SRS light is on

[iveson2]

My daughter's 1994 325i has a red light reading "SRS". It blinks when first started then glows solidly thereafter. I deduce this is the Supplemental Restraint System, having something to do with the air bags. I suspect a faulty sensor or something electrical, but I have no idea where this sensor might be. My best guess would be under the dashboard somewhere?? Would someone please guide me as to how to diagnose and eliminate this annoying alert light.

Many Thanks,

Iveson

[balabay]

Originally Posted by iveson2

My daughter's 1994 325i has a red light reading "SRS". It blinks when first started then glows solidly thereafter. I deduce this is the Supplemental Restraint System, having something to do with the air bags. I suspect a faulty sensor or something electrical, but I have no idea where this sensor might be. My best guess would be under the dashboard somewhere?? Would someone please guide me as to how to diagnose and eliminate this annoying alert light.

Many Thanks,

Iveson

BMW has a specific tool for checking fault codes for airbags, I needed to buy one when I changed the instrument panel on mine
(I did not disconnect the battery before I took off the steering wheel which made my light go on)
The only way to turn off the light was to check the code with the tool and use the tool to reset the light (clear the code)

I am in the process of selling my car and when I do I will no longer need the tool so I will likly sell mine on eBay, I paid $140.00 for mine

Here is what the tool looks like

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...rious/pic1.jpg

[Broken-wrench]

Yep, you need the airbag / SRS tool to reset the computer. I had to get one when changing out a defective Bilstein shock on the rear of my E36. The shock locked up in a compressed position. When I unbolted the bottom of the shock, the suspension unloaded with a big enough thud that it activated the rear collision sensor, giving me a red light! Only way to turn it off was to do a reset.

The shocks was replaced free by Bilstein ( both rears failed & they replaced both with 50K miles on them).

[Rossco]

The seat occupancy sensors are known to fail on the BMW's causing the airbag light to come on.
The passenger side one failed on my 1996 E36 just recently.
There is a pad inside the seat, you have to remove the seat and then the upholstery to remove the pad.
They get broken connections inside the pad and the only way to fix them is with a new pad.

This is not necessarily the fault, but is a common fault.
If you get a diagnostic scan done on the car, it should tell if it is a occupancy sensor or not.

Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Rossco
1996 E36 320i