Accord SRS unit interchange

I am replacing the airbags and SRS unit on my 96 Accord EX after repairing a front end hit. I purchased used bags and SRS that where listed as being for a 96/97 Accord. The original SRS unit is model # 77960-SV4-A93 - M1. The replacement I have is model # 77960-SV4-A94 - M2. Will the M2 unit work in my car?

well dude dont know if ya got an answer or not, buut i had this problem in my 95, and had to call Honda. Apparently there are about 3 differenet units that will work for our 5th gens. I got a different one then the one that was originally on my car, and it didnt fit perfect buuut the bolts lined up, i got it tight n it plugged up right. I had to do a swift lil trick to get the SRS light off buuut it all worked out in the end. And if you havent done this and need to know how to get that light off let me know, i posted it on AccordTuner at some point.

Well, Honda was no help. So I plugged in the new airbags and SRS unit. Everything looked right, bolt patterns, plugs and sockets matched perferct. Buuut.. the SRS light won't go out.
I tried jumping the socket under the dash, light went out, I unjumped, light came on, I re-jumped light out, unjumped, light on, flashed twice, went out, but came back on. I got this method off this forum. I am open to any suggestion to correct the problem.

hmmm, who did you get the MODULE from? I only ask b/c when i first tried this trick i was using my old busted module, thinking that maybe i didnt need a different module, buuut it was doing exactly what your talkin about, like it would flash twice, n then stay on. SOo once i put in the new module it blinked a couple times and then stayed off, and has been off since, and that was like a couple months ago now ......

I bought the airbags, both sides, with the SRS unit from Arizona Wheelcovers on eBay. The parts were out of an unwrecked but used up Accord.
I'M WONDERING NOW IF MAYBE THE SEATBELT THAT WAS BEING WORN IN MY CRASH MIGHT BE SENDING A FAULT SIGNAL.
ANY IDEA ON HOW TO GET THE FAULT CODE OUT OF MY 96?
Armed with a fault code I can go to the source of the problem, and hopefully, avoid the dealer service.
By the way, who did you contact at Honda? Was it a Dealer?

ok well i contacted all the Honda Dealerships in the Richmond Tri-State area, haa i thought they were bullshitting me about the other units. Buut as far as the fault code, i know there is a trick to it, and i honestly do not know it, but will look and see if i can find it for you.

Now when it comes to the fault by the seatbelt....? I was under the impresssion that our generation accord's airbags n seatbelts were not connected...?? i mean i could be wrong, but i know that i was involved in a wreck or two when my bags were already blown and my seatbelt didnt affect it when i replaced the bags n the module....???

One thing you could do, is if you still have your old module, you could hook that up and see how the jumper method works with that box, like how it responds to the old module. If its does the same thing as your new module then 9times out of 10 your new module is blown as well.

Well as it turns out, Honda used at least 3 different manufacturers for the SRS units in the gen 5 Accord.The SRS box may look different in dims. Key seems to be wire harness compatability [do all the pins line up] and the bolt alignment of the unit itself.
I got a list of the fault codes that you can pull out of the system by jumping the 2 wire plug on the pass side under the glove box. Jump that plug with ig off, turn ig on, and the codes flash long/short for a 2 digit diag. code on the SRS light. Read the code list to find your fault. I have code list and procedure for trouble shooting. Life is good armed with the correct diagnostic code and procedure.
Point is, my airbags/SRS are in, the fault has been cleared from the system, and the SRS light is out. Praise .... [pick your Diety], in my case Jesus, [not the Hespanic guy on the Astros].
Good luck and good hunting

WElll good to hear dude! Like i said mine has been out since like the beginning of the year, soo no problems with mine. But its good to hear everything worked out! =)

Maybe I missed this somewhere, but where did you get your codes?

I got the codes from a friend who goes to a VoTech school. They have access to a CD from Mitchell Repair Infor. Co.. He gave me a fifty page printout on the air bag restraint system for the 96 accord ex. In it are the codes and procedures for interpreting them and what to fix.
BIG HELP! THE SRS UNIT HAS AN INTERNAL BATTERY THAT KEEPS IT ACTIVE FOR THREE MINUTES AFTER THE PRIMARY BATTERY CABLES ARE DISCONNECTED. THEY RECOMMEND DISCONNECTING BOTH +/- CABLES AND WAITING 3 MINUTES MIN OR YOU CAN SET OFF THE BAGS BY TINKERING IN THE WRONG SPOT. THIS WOULD BE NO FUN AT ALL.

My G/F has a 96 accord that the SRS light stays on too. Are you saying it could be the SRS unit or the module? How much $ are you talking about used? Where do I get the trouble shooting you had in a thread?

First try resetting the computer to erase stored faults. The method was posted on this forum under SRS or airbags. Do a search and see if you can find it. I think it was posted as 'SRS warning light' posted by BiNnYbOy. Or try a post by 'skunk accord'. If after following that procedure,if the SRS light flashes twice and then comes back on, there is a fault somewhere in the system. You need to go to the two wire connector located on the pass. side right under the glove box. There are two service connecters there,one of them has only two wires, mine was the one on the left. That's the one. Both are mounted on the metal flange that is the bottom of the dash. Turn off the ignition, jump that connecter using a paper clip or piece of thin gauge wire. Turn on the ignition, and the srs light will begin to flash long/short. count the longs and shorts, and you have the fault code.[Two digits, like two longs and one short is F/C 2-1] it may store up to three faults I think, so let it flash a while to see if you get more than one code.If its a single hard fault code it will just keep going, 2-1, 2-1,.........
I have the list of codes and will try to help further if I can. Sometimes it's as simple as you replaced your battery and set a soft fault in the system. Then the reset trick posted by skunk accord will solve everything. Or, it could be Gremlins.

She took it to the Honda dealer the other day and they said it was the module that was bad.

How much?

They told her $735.20 to replace the SRS control unit. Is that the Module under the seat ?

It's behind the dash console, mounted on the hump on the floor. You should be able to get a used one for $50 - $100. If you go that route, make sure the SRS unit is from an unwrecked car

The RKM99 a very good described process for retrieve trouble codes of SRS for Accord models before 1998 . Who know about this process for Accord after 1998 , ( I have 2001'Accord EX V-6) and I need know where is problem, because my SRS light comes ON after resetting SRS system . Thanks

It's behind the dash console, mounted on the hump on the floor. You should be able to get a used one for $50 - $100. If you go that route, make sure the SRS unit is from an unwrecked car


Where can I secure a unit for $100, the lowest i have been quated is $221??

I have a '96 Honda Accord as well with the SRS light on. 2 questions;
1 How does one reset the light.
2. How important is it that I match the numbers on the SRS control unit exactly? If I were to get one out of a '96 or '97 would that suffice as long as the cable hook up matched?