How to: clear the AIR BAG light

siniquezu · 03-28-04, 10:52 PM

In light of the cluster craze that OLT started, I know people will trigger the ever feared AIR BAG light.

Reading the instructions by VQT on how to clear the light had confused me for a few months.... After a lot of researching, I finally have pictures and hopefully a more clear description on how to clear that light. I will use VQT's instructions as a guide. Word of precaution first: Only clear the AIR BAG light if you know you do not have a problem with the air bag. I am not responsible for any damages you may do to your ECU etc.

First I wired up a little contraption to make the switching easier. It is a switch with 3 prongs terminals to which I have attached some wire. I will call each connection A, B, and C respectively.

In this setting, there is no connection:
A------
-B------
C------

In this switch setting, which I will call circuitBC, connects B and C circuit:
A------
B------
/C------

In this switch setting, which I will call circuitAB, connects the A and B circuit:
\A------
B------
C------

*These steps are diagnostic purposes to determine if there really is a problem.

STEP 1: Turn the ignition on for approximately 20 seconds, but do not start the engine.

STEP 2: Stick a wire or paper clip in the Tc & E1 pinholes of the DLC2.

STEP 3: If the light blinks continuosly or code 22 (two fast blinks, a pause, then two more fast blinks), then you can probably manually cancel the warning light. If it is any other code, you need to trouble shoot it and fix the problem.

STEP 4: To clear the code connect two wires to Tc and AB of the DLC2.

*Now the clearing begins.
I unhooked the diagnostic port from the foot panel to make it easier to deal with (It's like unscrewing the car light bulb). When it was time to clear the AIR BAG light, I plugged stripped the wire from the switch I made into the pinholes. I plugged the A connection into the TC pinhole and plugged the C connection to the AB pinhole. I just stuck the B connection into the door hinge for a good ground.

ciruitAB should be set before the key is plugged in.

Here is the setup all wired up.

Here is diagnostic port plugged in:

STEP 5: Turn the ignition to ACC or ON and wait approximately 6 seconds.

*You can just wait until the door ring finishes.

STEP 6: Start with the Tc terminal and apply a wire to body ground alternately to Tc and AB twice each in cycles of 0.5 - 1.0 seconds.

*Flip the switch between the circuitAB setting and ciruitBC setting. Alternate and flip the switch for one second at a time between circuitAB and circuit BC.

STEP 7: Finally keep Tc to ground. If the clearing is done properly, then the airbag light will blink in 50 msec incriments continously. If it did not, then you didn't ground the Tc and AB properly. Repeat the process. The procedure may take between 3 to 15 attempts to work.

*When the AIR BAG light starts to blink rapidly, Set the switch to no connection. If the AIR BAG light is not gone, repeat. Mine cleared on the second try.

Good Luck!

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O. L. T. · 03-28-04, 11:54 PM

2jzsc3 · 03-29-04, 12:04 PM

i jus took out the light bulb which took me less than 5 minutes.. haha

mikeloc24 · 04-01-04, 04:49 PM

so if we remove the cluster and need the car for daily driving it's certain we will trigger the air bag light upon starting the car? That's sucky...and this is the only way to reset it huh? Well I mean other than removing the lightbulb, which I absolutely won't do under any circumstances : )

siniquezu · 04-01-04, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mikeloc24
so if we remove the cluster and need the car for daily driving it's certain we will trigger the air bag light upon starting the car? That's sucky...and this is the only way to reset it huh? Well I mean other than removing the lightbulb, which I absolutely won't do under any circumstances : )

Wouldn't worry. It ddin't take me more than 15 minutes to do everything, including documenting this writeup.

JspecSC3 · 05-01-06, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siniquezu

Wouldn't worry. It ddin't take me more than 15 minutes to do everything, including documenting this writeup.

Can you repost your pictures up again? Im sorry for bringing up an old thread from the dead but I am currently experiencing this problem. I totally forgot about turning the key while I change my cluster bulbs.

Thanks!