FJ Cruisers of Northern California

Airbag Light ON?

Greetings,

I noticed my airbag light was on (driver's console) during my morning commute yesterday. Didn't think anything of it since it wasn't on during the drive home. It came back on for this morning and was still on for the drive home...

Anyone else have their airbag light stuck on? Oh yeah... I'm only at 3K miles.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by DWH on October 29, 2009 at 8:36pm

I would take it to the dealer ASAP. If there is a fault in the system, the airbag could go off at any time. And worse not go off when it should.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by PBn'FJ on October 29, 2009 at 11:20pm

I'd get it checked out. The computer will hold that error and continue to light the dashboard warning light so it can be checked by a mechanic.

On my commuter car, any airbag errors will disable them so they will not deploy.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Boss73 on October 30, 2009 at 2:52pm

X2..

Any code that is thrown by the system will be stored and not be removed until cleared by someone with a code reader..

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Botched on October 30, 2009 at 9:44pm

Thanks everybody...

I went to the dealer today… the tech told me that the code said there was a short "somewhere"—and wasn't much more specific than that. He noted that I had an after-market head-unit, and asked me where I had it installed. When I told him I installed it myself, he asked if I turned the ignition on while installing it… (Can't say that I did).

He said he'd reset the light, and there would be no charge… but he also said that if it comes back on again, then it would cost me a hundred-and-something dollars to reset it again because my after-market head-unit voids the warranty. WHAT??? Can this be true??

I was a little too stunned to put up a stink right there—and I thought I'd get my facts straight first… but is this correct?? I should note that I installed my Alpine head-unit myself immediately after I brought the rig home (two months ago)... and was only recently having trouble with the airbag light.

And as a final note, after driving around all afternoon after having the light reset… It came on again.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by DWH on October 30, 2009 at 9:51pm

Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but I think it is up to the dealer to prove that a modification caused the problem. I don't think they can just say it was "X" that caused "Y" without some sort of proof.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Boss73 on October 31, 2009 at 3:54am

Go to a different Stealership...

They pull that crap al the time. Burden of proof will be on them. It's crazy the crap they will say to scare you away. It is insane to me what some places will say to scare you away.

See how he said they you must have done something wrong because you installed a head unit yourself...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Botched on October 31, 2009 at 10:51am

So... the exact error codes were B1660 and B1900.
Passenger seat airbag active mode indicator.
Short in P/T Squib (D seat side) Circuit.

Not sure how these would relate to the head-unit.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Botched on November 7, 2009 at 8:18pm

Just a minor update.

I went back to the dealer today (Steven's Creek Toyota in San Jose) and got a different tech. Thank goodness.

Although they weren't going to be able to take a look at my rig until Monday, this tech assured me that there wouldn't be any reason my after-market stereo would void the warranty as it relates to the airbag light issue, unless it directly caused the problem (which he highly doubted).

He was very helpful and wanted to make sure I askef for him when I brought it in on Monday... and wante dto make sure he got Toyota involved since this this the second time I had to come in for this issues...

So, fingers crossed, taking it back in on Monday.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by DWH on November 8, 2009 at 8:40am

Getting the right person makes all the difference. All of a sudden a potential battle turns into a positive experience and they gain customer confidence. Both parties win.

Good luck.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Markie Sharkie on November 7, 2009 at 8:42pm

I had this problem with the passenger side airbag. The sensors get shorts in them all the time.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Botched on November 18, 2009 at 10:18am

So... after a week without my FJ... and one new ECU later, I'm back in action. They had to replace the airbag computer—all under warranty, of course. I don't know what that first guy was smoking.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by PBn'FJ on November 18, 2009 at 11:19am

Glad you found someone at the dealership to deal with you honestly and look into your problem. I have encountered a few service managers who just want you to go away if the fix is not straightforward and obviously the manufacturers issue.