airbag reset tool

[stevesz]

Hi All
I am a newbie z3 owner having just purchased a 1999 1.9
Two days into ownership and the airbag light won't go off
Is the anyone in south Warwickshire that has got a code reader for the airbag that I could borrow
I have looked under the passenger seat and it looks like there is a black plug that is NOT connected.
Could this be the fault ?

Look forward to any comments

Cheers Steve

[Julie Z3]

Hi Steve
Usually a loose or faulty connector under the seat, the resetting tool is very cheap on ebay, probably just as cheap to buy one ,at least you'll have one if it happens again!

[colb]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Airbag-Reset- ... SwVL1V~o6x

Worth investing in one of these, cheapest with free postage and from Manchester

Colb

[Rafolian]

Got one these myself and they work fine, bargain and well worth having!!

[stevesz]

Hi Guys and Galls

Thanks for the responses?
Can anyone tell me whether the 1999 z3 has an OBD 1 or 2 connector

I took the car to a local tyre fitters that had got a diagnostic tool but he said he couldn't test it cos my car had not got the port that was compatible with his OBD 2 machine

It looks like the one on ebay is OBD 2 compliant so I am totally confused

Thanks in anticipation

Steve

[colb]

Steve
My 1999 1.9 has the BMW Diagnostic Round socket in the engine bay right hand side as you look into the engine, this is the one that the code reader must be connected to to read the airbags. The code reader has the 16pin OBD2 connection plug on it that's why it comes with the BMW plug to OBD2 cable to enable it to be connected to the round diagnostic socket.
Your car may well have a 16pin OBD2 socket under a small flap beneath the steering wheel as well, this can read engine codes but not the airbag codes. Mine has both these sockets it was around 1999 they started putting the 16pin socket in under the steering wheel to meet OBD2 industry standards.

Colb

[peter2b]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Airbag-Reset- ... SwVL1V~o6x

Worth investing in one of these, cheapest with free postage and from Manchester

Colb

I got one but wouldn't reset the light but it did tell me what was wrong
Peter2b

[colb]

Peter
What was the code it had set?
Did you manage to fix it?

Colb

[peter2b]

Sorry can't remember the code but Robert T fixed it for me
Peter2b

[Robert T]

Peter's was one of the seatbelt pre-tensioners - usually associated with a momentary break in the connection under one of the seats - or turning the ignition with the seat removed.

AFAIK all the airbag error codes cause the warning light to latch on and the codes must be cleared to get the light to go out. If there is a persistent fault, it will be logged again immediately and the light will simply come back on. I have also had one car where we could read but not clear the codes, and it is looking like this will need a new airbag control module.

Cheers R.

[stevesz]

Hi Again everyone,

Thanks for all your comments, all read with interest.

The fault was traced to a fault in the drivers seat belt pre tensioner trigger.

It looks like when I first bought the car I over zealously cleaned and vacuumed under the seat and dislodged the connector for the pre tensioner.

It clipped back together and the fault cleared, reset the warning light and all fixed .

Thanks again and Happy Zedding

Steve

[mrscalex]

Apologies for re-opening old thread but it seems like an appropriate place to ask.

I have INPA and have used it to clear ABS warnings after changing the black box but I'm not that well educated with it generally.

If I have INPA can I clear airbag codes with that? Or do I still need the little ebay tool?

Thanks.

[gookah]

Airbag can be cleared with INPA also

[Brian4]

All codes can be cleared with INPA and service reset.
All under the chassis section.

[mrscalex]

Good stuff. Thanks.