours plus a cup of tea.

I paid £29 for the new sensor/wire but I went for a Delphi one rather than genuine as it was quarter the price and it works perfectly and now the car is running like new again.
But I could of gone for an even cheaper one but really genuine is the way to go if you can afford it from what I hear.
I was really lucky as Andy (spurs fan ) sent me the harness clip though as mine just fell apart with a bit of persuasion lol and I wouldn't of been able to find one anywhere else.

 

[duckhunt]

One on the topic...

I have a Bluetooth reader and android app, which works perfectly for the 03 diesel volvo, but I have a round plug adapter and it can't connect to ecu on the z3. It was the same with my 98 328i.
I have a distant memory it's because it's obd1 or something? Can anyone help? Cheers.

(z3 is a 6/98 2.8)

 

[colb]

I seem to recall OBD2 came in around 1999,it is on my 12/99 1.9 which has a OBD2 socket under the steering wheel and the round socket under the bonnet. On mine only the Engine module is readable using the 16pin OBD socket under the steering wheel but all modules are readable using the round socket using generic code readers or the BMW software INPA. You would need a laptop with a serial port, modern laptops don't usually have these so maybe look for an old laptop just to keep your diagnostic software on.
Earlier cars can use the INPA software but need to do it with a laptop connected to a serial port as opposed to a USB connection.
BMCables can supply the required BMW software and cables.
I'm sure someone will be along with more in depth knowledge of how to get INPA working on your car.

 

[Vince]

The code reader worked a treat, I tried it and couldn't get the codes removed and the codes came back as 02 and 06 but I wasn't thinking straight at the time as I just got back after an emergency stay in hospital for a couple of nights so was a bit run down.

But the following day I checked under the seats as I did the seat kebabs and repaired a stuck seat motor last year and wondered if maybe I had done something when putting them back in but all was ok so in the end I just pulled the seatbelt fully out on the passenger side as I remember the SRS light came on when I had a passenger put the belt on and that sorted it once I plugged the reader back in and it's not come on since, so it looks like a stuck seat belt was the culprit.

I guess it doesn't help that I refuse to use the belt holders on the seats as I don't want the hassle of changing them if they snap being that it's quite a common fault.

 

[duckhunt]

That's great, as srs is notorious for being difficult or expensive to fix. Good stuff

 

[Antm72]

Result glad it worked through

 

[gookah]

Wont be the seatbelt. it is not connected to the airbag circuit in any way.
the clue is checking under the seats. you will have disturbed and corrected the notorious dodgy connection that goes to the seatbelt pretensioners/ occupancy sensor mat.

 

[Antm72]

I would say the same as above if you sat in the passenger seat to sort the belt it may have disturbed the occupancy sensor and removed your fault .