Airbag Troubleshooting

**Vincenzo** · 07-02-2017

For a while now, I had an intermittent airbag dash light situation. I rattled the connectors under the seat and I "guess" that made some change, but the light is still intermittent. My next step is to remove the front seats so I can get a better access to those connectors, so I can, then, do some inspections and/or multimeter magic after opening the connections (and spraying the connectors leads with some electronic contact cleaner in any case).
The main concern is if there is any chance that disconnecting those connectors or testing sensors may lead to air bags getting accidentally activated!
Does anyone have any idea about what I'm talking about? Is there any chance

Does removing one or both of the battery cables help in any way? or is it a necessity at all?

thanks
(my car is a 2008 grand prix with all the luxury options that were available that year, and has close to 150K miles)

**Scottydoggs** · 07-02-2017

yellow plugs are air bag plugs, open and clean the one under the seat first. it tends to be the issue a lot. no need to remove the seat if its a power seat, lift the rear up and reach under from the back side.

**cheatah faheatah** · 07-03-2017

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

lift the rear up and reach under from the back side.

Don't forget to turn your head and cough .... lol.

**MonzaRacer** · 07-04-2017

disconnect batt negative first, ALWAYS. NEVER REMOVE EITHER BATT CABLE WHILE RUNNING YOU CAN BLOW LOTS OF PRETTY ELECTRONICS FAST.
Once neg pulled turn key on for 30 sec or so, just for insurance. Also look for fluid damage in/around srs module. Most are under one seat or another. Codes pulled first might narrow down issue too

**Scottydoggs** · 07-04-2017

id not worry to much, key off theres no power. i had my air bag off 3 times with out un hooking the battery, i just lean far away as i plugged it back in.

plug under the seat is a common thing. some would move the seat and bingo light went off or on. clean the plug, issue gone.

**Vincenzo** · 07-05-2017

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

id not worry to much, key off theres no power. i had my air bag off 3 times with out un hooking the battery, i just lean far away as i plugged it back in.

plug under the seat is a common thing. some would move the seat and bingo light went off or on. clean the plug, issue gone.

you remove your head because there is a (minute/tiny) probability that the airbag may get activated?
Removing battery negative only takes a couple of mins. Do you think that doing that eliminates that probability making it zero/impossible?

**Scottydoggs** · 07-05-2017

if we want to get technical, make sure your wearing your ground strap on your wrist. lmao.

**LEVELX** · 07-05-2017

And safety goggles!!!

**brettstoner** · 07-11-2017

Check for a loose connection under the seat or the seat belt pretensioner is bad. (pulls the seat belt down in a crash). Measure the resistance at the air bag module and work backward. The pretensioner can be bypassed with a resistor to get the light out.

**Vincenzo** · 07-11-2017

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

id not worry to much, key off theres no power. i had my air bag off 3 times with out un hooking the battery, i just lean far away as i plugged it back in.

plug under the seat is a common thing. some would move the seat and bingo light went off or on. clean the plug, issue gone.

did you change the title, after the first time, to "salvage" or "rebuilt"?

Did you modify your will or life insurance in anyway before attempting the troubleshooting?

**Scottydoggs** · 07-11-2017

Originally Posted by Vincenzo

did you change the title, after the first time, to "salvage" or "rebuilt"?

Did you modify your will or life insurance in anyway before attempting the troubleshooting?

why would i? its a airbag that was never in a crash. nor was the car. my air bag need to be painted, it was a mess. so it came off to be painted. then the horn inside broke, part of the cover, then i swapped in a spare air bag, and its horn broke, so i bought another one and painted it up all nice and installed that one.

newest one, before paint

after painting with SEM brand paint.

i did have to swap the inflate'r out from my old one to the new one, this one is from a newer regal. plug end was not the same.