Stupid Airbag error

andrew_ireland

I had to change the window regulator the other day due to the NCT coming up within the next couple of days. Unfortunately, it seems I've swapped one NCT failure point for another.

I drive a 1999 BMW 318i E46.

While performing the regulator change, I removed the airbag with the battery disconnected. Once the regulator was in, without thinking (or reconnecting the airbag) I reconnected the battery to test the regulator was working. Then I disconnected the battery, reconnected the airbag, reconnected the battery and now I'm lumbered with an airbag warning light.

Do I need to have professional diagnostics performed or are there any "paperclip" resets known of? I'm confident there is no actual issue with the SRS system now. (Can the airbags still deploy even thought the warning light is still on?)

To be clear here, I don't want to simply bypass the system, I just want to let the system know there is no problem with the airbag and I just made a silly mistake :rolleyes:

colm_mcm

Pretty sure you need a diagnostics tool to do that.

andrew_ireland

Thanks Colm, just what I was afraid of

Do you know if there airbag will still deploy with this error lamp?
Also, is there anywhere around the Coolock/Clonshaugh area that could perform the reset?

colm_mcm

Dunno about Dublin 17 but Chelmsford motors in ranelagh, or Bloomfield garage on the south circular road ( used to be AC cars) would be able to do this for you. (as would loads of other places provided they have the tool)

delly

I did mine a while back and it was pointed out on a lot of the DIY's to not disconnect the airbag due to the result you're getting. I'm not sure if it'll deploy in the case of an accident, but will need the reset with the relevant gear.

Head down the Malahide Road into Fairview and Scully Auto Care should be able to sort you, as they are known BMW specialists.

fasttalkerchat

If they want more than 20 quid you could buy the software and cable and do it yourself. Its fairly straightforward in most cars.

darragh o meara

Stupid airbag error you say? Not so stupid if you rely in them in the unfortunate event of a crash and they don't go off because of a stupid airbag error!!

Face coming into contact with steering wheel or any ither parts at speed is a recipe for a lot of cosmetic surgery and dentistry and that's if your neck isn't banjaxed in the meantime.

You know what you did was stupid and luckily a quick reset is all it needs. Some motor factors hire out diagnostic units for a few quid a day (mine hires a Bosch system for €30 a day which will do it ) and some including my own locl motor factors will clear the fault on your car FOC if you ask them nicely and have the car with you obviously. Airbag systems are not something you want to fails when you really need them to work they need to work as there's no second chance.

darragh o meara

Oh and by the way, sometimes I'd you dis-connect the battery for an hour it sometimes clears the faults stored in the Ecu. Not guaranteed to work bit worth a try if you have a spare hour.

S28382

That happened to me on my car and i brought it to a indy garage to get the diagnostic on it and it took it off no bothers, i paid 25euro but it was better than getting a fail on the car.

corktina

darragh o meara wrote: »

Stupid airbag error you say? Not so stupid if you rely in them in the unfortunate event of a crash and they don't go off because of a stupid airbag error!!

Face coming into contact with steering wheel or any ither parts at speed is a recipe for a lot of cosmetic surgery and dentistry and that's if your neck isn't banjaxed in the meantime.

You know what you did was stupid and luckily a quick reset is all it needs. Some motor factors hire out diagnostic units for a few quid a day (mine hires a Bosch system for €30 a day which will do it ) and some including my own locl motor factors will clear the fault on your car FOC if you ask them nicely and have the car with you obviously. Airbag systems are not something you want to fails when you really need them to work they need to work as there's no second chance.

I don't know if you meant it to read the way I read it, but Granny sucking eggs comes to mind...

carbon nanotube

buy a OBD scan tool on the net and if you got an android phone you can use torque to reset codes.

I got one and it works a treat with my honda, it wont read more obsecure stuff like traction control faults but it does read loads of stuff for what you pay.

darragh o meara

corktina wrote: »

I don't know if you meant it to read the way I read it, but Granny sucking eggs comes to mind...

At 4 in the morning after a few pints, English is not my first language but you get the gist.

darragh o meara

carbon nanotube wrote: »

buy a OBD scan tool on the net and if you got an android phone you can use torque to reset codes.

I got one and it works a treat with my honda, it wont read more obsecure stuff like traction control faults but it does read loads of stuff for what you pay.

I have one of those. Its called an Elm327 and the app is called Torque ( only available on the android platform) but unfortunately I've never gotten into the airbag control unit with one.

As far as in aware you can get a BMW version of vagcom and a lead cheap enough on eBay and that should do it.

carbon nanotube

he is right, air bag stuff is not to be messed with.

i have seen far too many A&E stuff on tv to know the consequences.:mad:

darragh o meara

carbon nanotube wrote: »

he is right, air bag stuff is not to be messed with.

i have seen far too many A&E stuff on tv to know the consequences.:mad:

If anyone doubts how powerful the are, look up Russian airbag test on YouTube. It's funny but shows you just how powerful the are.

andrew_ireland

darragh o meara wrote: »

Stupid airbag error you say? Not so stupid if you rely in them in the unfortunate event of a crash and they don't go off because of a stupid airbag error!!.

It's not the airbag warning light I was calling stupid, I was calling myself stupid for connecting the battery with the airbag out

andrew_ireland

Got the airbag warning diagnosed and reset. I found this guy http://www.nolanscars.ie/ in Clonshaugh (closest to where I was working that day) and he did it straight away. All my pain was gone in just a few seconds

Wolverine_1999

Hop on to bmw-driver.net next time.. surely someone in your area would have done it for you for free. Good forum that way

I know I would have if someone had a problem down my way..