Airbag Light came on after regulator repair

Hi,

I just brought my car to replace my window regulator and right after that the airbag light came on. They told me to bring it into BMW dealer to reset it. Will they do it without running any diagnostics? I don't want to pay extra for diagnostic testing. Thanks!

Get the light reset by your Indy. Then if it comes back on after that then you may have f$&@ed the airbag in what ever door you played with. Did you disconnect the battery before pulling the door apart?


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My original regulator was broken some time back and I brought it to my mechanic to fix it. My mechanic replaced the broken regulator with an aftermarket part that I supplied. Turns out the aftermarket part didnt fit very well so they left it in there to hold the window up and disconnected the motor. After I picked up the car from them, the airbag light came on and they told me the reason was becos they disconnect the motor. Once I get a new regulator fitted in, it would be fine.

Last week I found a shop that does only regulators and windows. They supplied the part and put it in too. They are the ones that told me that the airbag was not disconnected only the motor. But when my other mechanic replaced the original one with the aftermarket one, they didnt disconnect the battery, that's why the airbag light came on. They told me to get it reset at the BMW dealer. He said sometime the dealer would do it for free or charge a minimal amount.

What I am wondering is if the dealer would need to run a full diagnostics to determine that everything is running fine, or can they just reset it.

I would just get it reset by an independent BMW specialist and if it appears again then something is wrong


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The light is probably on because they disconnected the airbag while getting to the regulator, and did not disconnect the battery first. That is normal for the airbag in this case. They should reset the light for free.

The dealer will want to do a "full diagnostic" because he doesnt know what has been done in the past. It is still just a scanner reading and shouldnt, but probably does, cost at least an hour labor. The indy that took the door apart should be the one to reset it, but it sounds like he doesnt have the tool. You can buy an Peake SRS reset tool for $119 new and $80 or so used on ebay.




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Originally Posted by Flybot

They should reset the light for free.

I agree - your Indy made a sophomoric mistake. They should reset the airbag light, for free.

Just a few weeks ago, I ripped my driver's door apart. I read the DIYs here and every single one of them warned against connecting the battery with the airbag disconnected (and vice versa, disconnecting the airbag with the battery connected).

It's a junior (and unprofessional) mistake to fix a window regulator & have the airbag light on and not reset it before handing the car back to the customer. The mechanic could have done it right and you wouldn't have this problem now. It's wholly their fault.

It's really that simple.

Oh, and a bit of garlic helps ward off the demons!
- One user's experience with diagnosing the front left driver door window regulator (1)

Originally Posted by Flybot

You can buy an Peake SRS reset tool for $119 new and $80 or so used on ebay.

- What can cause an SRS airbag light (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) & what tools reset the fault (1) (2) (3) (4)

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies. My old mechanic is 3 hours away so it would be a hassle to go back to him just to get the light reset. I found a near BMW specialist and they agreed to help me reset the light. Will update when I get it done.

Originally Posted by Flybot

They did not disconnect the battery first...

100+,

Whether you drive a Honda, Toyota, BMW or Volvo etc, the SRS works like this:

- With the battery connected and even with key out of ignition, the SRS computer still monitors all SRS components for proper functioning. The reason for this design is that: even with key out of ignition, if you sit in a car waiting for someone and accidentally get hit by let's say a drunk driver, the airbags still deploy to protect you.

So when one component is disconnected while the battery still connects, the SRS ECU registers a fault.

- So the Repair 101 principle is: whenever d/c an airbag module, always d/c battery first, replace the airbag sensors etc., then reconnect the battery.

Got the airbag light reset in 2 secs at Indy and cost $85.00.

The GT-1 requires one to run a full test of all vehicle systems (5 min tops) before allowing the technician to work on the car. Fixing the problem would take 6 min... with a GT1. Not sure about the other options available.

Originally Posted by neogeek

Got the airbag light reset in 2 secs at Indy and cost $85.00

It's good to know how much it costs.

If I were faced with an accidentally-tripped airbag light, I'd strongly consider putting that $85 toward my own set of reset tools.

But, that's just me.

Originally Posted by bluebee

It's good to know how much it costs.

If I were faced with an accidentally-tripped airbag light, I'd strongly consider putting that $85 toward my own set of reset tools.

But, that's just me.

Exactly, Thats why I posted you can get your own Peake for $80-120 on ebay




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Originally Posted by Flybot

you can get your own Peake for $80-120 on ebay

Interesting.

That bolsters my contention that (in many cases), the tools are free.

The OP, for example, could have stayed at home in his pajamas instead of driving to the BMW specialist, paid (about) the same amount of money on the net, and reset his light himself.

This can/should be used as a lesson learned for the next person with a regulator-repair-induced airbag SRS light!

Originally Posted by bluebee

Interesting.

The OP, for example, could have stayed at home in his pajamas instead of driving to the BMW specialist, paid (about) the same amount of money on the net, and reset his light himself.

Hahhaa, Bluebee, you just busted yourself! Do you wear flannels?

Originally Posted by bobdmac

Do you wear flannels?

Yup. I often do Bimmerfest in my jammies!

BTW, someone today gave another woeful story about disconnecting the airbag without first disconnecting the battery.
- E39 (1997 - 2003) > air big light on

Originally Posted by lau814

I unpluged the side air big,after pluged in than the air big light on,How to reset the air big light?

I think I'm going to keep track of the next twenty or so and put them in a list so that we can show the next person with the same problem that they're at least in common company!

I got tired of reconnecting the airbag each time I needed to plug the battery back in and advance the window for the broken window clip DIY (and also a little nervous...) and sure enough - Airbag light. Lesson learned. Tried leaving my car unplugged overnight, hoping that the temp airbag battery system would die but no luck. Time to sweet talk the dude at the bmw dealer parts counter and see if I can pull off a freebie...

Originally Posted by flybot

the light is probably on because they disconnected the airbag while getting to the regulator, and did not disconnect the battery first. That is normal for the airbag in this case. They should reset the light for free.





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+1

Originally Posted by DustinSB

Time to sweet talk the dude at the bmw dealer parts counter and see if I can pull off a freebie...

Or, use one of these tools to reset the SRS airbag light:
- What tools reset the SRS airbag fault (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

For the record, it happened again today:
- E46 (1999 - 2006) > code problem

Originally Posted by ABH

Local mechanic fixed my driver's side front door regulator. He unplugged the air bag Now he cannot reset the code. Therefore the air bag light is "ON" all the time. Does anyone know the code for turning off the air bag light?

And, for the record, it has been happening all along:
- E39 (1997 - 2003) > Air bag light

Originally Posted by mda419

Hey Guys,

My Airbag light's on, it started to stay 'On' after both my Front Window Actuators were replaced among some other things (i.e. P.S. rack/pinion, hose/lines).

I don't think something major's wrong with my Airbag system. Could it be that some sensor has been triggered by the Actuator replacements.

Can this be reset by an OBD Scanner/Reader or I need an SE to do this ?

Appreciate what you guys think !

- E39 (1997 - 2003) > Air bag light

Originally Posted by lau814

I unpluged the side air big,after pluged in than the air big light on,How to reset the air big light?

- E39 (1997 - 2003) > Air bag light on?

Originally Posted by e39 bimmer

I just had to open my door panel to fix my window and I had to remove the airbag and I put it all back together but the airbag light is on what should I do?

Hey all -

I fixed my airbag light using a cheap part I bought on ebay from Hong Kong for $30 delivered (took about a month to get to me). It worked on my e46 and included the e36 adapter. It just plugged in and hit reset and I was good - couldn't have been easier.

Just go to ebay and search "B800 SRS Airbag Light Reset Scan Tool for BMW E36 E46". Beats the $100+ dealer and specialized parts I see discussed in these forumns.

Cheers -

Dustin

Oh - and if anyone is in the LA area - just hit me up and you can come by and use it if you need it.

Originally Posted by DustinSB

search "B800 SRS Airbag Light Reset Scan Tool for BMW E36 E46".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=IhotCWklEfk

For the cross-linked record, here is yet another airbag light came on after window regulator repair thread:
- E39 (1997 - 2003) > E39 - airbag light on

Originally Posted by b525i

Can anyone help w/ an airbag light ?

A week ago, after the driver side power window jammed, and a new window regulator was installed (yes, the window works again), the red airbag light came on - it's still on

A scan showed code "05" but could not be removed

What's the next step to resolve?

Thanks all

Here is the latest in the bestlinks on the topic:
- What can cause a BMW E39 SRS airbag light (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) & what tools reset the fault (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & what happens when clueless mechanics disconnect the airbag before the battery or they connect the battery before disconnecting the airbag in seat and window regulator repairs (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) & where to buy an airbag occupancy sensor bypass unit (1) (2).

For the record, the E46 guys ran into this today also:
-> E46 (1999 - 2006) > uuugggghhh....Airbag Light Issue....

Originally Posted by sabbath

Hey all,
So I pulled a bone head move yesterday...again...Having problems with my driver side door lock and I pulled everything apart trying to figure out the problem. No Luck, but my issue is after disconnecting the airbag I connected my battery so I could try the lock actuator...Yes you guessed right, the airbag light is now on...permentantly. I knew as soon as I connected the battery what a dumb ass I was. Is there anyway to avoid the dealer or avoid buying a peak tool to reset this? I know Autozone will connect with an OBDII to help diagnose, can I reset it with that? Or am I SOL???

For the record, it happened again today:
> E39 (1997 - 2003) > How to turn off the airbag light?

Originally Posted by alfonso12

I just replaced the window regulator on driver side window. After putting everything back together including the airbag the airbag sign popped up. How do I remove it? What program number is it?