Hi Everyone,

I am looking or some help since google hasnt really come up with a direct answer. My roommate bought a 2002 volvo s40 with 132k on it about 3 weeks ago. She had the heater core replaced and the person who did the job forgot to plug in an airbag and re connect a ground. I took the whole dash back apart for her and made sure all the connections were good. However, the airbag light remains on....From what i read the airbag light must not be reset by the volvo dealer because it is a safety feature.....is this true? or should the airbag light have gone off after all the connections where re-connected etc etc? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-Long time volvo owner and driveway mechanic to a 1996 volvo 960 with over 200k.


Thank you

-JandS

 

Generally speaking, once the codes are set in the computer, they need to be viewed and cleared. The reference to Volvo dealers is not an absolute - the issue is not all OBD2 code readers can read and clear chassis codes as they may be proprietary. You may find a well equipped indy tech who can read/clear chassis codes or just have the dealer do it for their minimum "diagostics" fee - they will be able to clear the code then see if it resets to say if you have a problem or not.

 

ok, thats what i was thinking. the local volvo shop has quoted me 65 to clear and read the code. i dont think thats unfair so i am gonna take it in on friday for that. didnt know if there was any truth to the old fix the problem light goes out like on my 1996 960.

 

yep, that's pretty standard quote ie .5 hour for diagnostic time, plus you get the benefit of an accurate assessment of whether the code has been resolved.

 

ok so dealer couldnt clear the code due to perm fault in the module.....so replaced the module today with one from a "good" junk yard car....lights still on but hoping it will go off with some driving?

 

you may want to have the dealer try to clear the code to make sure the new module corrected the fault ( it could be in the wiring and not the airbag unit)

 

SRS faults do not clear themselves.

 

when i first took it into volvo, i had them diagnose it. they told me there was a perm fault in the module (leading to the required replacement), they also told me the code would have to be cleared. they said the other thing after that might be the driver side seat airbag might also need to be replaced....however this seems odd due to i have other cars with much older seat airbags and none have gone "bad". i ordered an OBDII that is suppose to be able to read and clear all these codes for volvo. we will see.

 

A problem on one car doesn't mean its a problem on all cars. The SIPS bag wiring breaks all the time on those.

 

ive checked all the wiring and connections nothing is loose, frayed, shredded, corroded. it all looks brand new and nicely clipped into place. its why i am not thinking it had anything to do with the bag.....but in the end i might be tearing the seat apart to repalce that.

 

I had to replace the driver's side SIPS on my '00 S40 a couple years back. My dealer read the codes, inspected the wiring and concluded it was the bag itself. They dropped in a new SIPS unit and reset codes and good to go. As I recall the part was in the $400 range but not much on the labor.

 

ok that doesnt sound to horrible.

 

just a follow up, i cleared the light after installing the new srs module and the light now has been off since sat. good to know from now on any srs lights even after a fix need to be rest