5 Reasons Why Your Airbag Light Comes On
If your airbag light is on or flashing, it’s a legitimate cause for concern. Learn about the most common reasons why your airbag light comes on so you can fix the problem as quickly as possible.
What does the airbag light look like? The airbag light usually appears as one of three different warning lights in your vehicle’s instrument cluster. She is one of the following:
– An icon of a seated person with a large ball in front of them, representing an airbag (see image above)
– The word “Airbag”
– The letters “SRS”
They all mean the same thing: there is a malfunction in the airbag system, and as a result, the airbag may not deploy as intended.
Why the airbag light comes on or flashes
Here are some of the possible reasons why the airbag light may start flashing or stay on. This information will also help you solve the problem, since you need to know the problem to solve it.
1) You need to replace the clock spring
The main function of the airbag clock spring is to maintain constancy between the driver’s airbag and the electrical wiring by wrapping it inward and outward against the steering wheel. If the thin switch strap becomes worn or brittle, the driver’s airbag may report a soft code error to the airbag control module and the airbag light may begin to flash. The cause of wear on the switch strap is normal use.
You cannot diagnose a clock spring problem yourself without the help of a quality OBD2 diagnostic tool that can help you pinpoint the problem. Even if you can determine that the clock spring is defective, we recommend that you have a professional replace it. Attempting to replace any airbag system component yourself without taking proper precautions could result in serious injury.
2) Airbag backup battery is dead
One of the most common reasons for the airbag light coming on is a dead airbag backup battery. It may be due to a dead battery in modern cars.
This issue often resolves itself once the battery is fully charged, but to fix this issue you may need to use a diagnostic tool to remove a soft code error from the airbag control module.
3) Sensor failure
The supplemental restraint system in modern vehicles is made up of many different components, including various sensors, all connected to the vehicle’s main computer (ECM or PCM).
If one or more of these sensors are malfunctioning in any way, the car’s computer will detect this and the airbag warning light will come on.
4) Airbag module is corroded or wet
The airbag control module is typically located under the driver or passenger seat in most vehicles. Therefore, if the vehicle is exposed to high water even for a short period of time, the airbag control module can be exposed to that moisture and cause a short circuit or corrosion.
If a short circuit or corrosion occurs, the airbag control module will immediately generate a diagnostic trouble code and the vehicle’s airbag light will flash.
5) Recent accident
This is common when buying a used car from a private person or at an auction. If the vehicle has been in an accident before and the airbags have deployed, it may not have been properly repaired since many of the SRS components are only good for one use. It could be the clock spring, impact sensor, seat belt pretensioner, or other components.
Consequences of ignoring the airbag warning light
Ignoring an illuminated airbag warning light can pose a serious safety risk. Ignoring the airbag warning light may result in the airbags not deploying in the event of an accident.
The most serious consequence of overlooking an activated airbag indicator is that the airbags may not deploy properly or at all in the event of a collision.
In the event of an accident, vehicle occupants depend on the airbags to deploy properly to prevent serious injury. If the airbags do not deploy due to an unresolved fault indicated by the warning light, this poses a great danger to the driver and passengers in the event of an accident.
Furthermore, ignoring the original problem may allow a small system problem that goes unnoticed to develop into a major electrical and mechanical failure. For example, a small wire damage caused by a minor accident that caused the airbag light to come on can worsen over time if not repaired. A problem that started with a broken cable can develop into a short circuit or complete failure.
Ignoring early signs of a problem can cause the problem to worsen later and increase repair costs.