An airbag warning light that is illuminated or flashing is a legitimate concern. Why? Because this key safety feature can be rendered inactive at that point.
Know the most common reasons for an airbag light illuminating so that you can get it fixed sooner rather than later. Inactive airbags are not something you want to ignore and find out they don’t deploy when you need them to.
What Does an Airbag Light Look Like?
The airbag light usually comes on in one of three ways on a vehicle’s instrument cluster:
- An icon of a person sitting with a large ball in front of them, representing the airbag. (see image at top)
- The words “AIR BAG” (see image directly above).
- The letters “SRS”.
They all mean the same thing, which is that there is a malfunction somewhere in the airbag system, which may cause the airbag not to deploy when it should.
Reasons Your Air Bag Light is On or Flashing
Here are some of the possible reasons for your airbag light to begin flashing or turn on. This will also help you know what the problems are, since you need to know what the reasons are in order to repair the problem.
#1. Clock Spring Requires Replacement.
The air bag clock spring’s primary function is to keep continuity between the air bag of the driver seat and the electrical wire harness by winding in and out in relation to the steering wheel.
The thin circuit bands can wear or become brittle and can cause the air bag on the driver seat to report a Soft-code error to the air bag control module and cause the air bag light to start flashing. The bands wear down due to normal usage.
You cannot determine a clock spring problem yourself without a quality OBD2 scan tool that helps to pinpoint the problem. Even if you can validate that you have a bad clock spring, we suggest going to a professional for clock spring replacement.
Serious injury can occur if you try to replace any part of the air bag system yourself without following the proper procedures.
#2. Airbag Battery Backup Has Failed.
One of the more common causes for your airbag light to be on is a failure of your airbag’s battery backup. This can be caused by an effective recent draining of the car battery.
This issue can often be themselves when the battery is recharged fully, but you might have to clear the soft-code error from the air bag control module with a scan tool to fix this issue.
#3. Malfunctioning Sensor.
The supplemental restraint system (SRS) found in modern automobiles has multiple components associated with the SRS, which have associated sensors flagged to the computer (ECM or PCM) associated with the automobile.
When any/all of these sensors have a malfunction of any kind, the car’s computer will recognize this and therefore turn on the airbag light.
#4. Corroded or Wet Airbag Module.
The airbag module control is in most vehicles located under the driver’s seat or the front passenger’s seat.
In the event a vehicle is exposed to high water or moisture damage, even if only momentarily, and the vehicle’s airbag module controller is exposed to moisture, it could short out or corrode.
An airbag control module shorted out, corroded, damaged will generate a diagnostic trouble code immediately, causing the airbag light in the vehicle to flash.
#5. Recent Accident.
This occurs frequently when my customers obtain used vehicles from a private party or car auction. If the vehicle was in a wreck previously, and if the airbags were deployed, it is possible that many SRS components, which are single-use components, are not properly serviced.
It could be a clock spring, crash sensor, seatbelt tensioner, or other component. As a matter of fact, even if all components were replaced, the car’s ECM must be reprogrammed/have parameters to reset the airbag system.
If this has not been done, then the airbag light will continue to flash until it is reset.
Consequences of Ignoring an Airbag Light
If the airbag light is on, there are significant safety implications if ignored. The point of the airbag light is to inform the driver that there is a possible problem with the supplemental restraint system, which will not work as designed.
There are several serious implications of ignoring the airbag light, such as airbags not deploying in the event of an accident.
The most significant risk of ignoring the airbag warning light is that airbags may not inflate properly, or at all, in the event of a collision.
Occupants within a vehicle typically rely on supplemental restraint systems like airbags to mitigate severe injuries in crashes. If there is a fault indicated by light and the airbags do not activate, this presents a serious risk to the driver and the passenger.
Furthermore, many times, a minor issue with a supplementary restraint system can allow for minor wiring or electrical issues to develop into larger electrical and mechanical problems due to the unresolved problem.
As an example, electrical harm could be caused by minor wiring damage sustained during a small accident, which causes the airbag light to illuminate. If the wiring damage is not repaired and ignored, a small cut wire could degrade into total wire failures and electrical shorts.
The airbag light is the first sign of trouble when it comes to the airbags; the airbag warning light serves as a proactive service alert for drivers. Ignoring the trouble light lets the initial problem snowball, leading to a more expensive repair.
Diagnosis and Repair
When the airbag warning lamp is on, you will need Professional Diagnosis and Repair.
As a competent DIYer, steering clear of airbag systems is a good call. Here are the typical steps a technician would follow:
1. Scan for DTCs.
The first step the technician does to diagnose airbag systems is connecting an OBD2 scan tool so they can read the airbag control module for any Diagnostic Trouble Codes or DTCs that lead them to the specific airbag issue.
The DTCs may point to trouble with one or more sensors, a communication issue, or airbag component faults. If you are capable of using an OBD2 scan tool, you would have a very good indication of what the repair cost could be.
2. Inspect Components and Wires.
Once the technician has the DTCs, a visual inspection of the wires, control module connectors, sensors, and all related airbag components will be done.
The visual inspection will include a search for visible damage or wear and tear deterioration, and a check for issues that may be causing faults in the airbag system.
3. Test Systems.
Thorough testing procedures can confirm with good certainty if certain sensors, seat track positioning detectors, or internal control module electronics may have malfunctioned and are no longer communicating and need replacing.
This allows the technician to target specific parts in need of repair and/or replacement.
4. Change Defective Parts.
For parts that test conclusive and are determined to be damaged, defective, or no longer communicating electronics in the airbag system, the technician will replace the defective part or parts and regenerate tests to ensure the airbag system is operating properly.
Only parts recommended and/or manufactured by the actual original equipment manufacturer (OEM) should be used in repairs.