The team at MyAirbags helps people deal with this issue every day. "Help.. My Airbag light is on." Actually, it's how we came to name our company "MyAirbags". The statement is usually followed by more questions. How can my airbag light be on if my airbag is not deployed? How can I check the DTC diagnostic trouble codes?" and "Can I fix the problem with a scanner?" There are so many reasons why your airbag light may be on including single, dual and three-stage seatbelt pretensioner sensors, collapsible steering column sensors, active rollover bars, active head rests, active hood actuator, occupant module, bumper, and side-mounted crash sensors and of course airbags and airbag modules. Any of these sensors can trigger your airbag light. It's not just the airbag itself. Furthermore, if your airbag module has been serviced, but one of these other components still needs service, your airbag light will remain illuminated.
You can visually inspect harness connections and components, but determining the source of an SRS error code almost always requires a quality OBD II code scanner with SRS capability. You can purchase a scanner or have your car scanned by an auto parts store or auto repair shop. If your car has been in an accident and is being repaired by a body shop, now is the perfect time to send your airbag module, seat belt pretensioners and other deployed SRS parts for service and reset. Thousands of collision repair shops follow this practice every day. While it is possible to install new replacement parts, most shops choose to send parts out for reset and repair service. New parts are expensive, frequently on backorder and may require VIN encoding to match your vehicle. Using your existing parts saves time and money while eliminating the need for VIN matching (which requires more time and money)
The first step towards resolving an issue with your Safety Restraint System is diagnosis. Since these parts work quietly in the background, you can't hear SRS-related symptoms. You won't get very far with an old-fashioned test light either since the sensors are all tied to one or more modules. A multimeter is useful for measuring basic connectivity and resistance, but ultimately, it's best to scan your vehicle for Diagnostic Trouble Codes -- also known as DTCs. For a list of DTC codes, click HERE
You can either purchase a Code Scanner that is SRS-capable, or you can take your vehicle to a shop that is equipped with a proper scanner. Most auto parts stores, repair facilities, and body shops have proper scanners. Many shops will scan your vehicle for free or for a nominal fee.
You absolutely should get We have an Innova 5310 hand-held scanner on hand that can read and erase SRS error codes. Const these days is only $139