airbag light

[lsj102856]

I have a 1994 pontiac bonneville, the inflatable restraint light is staying on, did not notice this till I had it towed a couple weeks ago and don't know if that had anything to do with it. Is there anyway to reset that light, or if the airbag module is bad can you buy them?

[maxwedge]

You need the codes retrieved with an air bag function scanner, no way to tell what the issue is without this step.

[dugan50]

Hey Max:
Your vehicle has 2 sensors in the dash area. One (the DERM or control unit) is easy to get to, the other (The ARMING sensor) requires taking the dash out.

I agree with the last post. You need to get a scanner on it to identify the fault before you start thowing parts at it. Once you know the answers, used components from a vehicle that has NOT had a deployment should get you out of this inexpensively (if it's allowed in your state)

good luck

[bratfry]

I have had the same issue on my 94 SSE for years. First the dealer fixed it for over $800 ( they had the dash completely out and the car for a couple days).

Well that lasted for about 6 months(or less) and then went back on again.

They said that it would cost the same to fix it again so I give up and have lived with it for many years.

Now if the gas tank is half full to full the light is off. If less then half, it turns on, sometimes.

Figure that one out. It still scares me when it turns on…

[dugan50]

Hi Bratfly:
My guess on your vehicle is that you are fighting a loose ground on the dash when they reassembled it. It lasted long enough to be out of warranty, but has loosened up now and affects multiple systems.
When your light is on, the airbag will not deploy. When it comes on, it really has no risk of deploying because it takes both sensors to feel an impact simultaneously to deploy the bag. All that's happening is that one sensor is failing (due to a bad ground) and the other sensor is wirking fine.
I do want to mention however that some of the older cars have had a problem with accidental deployment from water getting under the passenger seat. Your vehicle does not have that sytem so you need not worry.

[bratfry]

Thank you Douglas, that was interesting. lately it has been off all the time. Now that I said that I am sure it will turn on tomorrow. I am convinced that all these intermittent problems are connector related, I work in the connector industry.

The heads up display quit, took it out, cleaned the connectors and it works fine. The steering wheel radio controls quit, took that apart, replaced some little rubber things(that have turned to mush) with home made jobs and now it works fine. I guess you could call it a connector as they push some small switches.

Had the same problem as a lot of people on this site, car just quits whenever it wants to but starts right up again. Cleaned all the connectors I could find with electronic type cleaners and lubed them. (including the PCM). Hasn’t done it for at least a month.

The control information center started to flash and go dim…Give the dash a good wack, now it works fine. Guess I got to get in there and clean some more connectors, maybe in the spring time.

Going to trace the sensors circuits you talked about in my manual, didn’t really know how the SIR system works, thanks again. Scares the heck out of me whenever I have to take the steering wheel off.

Thanks again

Gary