Inflatable restriant light stays on

1993 Buick LeSabre 189,000 miles

After replacing the water pump, I hosed down the engine for a quick cleaning

Now the inflatable restraint light stays on

Not sure if it was my imagination but the sterring wheel felt warm over in the center?

is there a way to just disbale the air bag so it doesn't short out and smash my face?

The steering wheel feeling warm would have been your imagination, and the systems are designed so that if something fails the air bag is dis-armed.

Whats more likely to happen is the air won't go off if you have a crash.


Look down in and around the from bumber, and you should be able to find the activation switch for the air bag.
Make sure it's dry, then follow the wiring (usually yellow) from switch and make sure it's dry as far back into the loom as you can follow it.

Although given the switch's location it should all be pretty water proof.



Did you unplug anything when you did the water pump?
Or bump anything?

That's the front discriminating sensor.......water should not affect it......could just be coincidence........check sir codes.....

However, the most common sir part I have replaced on LeSabres, is the front discriminating sensor......the SIR code will point to that circuit....they want you to check the wiring all the way back to the SDM....did that the first couple of times, but the circuits always checked out ok....after that, I just replaced the sensor, and cleared the code without a problem......

But like I said, check the code first....