Thank you in advance to assist me in solving this issue. The fault code I get is 3B - 2 which equates to “warn lamp”. I clear the fault code and it shows — — which tells me it has been cleared however when I run the test again I still get code 3B - 2 and the instrument cluster warning light remains on. Does anyone know what the fault code means beyond “warn lamp”? Obviously the light bulb is working.
Help please with airbag warning
- Thread starter Keith S
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2012
- Points
- 178
- Location
- Newport, South Wales,UK
- Model of Z
- Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.5 (2003)
Are you sure the code is not 38 as opposed to 3B?
On E46 code 38 referes to the passenger firing circuit (belt tensioner on the buckle being bad)
Full code listing for E46 which won't be much different to our E36's regarding codes.
Strange you have no code for this just the light illuminated code. The light will remain lit until the underlying fault is put right, once it is the light should go out, you may have to clear the 38 code before it will go out.
On E46 code 38 referes to the passenger firing circuit (belt tensioner on the buckle being bad)
Full code listing for E46 which won't be much different to our E36's regarding codes.
Strange you have no code for this just the light illuminated code. The light will remain lit until the underlying fault is put right, once it is the light should go out, you may have to clear the 38 code before it will go out.
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2012
- Points
- 178
- Location
- Newport, South Wales,UK
- Model of Z
- Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.5 (2003)
Possible its a fault count, occurred twice and light set, thats a guess.
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2012
- Points
- 178
- Location
- Newport, South Wales,UK
- Model of Z
- Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.5 (2003)
That code is only telling you the light is on, its there to stop people just removing the bulb to get rid of the code. There has to be an underlying fault thats keeping it on, it won't go off till the system has no codes set and the system is clear. What code reader are you using?
You need to check all connections under the seats for clean and secure connections these are the usual culprits for airbag lights. The seat belt buckle pre tensioners are another likely suspect, they require a certain resistance to be present otherwise they fail and set codes. ensure their connections are intact and clean.
As to people removing the bulb to mask an airbag light activation, they soon find out that there is a led in the cluster that also lights up with the airbag bulb so that still shows with the bulb removed and its actually embedded on the pcb. To mask that they bung some chewing gum in the bulb holder to block the light from the led. MOT tester should spot the absence of the warning lamp when the ignition is turned on and probably fail the car because of it.
You need to check all connections under the seats for clean and secure connections these are the usual culprits for airbag lights. The seat belt buckle pre tensioners are another likely suspect, they require a certain resistance to be present otherwise they fail and set codes. ensure their connections are intact and clean.
As to people removing the bulb to mask an airbag light activation, they soon find out that there is a led in the cluster that also lights up with the airbag bulb so that still shows with the bulb removed and its actually embedded on the pcb. To mask that they bung some chewing gum in the bulb holder to block the light from the led. MOT tester should spot the absence of the warning lamp when the ignition is turned on and probably fail the car because of it.
I’m using a Peake Research R5/SRS scan and reset tool. After it gives me Table 38 and fault 2 it gives me — — which according to the manual means no further faults. Obviously there is one if the first fault just means the light is on. I’ll try to find and unplug clean and reset the connectors you mentioned. Where is the belt tensioner plug located?
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2012
- Points
- 178
- Location
- Newport, South Wales,UK
- Model of Z
- Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.5 (2003)
Under the seat follow the wire from the seat belt buckle pyro tensioner to the plug under the seat, if the connectors are clean and tight then suspect the actual tensioner. There is a Youtube video on testing the resitance of these tensioners.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZHpPVZKQ6k
Success!! Shifted my focus from passenger seat (Because the light came on when my wife adjusted the seat) to the driver’s seat. Exercised the connections and ran the diagnostics and reset - warning light now extinguished. Thank you everyone for your help.