Airbag light!, Anyone successfully fixed it? Options

[6strngs]

I've got an airbag light on in my car, and it's been there ever since I bought the car, though it's never been in an accident. Now I'm trying to sell the car, and would like to fix it first because I don't really want to get sued, though I'm not sure they could if I'm not trying to hide the light by pulling the fuse or anything.

Anyway, mine is throwing a code 11, which is for a short to ground somewhere. Following the BGB I did a resistance test of both font sensors, the spec is 755-855 ohms and I got about 815-ish for both. So they are still good. That's about all I had to time to test yesterday, but I'm making this thread so people who have had this problem and successfully repaired it can post what they did to fix it. And I don't consider pulling the fuse to be a "successful repair." Also post what code(s) yours threw.

[6strngs]

*cricket* *cricket*

[6strngs]

well, after much diagnostic time today. my code 11 mysteriously disappeared, but is replaced by code 31, which is much easier to diagnose... the BGB's diagnostic process for code 31:

Do you have a code 31?

Yes

Replace Center airbag sensor module

that's it... I wish I had just gotten this code to begin with, that takes much less time to diagnose than removing both the airbags and measuring resistance across a billion things...

[Celiquick]

well, after much diagnostic time today. my code 11 mysteriously disappeared, but is replaced by code 31, which is much easier to diagnose... the BGB's diagnostic process for code 31:

Do you have a code 31?

Yes

Replace Center airbag sensor module

that's it... I wish I had just gotten this code to begin with, that takes much less time to diagnose than removing both the airbags and measuring resistance across a billion things...

The inexpensive way to doing this is to take a a very strong magnet to the center portion of the airbag sensor at the front of the car, or for cosmetics, remove the bulb entirely for the gauge cluster, albeit you will still receive the code 31 from the detection module.

[6strngs]

well, after much diagnostic time today. my code 11 mysteriously disappeared, but is replaced by code 31, which is much easier to diagnose... the BGB's diagnostic process for code 31:

Do you have a code 31?

Yes

Replace Center airbag sensor module

that's it... I wish I had just gotten this code to begin with, that takes much less time to diagnose than removing both the airbags and measuring resistance across a billion things...

The inexpensive way to doing this is to take a a very strong magnet to the center portion of the airbag sensor at the front of the car, or for cosmetics, remove the bulb entirely for the gauge cluster, albeit you will still receive the code 31 from the detection module.

The problem is, when you do that, it technically still has a code, and when it has a code, the airbags won't deploy at all in an accident. I'm trying to sell this car, so if I disable the light and don't tell the new owner, and he gets in an accident and the airbags don't deploy, he will be in a position to sue the royal crap out of me. I'd rather spend the $50 or $60 it'll take to get a used one and feel better knowing that I'm selling a safe car without any shady business.

[samir0189]

Very interesting that I just got code 31 monday, replace center airbag sensor, it burned out or something.. , i smelled it.

Have these things reached their lifespan or something, or purely coincidence?

[6strngs]

Very interesting that I just got code 31 monday, replace center airbag sensor, it burned out or something.. , i smelled it.

Have these things reached their lifespan or something, or purely coincidence?

Probably something in the design that just wears out after 15 years. I'm sure it's a somewhat common problem because I know many others on this site have experienced the airbag light also, but it's not common enough of a problem for toyota to issue a recall on them... I checked the price on a new one from the dealer and it's about $320! I'm trying to find a used one. I need one asap too because I'm trying to sell the car. I have someone coming to look at it this weekend...

[samir0189]

I did read on the visor that the airbag system "requires maintainance" after 10 yrs from manufacture, i figure we got 5 free years.. lol

I know i looked up the price as well, not nice at all.

[medlinjl]

I did read on the visor that the airbag system "requires maintainance" after 10 yrs from manufacture, i figure we got 5 free years.. lol

I know i looked up the price as well, not nice at all.

Did you two ever get the airbags fixed? I think I have the same problem.

[samir0189]

I did read on the visor that the airbag system "requires maintainance" after 10 yrs from manufacture, i figure we got 5 free years.. lol

I know i looked up the price as well, not nice at all.

Did you two ever get the airbags fixed? I think I have the same problem.

i did. I replaced the center airbag sensor as the system code told me to, and no problems.

[6strngs]

I did read on the visor that the airbag system "requires maintainance" after 10 yrs from manufacture, i figure we got 5 free years.. lol

I know i looked up the price as well, not nice at all.

Did you two ever get the airbags fixed? I think I have the same problem.

follow the BGB's instructions on finding the code. I found the easiest way to do what they asked was to straighten out 2 paper clips and stick them in each of the two terminals in the diagnostic's box that you're supposed to. Then get 2 lengths of wire about 6-8 inches long, strip both ends, and get some copper alligator clips (radioshack for like $1.50) and put one at either end of the wires. clip one end of one wire to one paper clip and the same for the other. Then take a third paper clip and do the same but put it in the terminal of the diagnostic's box that is ground (E1 I belive) then you just touch the alligator clips to the ground and on the last time where you need to hold it on there just clip it to the paper clip. then it'll stay there on it's own while you go look at the code. If that makes absolutely no sense then you'll have to look at the BGB