How To Reset Airbag Light

Did your airbag lite popular up on your dashboard, and you at present want to know how to reset it?

The engine and airbag lights are some of the dashboard lights you need to pay extra attending to if they calorie-free upwards, particularly the airbag lite due to its safety importance.

Airbags are designed and so they inflate whenever there is a collision, and when the light is on, this will not happen.

How practice airbags work?

So before we look at how to reset theairbag calorie-free , you should know how the whole function works.

Airbags are lifesavers when you are speeding and hit another motorcar head-on or hit a stationary object. If y'all do not take an airbag, you could hit your head difficult on the steering wheel or dashboard. When you lot hit something at high speed, your car will decelerate, and this will activate an accelerometer that triggers the airbag circuit.

The airbag circuit has a heating chemical element activated through an electric electric current. This heating chemical element promotes an explosion inside the airbag that rapidly generates a harmless gas.Most airbags use sodium azide as the explosive element, and the gas produced can either be argon or nitrogen. This gas floods the airbag and causes it to expand; hence, protecting the driver from injuries by occupying the steering wheel and the side. The airbag acts as a absorber.

How to reset the airbag light with a scanner

Now that we know how airbags operate, information technology is fourth dimension to larn how to reset the airbag low-cal.
All work washed to the airbag organization should be fabricated past professionals if y'all are not 100% sure of what yous are doing! Follow these steps to reset the airbag light:

Total Time: ane hour

Step ane: Cheque the rider airbag switch

Airbag Switch

Some cars have a "passenger seat Airbag on/off button." This is the kickoff thing you should check when you want to remove the airbag light. Maybe someone before yous turned it to Off by mistake, which will make the airbag light stay on in most cars.
This button is normally on the dashboard on the rider side, and y'all may see it if you open the passenger door or the glove box.

Stride 2: Read the problem codes with an OBD2 Scanner

Car Trouble Codes

Working with your airbag system is crucial, and therefore, ever read the problem codes with an OBD2 scanner to go an idea of where to start your troubleshooting. Do never clear the trouble codes earlier you fix the trouble caused past the airbag light. Read the codes and go information about what can cause the problem and therefore continue the diagnosis.

Pace 3: Repair the fault

Repair Airbag Clockspring

You should never just reset the airbag lite without repairing the problem. This can deploy the airbags or non-functioning if an accident occurs. Let a professional supercede the airbag's parts if you are non certain of how to do it. Remember always to remove the battery connection when working with airbags. The airbag light will often get away by itself subsequently repairing the problem, simply not in all car models.

Step 4: Articulate the trouble codes

Clear Trouble Codes

After you lot take installed the new parts and are 100% sure that the parts are installed correctly, information technology'south time to reset the engine light. To do this – you lot need to employ an OBD2 scanner, and it's not possible in another way. Reset the airbag calorie-free and make sure that it disappeared from the dashboard. If it is still there – reread the codes and check for whatever problem codes.

Step 5: Restart your auto & test-drive.

Drive Car

If the airbag low-cal seems to have gone away from your dashboard – restart your ignition and go for a examination drive. If the airbag light is gone after a test drive, there is a big chance that the problem is solved. If the problem comes dorsum, reread the codes and proceed the procedure.

How to reset airbag lite without a Scanner

Information technology is impossible in near car models to reset the airbag light without a scanner. This is for safety cautions because yous should e'er repair the error afterward the airbag light occurred. Luckily, in many car models, the airbag light will as well become away by itself if yous have repaired the trouble.

In some older cars, though, information technology is possible to reset the airbag light without a scanner by removing the automobile battery terminals.

Check the wiring system underneath the driver or passenger seat for any loose wires or corrosion in the connector plug. Spray the connector plugs with an electronic cleaner and restart your car.

If you tin can not find any problems in that location, you should really get an OBD2 scanner or let a workshop read the codes; otherwise, you lot will simply guess the problem out of the dark.

Magnus Sellén

Magnus is the owner and main author of MechanicBase. He has been working as a mechanic for over 10 years, and the majority of them specialized in advanced diagnostics and troubleshooting. Certified Automotive Diagnostic Technician.