Airbag light indicates passenger sensor problem

I have been told that a passenger sensor problem is indicated by the passenger airbag light being on. This is what happened: while driving with one passenger (around 110 lbs), suddenly the passenger airbag light came on. This is alarming because if an accident were to occur, the airbag might not deploy and the passenger could be injured. I have researched on the internet and this is a common problem with my make/model. The sensor is a thick plastic circuit and is located under the seat covering and can get worn out. Please give me your diagnosis and what should be done.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The sensor for a passenger sitting in this seat is a common failure item yes. The unit is pretty expensive and the fabric of the seat cushion must be removed to access and replace this component unless a new and hopefully upgraded assembly is purchased from the manufacturer. This can be a dangerous situation for a passenger especially one that is not wearing a seat belt. I would suggest getting some help from a certified technician to diagnose this issue with your Air Bag Light so that it can be fixed safely and properly.

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When this light comes on, it indicates that a problem has been detected in the system, and one or more airbags may not inflate in the event of a collision. While it`s possible that all the airbags could work as intended even with an SRS warning light, a failure in the airbags is a significant safety concern.
Turn the ignition on and off.

The ignition switch should first be turned on. Next, watch for the airbag light to illuminate; it typically does so after seven seconds and stays on until it automatically turns off. After that, turn off the ignition switch right away and wait three seconds.

SRS stands for supplemental restraint system SRS systems have sensors all throughout the vehicle. They are programmed to detect any dramatic vehicle deceleration like that of a collision.
The airbag light or SRS light on a Hyundai will turn on when a problem has been detected with the supplemental restraint system. To make sure the system still works properly, you`ll want to have a mechanic take a look at it as soon as possible.
It may correct itself once the battery is fully charged again, but if not the backup battery will need to be recharged along with a sensor reset. Your vehicle has many different sensors connected to different components.
Older vehicles may have a switch for the passenger airbag.

With your vehicle on and running, try pressing this button or flipping the switch. If the airbag light shuts off, you likely just bumped the airbag button accidentally. On most vehicles, this button is on the lower right-side of the steering wheel.

Most cars today can do an airbag diagnostic test. The test checks to see if all the sensors and circuits of the airbag are functioning. If the system detects any problems, it gives you a signal through the airbag indicator by flashing the light several times, giving you the specific problem the test has detected.
Where are the airbag sensors on a car? The front of the car typically has an impact sensor installed because this is where collisions are most likely to happen. A comparable safety sensor is placed inside the vehicle`s passenger area, and the sensor is situated inside the engine.
An SRS airbag module, also known as the airbag electronic crash unit, controls the airbag`s deployment, stores crash data and exchanges information with the car`s engine. If your SRS module is faulty, your vehicle`s airbags may not protect you and your passengers in the case of an accident.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicates that the airbags are designed to supplement seat belts, not replace them. Seat belts are the occupant`s primary restraint system. The front airbags are housed in the center of the steering wheel for the driver, and in the dashboard for the front passenger.
You can turn the light off manually if it comes on. It is just a matter of disconnecting the battery or turning the ignition key on and off three times within a few seconds. This solution does not always work. Some car models will require you to reset the airbag light manually.
Even if an airbag looks fully deployed, it may be capable of a second deployment. Disabling the restraint systems is commonly done by disconnecting and isolating the negative battery cable.
All airbag control modules can be reset and reprogrammed, except modules that were damaged by a flood, fire, or some other kind of damage that impacted the hardware. Airbag control modules store hard and soft codes caused by accidents.
No, it won`t deploy because you remove a fuse. However, in the event of a collision it will not operate.
The Bulb Check: SRS Warning Light

If the light stays on, there is a fault somewhere in the SRS system. The system is disabled at this point. In the case of a collision, the airbags will not deploy and the seat belts will not tighten, nor will any additional features activate.

Therefore a vehicle does not fail inspection for having an air bag warning light illuminated or even for having an air bag removed.
Front airbags

Newer airbags have a safety belt sensor and use an algorithm to decide whether to deploy the bag in a given crash, depending on whether people are using safety belts. For unbelted occupants, a front airbag will typically deploy when the crash is the equivalent of an impact into a rigid wall at 10-12 mph.

If there is a problem with the sensor, the SRS Indicator will come on, and the airbag will inflate in the normal manner regardless of the driver`s seating position.
B1927 is a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) for “Passenger Side Airbag Fault”. This can happen for multiple reasons and a mechanic needs to diagnose the specific cause for this code to be triggered in your situation.
Airbag sensors are small pieces of electronics are designed to tell when the vehicle has been damaged in an accident. These sensors respond to several different sets of stimuli, including sudden stopping, increased pressure as pieces of the car are moved due to the force of the collision, and more.
Sometimes you can get away by purchasing a used module. But, for most cars year 2000 and up they will be VIN specific and will not work on your car without additional programming/coding at the dealer.
First find the srs computer module. In most cars it is under the center console that is between the two front seats, or center of the dash on the floor.
Two types of airbag sensors used in cars are electrical and mechanical. Electrical sensors vary in design.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Airbag light indicates passenger sensor problem
ANSWER : The sensor for a passenger sitting in this seat is a common failure item yes. The unit is pretty expensive and the fabric of the seat cushion must be removed to access and replace this component unless a new and hopefully upgraded assembly is purchased from the manufacturer. This can be a dangerous situation for a passenger especially one that is not wearing a seat belt. I would suggest getting some help from a certified technician to diagnose this issue with your Air Bag Light so that it can be fixed safely and properly.

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Having issues with airbag lights
ANSWER : Hi there, thanks for writing in. Your Vue has an occupant detection system built into the front passenger seat. This system is designed to arm the airbag whenever an adult over a certain weight is sitting in the seat. The sensors are in the seat pad, and are a common failure on many vehicles.

This is the most likely cause of this issue, though the entire system should be properly checked by a qualified professional. They will be able to diagnose the cause of the airbag light and advise you of what repairs need to be made.

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Airbag warning light is on, are the airbags broken?
ANSWER : This concern could be related to a number of different areas of the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). The weight sensor under the seat may not be reading a correct value. There could be an open or short somewhere in the SRS wiring harness. The seatbelt pretensioner or one of the crash sensors could have failed. If the airbag light is illuminated, a local mechanic (like those with YourMechanic) can diagnose the problem by scanning the SRS modules for codes. Per Subaru Tech Tip 0811-03, there is a procedure outlined in the owner’s manual for setting the seats so that the SRS system functions properly.

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Abs light, emergency brake light, steering wheel assist light, engine light, EPC light, traction control light
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle does utilize a lot of the same sensors for these systems. Are there any other codes that are coming up when this code appears? If so you will want to take these into consideration when processing the repair and making a diagnosis. The module may be bad, and replacing it should fix the problem. The lights should turn off once the main computer recognizes the new module and the sensors sync up. If you believe the sensors need to be cleaned you may do so. Do as minimal as possible to make sure you are not damaging the sensor or disrupting the wiring inside. A bad connection would make the lights stay on. With so many lights that are effected by the module being illuminated, the module is likely bad or does not have a connection. Check the connection first and then resort to replacing the unit. For more help with these electrical tests, contact our service department.

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What do I do if the passenger airbag indicator light is not responding properly to passengers in the front seat?
ANSWER : Sometimes, the sensors in the vehicle, that can tell whether the person riding in the passenger seat is an adult or an infant in a car seat, do not work properly. Sometimes these sensors can’t tell when there is anyone sitting in the passenger seat at all. If This happens, don’t worry. This is a simple problem to solve! Here’s how:

If a car seat meant to hold a small child is installed in the front passenger seat, the sensors in the seat should communicate this to the truck’s computer and the truck will not activate the airbags. The passenger airbag indicator light, located above the windshield, in front of the mirror, should read “Off”. If this light instead reads “On”, here’s what you can do:
One reason this may be happening involves the carseat itself. If the angle of the seat cushion and seatback is too narrow, the seatback will push the car seat into the cushion. Reclining the seat slightly may alleviate the problem.
If this doesn’t work, the vehicle should be turned off and the car seat removed. Re-install the car seat, being careful to make sure the seat isn’t wedged against the seat cushion. If the light is still in the “On” position after this, the truck may need to be serviced. It is not safe to carry a child in a car seat if the airbag is active.
If the passenger airbag indicator light is in the “Off” position when there is an adult seated in the passenger seat, then there are a few ways to get it to activate:
Make sure nothing is jammed into the seat (sweatshirt, blanket, etc.) or seat belt buckle.
If the light is still in the “Off” position, then turn the vehicle off and back on again with the passenger outside of the vehicle. When they once again take their seat, make sure the seatback is at a reasonable angle and that they are sitting with their feet on the floor. If this does not yield results, the truck may need servicing.

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Hello . When passenger airbag sign is off , does it mean that all the airbags are off or only the passengers airbags ? Thank you
ANSWER : If there are no warning lights on when the engine is running, all of the airbags are active. That is the default mode. About twelve years ago the DMV required that the driver be given control of whether the passenger airbag was active, because some small children had been seriously hurt by airbags while riding in the front passenger seat. So now you can switch off the passenger airbag via a key switch in the glove compartment. When the Airbag is disabled, the "Passenger Airbag Off" light comes on to remind you that it is inactive and won’t be able to protect the passenger. The main airbag warning light is in the instrument cluster and, like the other light, when it is lit it means that the airbags will not work. Here is a short article with more information about the airbag warning light.

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ABS light on, ESP light on,Traction OFF light on, engine light on, rides perfectly OBDI reads only Front Right Wheel Speed Sensor
ANSWER : If a faulty component is still in place, the fault codes will return almost immediately after clearing them. ABS, ESP, and traction control systems all rely on input from wheel speed sensors to determine as the name implies, the speed of each wheel. When a wheel, or wheels are spinning faster than others due to wheel slip or the vehicle is sliding, the ABS and ESP systems can reduce throttle input as well as apply braking to an individual wheel or all of them if needed. With a wheel speed sensor fault code stored, these systems cannot determine the rate that all 4 wheels are spinning and sets a fault. That is why the abs/esp light is on. The system should be scanned by a certified technician and the wheel speed sensor replaced if found to be the cause. The warning lights will stay on and these systems will not function as designed until the fault is corrected. These lights do not come on to indicate a need for routine service. Rather they only come on when a component in the system is at fault.

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No dash lights, back right tail light is out, no parking lights. Brake lights work though as does head lights.
ANSWER : Hi there. In many cases, when you have electrical problems like you’re describing, it’s caused by multiple electrical component failure. It’s likely that a few electrical relays are not working; especially if you have systems that utilize the same components (such as your brake light and tail lights). I would recommend having a professional mobile mechanic come to your location to complete an electrical problems inspection first, so they can pinpoint what is damaged and recommend the right repairs.

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Eric smoalih

I am a certified master technician with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), and I have been working as an auto mechanic for over 15 years. I am passionate about my work, and I take great pride in helping people keep their cars running smoothly.