96 TC Airbag Light

[jeffharley]

I have a 96 TC and when I start the car the airbag light blinks a few times and then stays on. I had a new stereo installed a day or two prior to noticing this light. The guys at circuit city say that it's nothing caused by installing the stereo. Any direction on this would be greatly appreciated. The car has a 120k miles

[maxwedge]

You need to have this scanned on an SIRS function scanner for codes, to start with.

[dugan50]

please tell me what make & model vehicle you are asking about.

Link removed by Moderator

[jeffharley]

It is an achieva sport coup twin cam 4 cyl. Is the function scanner the one they have at autozone?

[maxwedge]

No, you need access to a highline scanner with SIRS capability.

[dugan50]

The scanners at Auto Zone and the ones for sale for $50 will only access engine /trans systems. They will not read SRS or ABS codes. These systems use a different computer in the vehicle and require a scanner specifically for them. As for your vehicle. Unless the stereo guys shot a screw through the dash harness and hit the passenger airbag or clockspring wiring, my guess is it's simply an SRS failure. (If they did, the light would have been on immediately upon leaving the shop) Scanning the vehicle is your best solution at this point to get the correct answer, but most typically on these vehicles, it's a moisture problem under the seat. This is sometimes caused by dollup guys who just hose down the interior with a pressure washer or somethimes caused by wet weather soaking the carpet. The airbag contriol unit is beneath the passenger seat under the carpet and mounted to the floor. If it's wet down there then you probably fried the SDM (sensing and diagnostic module). Your car wouldn't per chance be a flood car purchased in the last 6 months would it?
http://airbagsolutions.com

[jeffharley]

Not a flood car, but I did notice the floor wet a few weeks ago. I will investigate further and post.