E46 airbag light question

[Jandre]

Mate of mine drives a 2002 E46 320i auto.

During December his airbag light came on. Last week he had the car serviced and they reset the airbag light. Said they picked up a low voltage error.

Over the weekend it came on again.

I am going to get the car onto diagnostics within the next few days, but thought I would ask here in the meantime.

Any ideas?

 

[Legacy]

Most probably the passenger seat sensor which is slowly going.

This is a common problem on the E46's and you need to take the seat apart to fix the problem so most people don't bother.

Alternatively there is a diy where you blank the passenger sensor so incase the airbags deploy the passenger airbag will deploy regardless of if there is a passenger or not.

This also fixes the airbag light.

 

[Karthik]

My light also came on last week :thumbdo: ,

 

[Hellas]

Not to open the can of worms on the airbag issues in 10 year old cars, but I would have it fixed good.

Another thing is that an extra popped airbag may mean the difference between fixing the car or writhing it off...

 

[KAKA]

My 330's light is on and off for a few months now.
Great topic bro!

 

[Jandre]

I will reset it this week, but it is not the cure.

Once could be considered a slip-up, but twice in less than a week indicates something else wrong.

 

[Nic_s]

How old is the battery?

Look here:
http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=27745

Maybe... maybe not :dunno:

 

[L~C~G]

My E46 is also showing the air bag light and mine is the passenger side sensor.

Anybody know of a guide on how to repair it?

 

[netercol]

afaik, this is usually the connector under the passenger seat acting up.. i have sorted a few by unplugging, cleaning, refixing..

 

[L~C~G]

afaik, this is usually the connector under the passenger seat acting up.. i have sorted a few by unplugging, cleaning, refixing..

Once the fault clears does the warning light automatically reset or do you have to have it re-set every time till you sort the fault.

Would unplugging the battery reset the light once the fault has been cleared?

 

[netercol]

afaik, this is usually the connector under the passenger seat acting up.. i have sorted a few by unplugging, cleaning, refixing..

Once the fault clears does the warning light automatically reset or do you have to have it re-set every time till you sort the fault.

Would unplugging the battery reset the light once the fault has been cleared?

not sure if it would automatically reset if the fault is fixed, i usually just clear it..

afaik disconnecting the battery wont clear stored faults..

 

[Coisman]

imp:
Well my car is still ok. :thumb:

 

[frikkieh]

Disconnecting the battery after the error occurred will NOT clear stored faults, no matter how long you keep it disconnected for. You need to disconnect the battery before work is performed which is normally the procedure before starting repairs like replacing the window mechanism for instance.

 

[Coisman]

imp:
I dont like the "just disconnect" idea... rather get it fixed. :thumb: