What should I do if the airbag light comes on?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:55

Modern cars are made up of many complex systems. The passive safety system SRS Airbag is perhaps the most important in the car, because the quality of its work in an emergency depends on the he alth and life of people. If it fails, the corresponding light on the dashboard lights up. This light usually causes panic among drivers, because it indicates that the airbags in the event of an accident may not work. Today we will take a closer look at the SRS system, find out what to do if the airbag light comes on, and look at some specific examples from the life of car owners.

SRS system

In all modern cars in the cabin you can find the SRS marking. What does it mean? This abbreviation stands for Supplementary Restrain System, which in Russian means "Deployed Security System". Often the phrase Air bag is added to it, which translates as “pillowsecurity." It is the pillows that are the main attribute of the system. But besides them, SRS also includes:

1. Seat belts.
2. Tensioners.
3. Shock sensors.
4. Igniters.
5. Electronic control system.

Like any other automotive component, the security system can fail if one small part breaks down or the reliable relationship between the elements is lost.

Working principle

When the sensor detects an impact, it transmits an alarm to the system and the airbags deploy. From the moment of impact to the opening of the pillows, 30-35 milliseconds pass. Modern cars have special batteries that keep the system running even when the main battery is damaged.

Why does the Airbag light come on?

If the airbag light comes on on the dashboard of your car, it means that there is some problem in the system. The indicator can be on constantly or blink at a certain frequency, thereby informing the driver of the error code.

If everything is good in the security system, then when the ignition is turned on, the light flashes about six times. Thus, the system lets the driver know that everything is in order with it. After that, the indicator goes out on its own and reminds of itself only the next time the engine is started. But if any problems or errors are found, the lamp continues to burn. As soon as the electronics has noticed an error, it automatically starts searching for the cause and transmits the codemalfunction in memory.

After a certain period of time after the first testing, the system checks all elements again. If the failure identification was erroneous or the signs indicating a malfunction disappeared, the diagnostic module erases the error code sent to the memory earlier. In this case, the lamp goes out and the machine continues to operate normally. When the system recognizes the fault again, the light continues to flash.

Common faults

As you already understood, if the airbag light comes on in your car, then there is definitely a malfunction in the system. Modern car manufacturers approach the safety organization system with special responsibility. Therefore, the devices involved in this node are considered the most reliable and trouble-free in the entire car. So if the airbag malfunction light comes on, it makes no sense to complain about the unreliability of the system itself. Remember that SRS Airbag diagnostic organs are very rarely wrong!

If the Airbag indicator is on in your car, this may be the result of such problems:

1. Violation of the integrity of one of the elements of the system. It doesn't matter if it's small or big, important or not.
2. Violation of the signal between the elements of the system.
3. Problems with the contacts located in the doors. Most often this happens afterrepair or replacement of contacts. If you forget to connect one of the connectors, the light will turn on.
4. Damage to impact sensors.
5. Short circuit or any kind of damage to the wiring in the system circuit.
6. Fuse blown. A simple problem that many people remember last, having already dismantled half the car.
7. Software or mechanical damage to the control unit of the SRS Airbag system.
8. Violation of the integrity and consistency of the circuit elements due to the replacement or repair of the alarm.
9. Inaccuracy when replacing seats or cleaning the cabin. Under the seats lies the wiring, damaging which can disable the entire chain of devices.
10. Restoration of pillows after an accident, without resetting the memory in the control unit.
11. Excessive resistance on one of the pads.
12. Voltage is too low in the car's mains. If the airbag light comes on for this reason, everything will fall into place when you change the battery.
13. Exceeding the life of the squibs or the pads themselves. As a rule, this period is about 10 years.
14. Unprofessional tuning, which often leads to a violation of the integrity of the electrical circuit or sensors.
15. Sensors getting wet while washing the car.
16. Incorrect battery replacement.
17. Inaccurate steering wheel replacement.

Troubleshooting

Now we know why the airbag light comes on. All that's left isfigure out how to solve this problem. Troubleshooting consists of the following steps:

1. To begin with, the system itself checks its performance when the ignition is turned on. If errors are detected, it writes their code to the central control unit.
2. The wizard reads the code and determines the cause of the problem.
3. Special diagnostic equipment checks the system.
4. Master performs repairs.
5. It remains only to update the memory of the control unit, and the problem is solved.

Trying to repair the SRS Airbag system at home is strongly discouraged! First, the elements of the system are not so easy to get to. Secondly, in order to eliminate the breakdown, it must be identified. And without special equipment it is impossible. Thirdly, this system can save your life, so it is better to entrust its repair to professionals. Driving while ignoring the indicator is also dangerous. In the event of an accident, the airbags may not deploy. But they can easily hit you for no reason.

Now let's look at a few examples of solving this issue by drivers of different brands of cars.

Chevrolet Lacetti airbag light came on

Once the driver of this car noticed that when starting the engine, the SRS light does not blink, but burns for five seconds, then goes out. This happened every time the engine was started. The reason turned out to be the following - when removing the seat, the driver disconnected the pillow andturned on the ignition to access the cigarette lighter. The system considered an error, and this caused the airbag light on the Lacetti to light up. Then, when the seat and contacts were put back in place, the car kept reminding of the problem.

Renault Logan

The owner of this car has a more significant problem. It all started with the fact that one day the SRS indicator came on. Since the driver had some experience in this matter, he decided to figure it out on his own. Having removed the front driver's pillow, the man disconnected the wires from it (having previously disconnected the "mass"), removed the steering wheel and the plastic cover. By the way, he had to remove the steering wheel with a friend, as he was tightly pressed. This happens not only on Renault Logan cars. The airbag light came on, as it turned out, after removing the cover, due to the fact that the airbag plume was torn off, and on both sides. Having removed the block of steering column switches, the man took out the damaged element and replaced it.

Nissan Note

After cleaning the car, the owner noticed that the SRS light was on. Apparently, the reason was that the man touched the connection located under the seat with a vacuum cleaner. At first he tried to simply remove the battery terminal. On some machines, it helps if the airbag light comes on. Nissan, on the other hand, is designed so that information about the error is immediately saved. Fortunately, this is not the only feature of Nissan cars. It turns out that in cars of this brand, to clear the system of errors, you need to perform the following sequence of actions:

1. Depress the brake pedal. She should not be released until the end of the procedure.
2. Turn the key to "ON" mode.
3. Wait until the SRS light starts flashing.
4. Quickly turn the key to the "OFF" position.
5. Items from the second to the fourth must be repeated 3-5 times.

If it does not help, then there is a more serious problem, and you need to contact the masters.

Toyota Camry

One motorist's Camry 40 airbag light came on for a very interesting reason. As already mentioned, not only pillows, but also belts are connected to the security system. So, once, in an emergency situation, the owner of the Toyota Camry, as they say, "shot the belt." Shot - it means that it was pulled back with such speed that the stopper worked, and the belt jammed. The airbags did not deploy, but the situation was recognized by the system as an emergency and stored in the control unit, as a result of which the light came on.

Conclusion

Summarizing the above, it is worth noting that the SRS indicator may light up for various reasons. In any case, do not wait for it to go out on its own. If the light bulb is on and you have no idea why it broke, contact the masters to protect yourself and your passengers.