Any Ideas? Airbag light on

[saudistevo]

Changed one or two things this weekend which involved removing the passenger door airbag and also the steering wheel airbag. Firstly i change the door handle carrier and disconnected the battery. All went well after skinning my hands and finally assembled everything- working fine, but 4x4 light came on (amber) when i connected battery. Then I changed the trim on the steering wheel. again disconnected the battery, left it disconnected over night as I didn't have the correct torx. finished the job today- connected the battery and now airbag lights on and also 4x4 light, arghhh. seems my battery is flat as the darn thing won't turn over now. I took off the steering wheel airbag again to double check the connections and all seems fine. My car is '04 X5 3.0D sport. Any ideas? Just waiting to borrow some jump leads. great eh? :-[

[X5Sport]

The 4x4 light is normal after a battery disconnect and is cleared by starting the car and rolling slowly forward whilst turning the steering from lock to lock.

I think the airbag warning requires a reset command from a scanner to clear it.  If all the wiring is in place then it should be just that needed.

Richard

[535dboy]

If your crash your airbag might not go off

HTH

[saudistevo]

Thanks guys.
yes you're right the 4x4 light went off once I manage to jump the car and set off. As for the airbag warning light, will it cost an arm and a leg to reset. After all my hard work sorting the issues I'll be sick as a parrot to pay for this sorting :'(. Question is why has it come on? I followed other links and youtube to the full and no-one mentioned this issue may occur . Have I done something wrong?
Craig

[X5Sport]

If you know someone with a scanner then you may find it's a simple fix to reset the light.  That should give you a fault code to tell you what the control module is unhappy about.  See if there is anyone on here close to you - unless of course you sig points to somewhere hot and dusty...?

It might simply be there was still enough stray voltage in the car to allow the module to detect one being unplugged and so the light is on.

Richard

[Steamyrotter]

The system probably noted you had unplugged one and the light came on.
Unfortunately the light latches on and will need a reset to clear it.

The light on does not necessarily disable the system, but highlights you have issues .
If an item is truly at fault ten that item won't work, but the rest of the system should.

This is only from stuff I have researched and not tried it,as that could work out slightly expensive if you know what I mean..
The reset of the light I have done though after checking fault codes first.

[saudistevo]

Many thanks all, reassuring to know there's valuable advice when needed.

I try and find someone with a scanner in the preston area, hint hint.   

Craig

[chrisn7]

[quote="Steamyrotter"]
The system probably noted you had unplugged one and the light came on.
Unfortunately the light latches on and will need a reset to clear it.
[/quote]

A fault code is only logged when the battery is connected, a component such as an airbag is unplugged, and the ignition is then switched on - its easy to forget when busy working. The battery is supposed to be disconnected with a delay of 2 minutes before disconnecting airbag/safety system parts.

It doesn't have to be an airbag connector, but any plug that breaks continuity of the safety system. This can be a door / body wiring connector, seat wiring connector, seat belt wiring and the like.

Fault code can be reset with INPA if you have it. If the warning light stays out all is well, otherwise more investigation needed, as there is then a true fault.

[Steamyrotter]

One main weak point is the harness under the seat.
As the seat moves, by you or the road bounce, the contacts can intermittently break and the light comes on.
Then 9 times out of 10 it conveniently corrects itself and you end up chasing your tail.

Either way you need a scanner / something to read the fault codes and reset them.

[chrisn7]

Yes the seat should be checked. The cable to the seat connector should have a flat loop to accommodate seat movement