service airbag light

I wish I would have know about this forum in July! I am curious if anyone has had any problems with their "service airbag" message appearing. I purchased my 2005 Cobalt in June '07 with 33,000 miles one it. It was everything I had ever wanted, until July '07. I was driving home from work when my "service airbag" light appeared, I thought "ok i'll take it in tomorrow", then I could smell this AWFUL smell and my throat was burning. I called my parents to have them meet me at the dealership when I noticed smoke coming out of the steering column. I immediately pulled over, when I pulled over the horn started blaring! The fire dept had a hayday trying to find my battery (in the trunk!) and disconnected that. :confused:
I guess some of the wires in my steering column were cut, possibly from tilting the wheel (which is supposed to TILT). They "repaired" the wiring and returned the car to me. I am very PARANOID with every smell, sound and light that comes on in my car.
Last week March '08, the light came on again. I pulled over and had it towed. The connectors they used in the summer were the wrong ones so the light came on again. Now today I can't get the key out of the ignition.
:headshake I am very unhappy with my '05 Cobalt, and can't afford to trade it and lose money on the trade!

Welcome aboard! Did you buy it used from a GM dealer? I'd get it back to them. I would think modifying any of wiring associated with the airbag or steering column would be illegal. Too bad you are having issues. 2005 was the first model year for the Cobalt. First year models can have their issues. :banghead: But really, there's not too many issues aside from the stuck key deal. There really isn't all that much to the wiring in the column/ignition that a decent shop can't figure out.

Joel

Make : CHEVROLET Model : COBALT Year : 2005
Manufacturer : GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Service Bulletin Num : 4011 Date of Bulletin: DEC 13, 2007
NHTSA Item Number: 10020881
Component: AIR BAGS
Summary:
AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON. *KB UPDATED ON 12/13/07. *NJ

Welcome aboard! Did you buy it used from a GM dealer? I'd get it back to them.
Joel

Yes, I bought it used from a GM dealer. I have taken it back to them several times. I have to take it to them tomorrow again due to the key sticking. The service dept has been very helpful, thank goodness, and my warranty is proving to be worth the money spent.
I am not exactly sure what all they did with the wiring, but they made it sound like some fluke accident kinda thing. Which it probably was! Oh well, I'll just keep taking it back to them, and making them pay for the repairs! Maybe some day they'll offer me a new one. Don't know what else to do!

Make : CHEVROLET Model : COBALT Year : 2005
Manufacturer : GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Service Bulletin Num : 4011 Date of Bulletin: DEC 13, 2007
NHTSA Item Number: 10020881
Component: AIR BAGS
Summary:
AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON. *KB UPDATED ON 12/13/07. *NJ


????? what does this mean ??????

Here's a site that will explain everything you need to know about airbag lights and resetting the system.
On most vehicles, the airbag light should come on for @6 seconds, and then go off if the system is working properly. If there is a fault or a problem in the system, the light will remain illuminated, or flash continuously. If the airbag light does not work properly, some vehicles have an audible tone that sounds indicating a problem with the airbag light system. When the light is on (or the tone is sounding), the airbag will NOT deploy, even in an accident. Most systems can only be diagnosed using a scanner designed for the airbag system, however some use flash codes to indicate the problem. The scanners at Auto Zone or the ones that sell for @ $50 will not access the airbag system, only the engine systems (check engine light).
This website gives you the procedure for diagnosing and resetting some systems without a scanner. Some vehicle manufacturers accommodate that (like Toyota, Lexus, Nissan, Infinity, Honda, Acura, Ford, Lincoln, Mazda & Mercury) and some require a scan tool. http://www.airbagsolutions.com/
Check out these websites also for more info on airbag systems and the light.


http://blog.airbagsolutions.com/archive/2007/11/18/why-is-my-airbag-light-on.what-should-i-do.aspx
http://www.airbagsolutions.com/resources.aspx
http://blog.airbagsolutions.com/
Check out this site also for reseach on factory recalls!!!
http://www.airbagsolutions.com/nhtsa.aspx


scanner for AIRBAG>>>It’s the cheapest one I’ve found!
http://www.airbagsolutions.com/scanner.aspx

my service airbag light came on yesterday, after my g/f and i moved the seats all the way forward and back while loading some stuff in my car, so i figured a clip must have gotten loose or unplugged, underneath the driver and passenger seats are a large black plug clipped in, both were clipped in :confused: BUT THEN as i looked closer on the passengers side there is an additional little white clipped towards the front under the seat that was unplugged, and BOOSH! problem solved! the dredded light is gone :biggrin: