SRS Light

[AlanG]

The SRS come on tonight, nothing I know of to cause it and not something I have had before with any of the cars. The car ('95 2.3 CSE LPT) was OK this morning, left in the car park during the day and when I returned and started it tonight I noticed the light was on. Shut down and restarted and noticed it goes out for a couple of seconds then comes back on. I have tried disconnecting the battery for 20 mins to reset but it is still the same. Is this something that needs palms crossed with silver to check with a Tech 2 or can a cheap OBD2 reader be used to diagnose and reset? Will that show the cause or only that there is a problem? I have a scrap '96 2.3 FPT, is there anything I can swap to try and get rid of it (controller etc)? Would that need resetting with a Tech 2?

Typically the MOT is due in a couple of weeks and this is a failure. Unless it is reasonable to fix I will have another scrapper, pity as the body is perfect with no rust even around the screen. Any advice would be gratefully received.

[900009]

Unfortunately the 9000's srs system is a Tech2 only thing. No other reader can access this system. Your only option is to have the fault read out by someone with a Tech2, fix the problem and go back to the tech2 guy to have him clear the fault afterwards. Once a fault has been set it will never clear itself, disconnecting the battery etc is useless.

[AlanG]

Thanks, thats what I thought. I believe the problem is generally drips from the heater (mine does have a bery slight leak) onto the controller beneath. How do you access the controller? Where is the fault signal held? If I swap out the controller and/or ECU from the scrapper will that get rid of it?

[AlanG]

OK, have found the unit in the old car (46 19 672). I appreciate that the battery need to be disconnected for a while etc before playing with it. Also found a thread that implies that if the SRS light is solid (like mine) and not flashing itis an intermittent fault rather than a permanent fault. Question is, if I switch the SRS ECU will it work OK (I assume so as they sell them secondhand on ebay) and will the light still need to be reset?

[AlanG]

Ok, for info to those who suffer a similar fate, it looks as though the fault signal is held in the SRS ECU. I have switched the one from the old car into the road car, started it and the light goes out and stays out. Still have to reassemble the trim (with a shield over the ECU this time as it showed definate signs of stalagtite growth) and road test but it looks hopeful.

[racingsnake]

There was a recall a long time ago about that which required the shield to be added to protect the unit from water ingress.