So out of nowhere today, the little red dash airbag light came on and won't go off.
It was on solid all the way to work.....when i got there, I cut the engine, then started it up again and the light was off for the 20 seconds I sad there in the parking lot. Thought maybe it was a glitch & went inside. When I left this evening, I had forgotten about the light.....until of course it came on again & stayed on.
I drove about a mile down the road to the gym.....parked....cut the engine, then started it again & the light went out & remained out for the 30 seconds I sat there.....So I went inside to work out.
I came out an hour later, fired up the car and the light was back on....steady. Tried to cut the engine & restart a few times.....but this time the light stayed on each time......Then it stayed on for the 7 mile ride home.
Thinking I could clear the code maybe, I hooked up my OBDII code reader and......nothing, no codes....but the light remained & remains on. It's not throwing any codes at all....which is strange.
I tried to do a 'hard' reset....i.e., disconnect the ground from the battery for a few minutes......Didin't work. Disconnected & reconnected the driver's side seat connectors.....No good.
I haven't and any passengers in the car or fooled with the passenger seat since I bought the car 4 months ago....and the dash indicator for that side seems to be working fine........It's the red dash light that won't go out now.
I did reposition the steering wheel I (up/down...telescoped in/out) last week I think & repositioned my seat last week or the week before.....but other than that, I haven't fooled with anything.
I can accept that maybe there really is a bad sensor or something......BUT why is it not throwing any codes on my OBDII reader? The reader is supposed to be good for both GM & Toyota.
Any ideas? Why no codes? Do you need a special code reader? Mines not cheap...it was a $100 & has worked well with other cars. Are the airbags covered under warranty ( I have a couple months left on the powertrain warranty) . That freakin red light blaring at me is so damn irritating.....especially since I have no idea where to look because I'm not getting any codes. Anytying else I can try? Any help/suggetions would be great....thanks.
09 Dash Airbag light stays on
Re: 09 Dash Airbag light stays on
Shoot.....I guess my code reader (Innova 3100e) doesn't read airbag (SRS) faults......Of course the cheapest model that does is $350+.....So frustrating.
Re: 09 Dash Airbag light stays on
Anyone know of a good 'hard reset' procedure to try without having to buy another code reader for $300?
Disconnecting the battery for 5 minutes or so didn't do the trick.......Also pulled the airbag fuse under the dash, that didn't work either. I hate it.....this 'code' deal with cars is such a scam........I mean really, in this day and age, they best they can give the consumer/car owner is a red light? There are more computers in a car than the first spacecraft went to the moon, and they can't set it up to at least give you the specific fault code?
Even if you don't know what it means or how to fix it, at least you're not in the dark when you take it in for service....And that's the scam I'm talking about. Either you spend into the hundreds to buy your own code reader or you pay a shop $50 to do a couple minutes worth of work just to tell you what might be wrong.
BTW, I love how the airbag fuse is tied to the ignition circuit.....pull the fuse & you can't start the car.....Nanny State at its finest.
Anyway, that's my frustration rant for the morning...... Again, does anyone have a hard reset procedure to try before I start throwing money away for a possible simple reset?
Disconnecting the battery for 5 minutes or so didn't do the trick.......Also pulled the airbag fuse under the dash, that didn't work either. I hate it.....this 'code' deal with cars is such a scam........I mean really, in this day and age, they best they can give the consumer/car owner is a red light? There are more computers in a car than the first spacecraft went to the moon, and they can't set it up to at least give you the specific fault code?
Even if you don't know what it means or how to fix it, at least you're not in the dark when you take it in for service....And that's the scam I'm talking about. Either you spend into the hundreds to buy your own code reader or you pay a shop $50 to do a couple minutes worth of work just to tell you what might be wrong.
BTW, I love how the airbag fuse is tied to the ignition circuit.....pull the fuse & you can't start the car.....Nanny State at its finest.
Anyway, that's my frustration rant for the morning...... Again, does anyone have a hard reset procedure to try before I start throwing money away for a possible simple reset?
Re: 09 Dash Airbag light stays on
****UPDATE*****
Well, seeing as how many people are showing interest in this post
, I figured everyone would be dying to know the lastest...ha.
Anyway, I don't know exactly what is wrong, but it would seem to be an issue with the steering wheel position. When I went to leave work, the steering wheel was turned to the 10/11'clock position......I started the car with it in that position....the airbag light came on, then went out like it should......Interesting.
Like a crazy person, I decided to start doing a little testing:
+Seat check....did a little bouncing around and jostling to see if the light would come on....nope.
+Steering wheel....grabbed it, turned it left and right, pulled on it, shook it....light came on....hmmmm.
Decided to refine my testing.....cut the engine, put the steering wheel back to the 10/11 o'clock position...started the car......light came on & went off like it should. THEN I slowly turned the wheel clockwise until it was back to straight ahead, 12 o'clock......held it there for a couple/few seconds.....and light came on.
I performed this a few more times.....leaving the steering wheel at the 10/11 o'clock position for longer and longer intervals (up to 10 minutes)....with no light. But EVERY TIME I put the wheel back to dead ahead, 12 o'clock....the light came on within a couple seconds.
Given this new developement, I'm fairly certain I found the problem.....BUT what is the actual problem? Does this have something to do with the 'clockspring'? I work on cars, but haven't fooled much with newer cars & airbags, etc.
Now I know SOMEBODY must know what's goin on here.....How about some suggestions....thanks
Well, seeing as how many people are showing interest in this post
, I figured everyone would be dying to know the lastest...ha. Anyway, I don't know exactly what is wrong, but it would seem to be an issue with the steering wheel position. When I went to leave work, the steering wheel was turned to the 10/11'clock position......I started the car with it in that position....the airbag light came on, then went out like it should......Interesting.
Like a crazy person, I decided to start doing a little testing:
+Seat check....did a little bouncing around and jostling to see if the light would come on....nope.
+Steering wheel....grabbed it, turned it left and right, pulled on it, shook it....light came on....hmmmm.
Decided to refine my testing.....cut the engine, put the steering wheel back to the 10/11 o'clock position...started the car......light came on & went off like it should. THEN I slowly turned the wheel clockwise until it was back to straight ahead, 12 o'clock......held it there for a couple/few seconds.....and light came on.
I performed this a few more times.....leaving the steering wheel at the 10/11 o'clock position for longer and longer intervals (up to 10 minutes)....with no light. But EVERY TIME I put the wheel back to dead ahead, 12 o'clock....the light came on within a couple seconds.
Given this new developement, I'm fairly certain I found the problem.....BUT what is the actual problem? Does this have something to do with the 'clockspring'? I work on cars, but haven't fooled much with newer cars & airbags, etc.
Now I know SOMEBODY must know what's goin on here.....How about some suggestions....thanks
Re: 09 Dash Airbag light stays on
****UPDATE****
Well, GenVibe member cq358 & I worked out a a deal (he's a good guy).....I bought his old clock spring (clockspring) & just finished swapping it out with my suspect one.....And it appears that my less than scientific diagnosis was correct.
With the 'new' clock spring in, the dashboard airbag light is out. Further testing of my 'old' clockspring seems to reveal that there is a dead spot right where I thought it was...and then some. Put the muli-meter probes in the orange airbag connector, and spun the clock spring & it cut in an out around the 12 o'clock position, just like I thought.
Did the same test with the multi-meter on the black horn connector & it was good all the way around........So apparently it is possible for just one of the wires to go bad.
I guess the lesson learned that I can pass on to anyone esle who is having an airbag light problem, is to do a rudimentary test.....try starting the car with the steering wheel in various positions & see if the light goes out or stays on. If it goes out & then comes back on when you move the wheel, then I'd say it's time for a 'new' (or slightly used) clock spring.
BTW, the removal & installation was fairly simple......nothing to be terribly afraid of......If you do it yourself, you might want to pick up a steering wheel puller for $15....it'll save you a ton of hassle.
So, being somewhat superstitious....I'm 99% sure it's all good, but I'll still keep my fingers crossed & knock on some wood for the next hundred miles or so....just to be sure it's all fixed
Special thanks to GenVibe member....cq358.....With a good price on his 'old' clock spring & less than an hour of DIY work, I probably saved myself $400+
Alright then, here's to hopefully another 75k miles on the 'new clockspring'
Well, GenVibe member cq358 & I worked out a a deal (he's a good guy).....I bought his old clock spring (clockspring) & just finished swapping it out with my suspect one.....And it appears that my less than scientific diagnosis was correct.
With the 'new' clock spring in, the dashboard airbag light is out. Further testing of my 'old' clockspring seems to reveal that there is a dead spot right where I thought it was...and then some. Put the muli-meter probes in the orange airbag connector, and spun the clock spring & it cut in an out around the 12 o'clock position, just like I thought.
Did the same test with the multi-meter on the black horn connector & it was good all the way around........So apparently it is possible for just one of the wires to go bad.
I guess the lesson learned that I can pass on to anyone esle who is having an airbag light problem, is to do a rudimentary test.....try starting the car with the steering wheel in various positions & see if the light goes out or stays on. If it goes out & then comes back on when you move the wheel, then I'd say it's time for a 'new' (or slightly used) clock spring.
BTW, the removal & installation was fairly simple......nothing to be terribly afraid of......If you do it yourself, you might want to pick up a steering wheel puller for $15....it'll save you a ton of hassle.
So, being somewhat superstitious....I'm 99% sure it's all good, but I'll still keep my fingers crossed & knock on some wood for the next hundred miles or so....just to be sure it's all fixed
Special thanks to GenVibe member....cq358.....With a good price on his 'old' clock spring & less than an hour of DIY work, I probably saved myself $400+
Alright then, here's to hopefully another 75k miles on the 'new clockspring'
Re: 09 Dash Airbag light stays on
This is an old strand but it might be useful to kick it up to the top again for anyone stuck in the void between having your 2009/2010 vibe airbag come on and getting any recall notice from GM so you can have it repaired without selling an organ.
The simple diagosistic process, worked out by the original poster, of turning the steering wheel to different positions before turning off the engine sounds like an elegant piece of troubleshooting.
I, on the other hand, asked my local Canadian GM dealer what it would cost to have their reader diagnose the reason behind my airbag light so I could decide whether to go ahead with the repair (if it's not actually related to the electronic coil in the steering wheel) or wait for the recall on the electronic coil once Toyota and GM work out their processes. At present they tell me they have no knowledge of any recall.
They want $125 just to read the code. Once I had picked my jaw back up, I asked whether the diagnosis involved more than just plugging in their computer, and in a moment of honesty, I guess, the service representative told me that it was, in fact, just to plug in the reader and get the cause.
I practically fell over. This is the first time I've had a problem like this that I couldn't either diagnose myself or fix myself so my sense of feeling trapped is giving me high blood pressure at the moment.
If anyone's had better luck getting this light diagnosed for less money I'd love to hear it.
Before I learned better I assumed GM and their dealerships would love to build relationships with new (to them) owners, and offer to read it for free knowing that the press is all over the issues they're having with recalls lately.
Bigger fool me.
The simple diagosistic process, worked out by the original poster, of turning the steering wheel to different positions before turning off the engine sounds like an elegant piece of troubleshooting.
I, on the other hand, asked my local Canadian GM dealer what it would cost to have their reader diagnose the reason behind my airbag light so I could decide whether to go ahead with the repair (if it's not actually related to the electronic coil in the steering wheel) or wait for the recall on the electronic coil once Toyota and GM work out their processes. At present they tell me they have no knowledge of any recall.
They want $125 just to read the code. Once I had picked my jaw back up, I asked whether the diagnosis involved more than just plugging in their computer, and in a moment of honesty, I guess, the service representative told me that it was, in fact, just to plug in the reader and get the cause.
I practically fell over. This is the first time I've had a problem like this that I couldn't either diagnose myself or fix myself so my sense of feeling trapped is giving me high blood pressure at the moment.
If anyone's had better luck getting this light diagnosed for less money I'd love to hear it.
Before I learned better I assumed GM and their dealerships would love to build relationships with new (to them) owners, and offer to read it for free knowing that the press is all over the issues they're having with recalls lately.
Bigger fool me.
Re: 09 Dash Airbag light stays on
justaskin, call around to other dealers for pricing. I had checked to get my sensors in my wheels reset (TPMS) at dealers around me and found one dealer wanted $220 to do it and another dealer was $60. I had to drive 35 miles further, but for a $160 difference, it was worth it to me. Pricing can vary widely for these services.
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TheMaskedMan
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:00 am
Re: 09 Dash Airbag light stays on
My SRS light would disappear when turning the car on with the steering wheel hard to the left. I also checked the diagnostic flash code and it confirmed the clockspring. Instructions for doing that can be found here: http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/61-2n ... ost3464823" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
My car was throwing code 51 - Here is a video of my car showing the diagnostic flash code: http://youtu.be/W_kG88uN05A" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
My car was throwing code 51 - Here is a video of my car showing the diagnostic flash code: http://youtu.be/W_kG88uN05A" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;