Hello everyone, unfortunately yesterday my airbag light decided to come on when leaving school last night and it wasn't on in the morning when i left. So i tried messing with the buckle a few times while driving and the seat belt light responded perfectly each time i unbuckled it came on and buckled it shut off, but the air bag light continued to stay on. So from what i have researched i dont seem to be having symptoms of a bad buckle sensor correct? Or can the buckle light work properly, but still give the airbag light? I am going to disconnect the negative battery cable to see if that does anything. From what I have read that when this light is on the airbag system is shutdown? Thanks for any input. I just want to get a good understanding of what is going on before i have to go to the stealer.

 

Replace seatbelt buckle.

 

Try cleaning the buckle with compressed air before you go the dealer, JIC there is debris in the buckle.

The dealer will probably charge a diagnostic fee which will be refunded if the problem is the seatbelt buckle.
If the problem is an airbag sensor that is not under recall, you will be charged for replacement.

 

It is close to impossible to diagnose this specific problem without the diagnostic code. Unfortunately, dealerships charge for reading the code, which takes about 90 seconds.

If you have a trusted independent mechanic you use for other things, they may have a reader that can capture airbag codes, and they would likely do it gratis. Tell them specifically you want to look at airbag codes.

Then, you will have a better trail on what the problem may be. (And yes, maybe it is a pretensioner or a short near the buckle, etc, but it may be entirely unrelated)

 

Thank you all for the input. I wonder if chain auto shops have them like belle tire or a pep boys? Funny enough I went out today to take the negative cable off, but before I did i thought I ought to give a big breath of air into the buckle and press the button a few times and see if it came back on. I started the car and i didn't come on This is great but i have a feeling it may return. I have read that it can come and go and i assume that the light has to be on for a code to come up? But does anyone know if it is a fact that system is shut down when that light is on?? Ill update again when i drive it next. Thanks again.

 

Our '04 airbag light would come and go, used compressed air, spray, and nothing really helped, even tried hooking the belt at different intervals, but the airbag light remained on. Changed the buckle and light hasn't been on since. Quick and fairly easy to do.

Got that done and the driver's side door lock activator needed replacement. Did that also and all is now well.

 

So this seems to be the common culprit. Did you have the buckle replaced for free at your dealer or did they not honor the warranty and do it yourself?

 

My tl had the airbag light on every time the selt belt clicked, if so its most likely the buckle, just go with the dealer, free and you get a 2014 loaner! :-) (130 diagnostic fee if it isnt the buckle)

 

Seems to be a gray area as some say it's covered and the dealer replaced the unit under warranty while others have had problems with the dealer, so I found it easier just to purchase the buckle assembly and do the install myself without the need to deal with any possible aggravation. Purchased the unit on line @ $70, but I have a memory saver that plus into the OBDII connection so the settings remain in tact when the battery is disconnected and avoids the need to reset everything.

 

I'll throw in my experience with the Air Bag Light. I for one checked here to diagnose what was the problem for air bag light illumination. After some process of elimination I found it was the passenger seat belt buckle. I got mine replaced last September.

I didn't want to deal with removing my seat to replace the part when there was a chance I could get done for free at my local dealer under the buckle warranty. Called to make an appt. at my dealer told them I wanted a diagnostics on my car due to the air bag light.

Let them know my concerns for safety of my occupants in case of an accident along with giving them my suspicion of safety seat buckle, so they quickly scheduled me in the next day, and they told me it would be $80 diagnostics fee charge IF they did not deem the
seat buckle at fault.

Well after about 10-15 mins the service advisor returns to tell me that the seat buckle is bad and needs replacement. He told me its covered under seat buckle limited warranty and they would order the part and I would NOT be charged for parts, installation or diagnostics fee and would lend me a loaner as it would take all day.

Called a week later to tell me part is in and to schedule an appt. I scheduled and got an '10 RDX loaner well it went in for the warranty work. My whole experience was very smooth and no problems at all, they told me this was the 2nd case they had to replace the seat buckle in like 8 years for my generation.

Mind you, I don't take my car to my local dealer so some get positive experiences dealing with the buckle since they get their car serviced there. The only time I took it there was for a valve adjustment around 119k miles and only because they had a discount on service which ended up being cheaper than other mechanic shops. But oil changes and ATF changes are done elsewhere since they don't want to risk putting aftermarket fluids in my car.

 

It's hard to know for sure without the codes but the buckle is a common culprit.

No, Not Correct !
FYI it's a dual switch in the buckle (per the schematics) so even though the seat belt light may seem to work as you buckle/unbuckle the actual switch contacts for the SRS could be faulty.

If you don't want to to go to to the dealer and see if they will do it for free you can try this. https://acurazine.com/forums/problem...1-10-a-887856/ It's pretty easy and it's kept my light off now for months.

 

I appreciate all of your great information! I have driven the car 3 times since the light went on and on this 3rd time it finally returned. So i am assuming this is going to be an on and off thing till i do a diy or take it in. Seems like most likely its the buckle i hope. Thanks again. Ill update again when I take it on or anything changes.