Airbag Light Question - BMW Forum

taylor · 08-02-2005, 06:19 AM

My splashguard became unhinged, and I rigged it to part of the radiator with a piece of wire while I wait for a part online (the stealership wanted $275 to fix it).
Could I have triggered the light somehow with the way that I wired the splashguard?
How serious is this light? My seatbelts appear to work and to tighten at the right times, but I have kids and want to make sure they're safe.

Thanks

zlac109 · 08-02-2005, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by taylor@Aug 2 2005, 05:19 AM
My splashguard became unhinged, and I rigged it to part of the radiator with a piece of wire while I wait for a part online (the stealership wanted $275 to fix it).
Could I have triggered the light somehow with the way that I wired the splashguard?
How serious is this light? My seatbelts appear to work and to tighten at the right times, but I have kids and want to make sure they're safe.

Thanks

[snapback]366799[/snapback]

You sould be fine, the seatbelts are mechanichal and have nothing to do with any other part of the car. So unless the seatbelt itself breaks you will be fine.
Can't tell you anything about the airbag.

e36surge · 08-02-2005, 10:44 AM

Common problem. Any one of a number of things can set it off. Mine stays lit for about 3 minutes then goes off. You'll have to get the code error read to identify exactly what it is. The links below may help explains things better than I can.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticl...ir_Bag_Lamp.htm

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/archi...p/t-220721.html

taylor · 08-03-2005, 05:44 AM

Thanks. Does anybody have a diagnostic tool, and if so, can you tell me exactly what kind of info I can get out of it if I buy one?

wavewuver · 08-03-2005, 07:48 AM

There are probably 30 different error codes. Some of them are related to the seat belt. A common error code relates to the seat belt buckle assembly (the female portion). That part has a pretensioner in it which means it will tighten your seatbelt a couple of inches just before your airbag fires off. This seems to be a common failure item, but like I said already, there are many error codes.

taylor · 08-05-2005, 05:46 AM

Here's the update on the stealership: The splash guard that they were going to charge me $275 to install came for $25 from Bavarian Auto, including shipping (next day), and my local mechanic put it in, plus replaced a ball joint, for a total of $120.

Delmarco · 08-06-2005, 08:57 AM

That wouldn't cause your airbag light to malfunction...it could be your airbag switch which is located under the passenger seat...BMW charged me 480$ to replace and install a malfunctioning unit.

It could also be that a wire under the passenger seat either came out accidentally and just needs to be reclipped...this also happened to me when I was working on my seats and it caused my Air Bag light to come on.

B3M2W5i · 08-07-2005, 08:00 PM

i think i have this same problem with the srs light on<right?> but could it also be triggered if your battery has been disconnected?

jimwww · 08-08-2005, 01:56 AM

Mine stays on for thiry sec after I start it - then it goes out.

taylor · 08-09-2005, 08:25 AM

I saw somewhere that if you turn the key for 3 minutes (all the way without turning the engine on), then turn the engine on, the light will go out. Are there any similar fixes that people know about?

taylor · 08-11-2005, 04:20 PM

The latest? I bought a code sensor, and it said that it was the seat belt buckle switch. Will go to the stealership with this info, and see what they say, especially since they replaced that part under the previous owner, and yes, I have the receipt :P