No SRS light

[BrightonBenz]

I have an '03 V230 and the dash SRS lamp fails to come on with the ignition. It remains unlit. The front passenger "airbag off" warning light on the centre console remains lit. Any ideas what this could be? I checked the passenger seat connector and all seems well. Is there a fuse for the airbags that needs checking? Any help or advice greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[television]

Sadly SRS faults are very hard to work out and the best way is to plug the car into a Star diagnostic tester.

You could get an indie to do this

 

[BrightonBenz]

Thank you, I shall try this.... I plugged it in to a handheld scanner and this produced no faults.

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

The bulb has most likely been taken out, as there was a fault and prevous owner could'nt be bother to repair.

As malcolm will most likely need a star test

 

[brandwooddixon]

This might sound daft, but is there a switch to disable the passenger seat bag if there is a baby seat installed? Would this give the same symptoms?

 

[jberks]

errr -before we go off on complex issues, as i understand it, the SRS warning light is part of the whole srs monitoring circuit so if the bulb is not present it will register as a fault - hence if you take the dash out with the ignition on, SRS will fault.
So, daft thought, but maybe its just the bulb that's gone? Change it, have the warning reset (you'll need a computer to do this) and see where you go from there.
Good place to start anyway.

 

[BrightonBenz]

Well I plugged in my handheld scanner (not the best I know but it seems to read live and static data well), and the computer shows no faults. I will check the bulb this weekend , but not sure why the passenger warning light would be lit.

 

[BrightonBenz]

Both lights on

Well indeed the previous owner has taped over the SRS light on the dash display (scoundrel!). Removed the tape and the light is on all the time after startup along with the console lamp (passenger airbag deactivated) indicating that the passenger seat pad likely has a fault. Apart from the conector under the seat, are there any other fuses etc to check before I shell out £170 for a new sensor? The scan showed faults 27 and 31 (passenger seat occupied B48). Should I be confident that the pad sensor is faulty and are there a cheaper source than MB?

 

[BrightonBenz]

... that's B48 ... (not smiley!)

 

[panason1c]

..."Well indeed the previous owner has taped over the SRS light on the dash display (scoundrel!)"....

'Scoundrel' is putting it rather mildly i would say!, that was downright irresponsibe by the seller to conceal a defect in a major safety item.!

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

Yeah, the sensors in the seat base are very common to go wrong, if you have checked the connector block then i would change it 1st

 

[BrightonBenz]

Scoundrel

.... not my first words either, but thought I would keep it clean!

 

[BrightonBenz]

New pad

Bought the pad from MB (around £160)..... changed it after plugging in the new pad first (lights out, hurray!). A fiddley job to say the least, but now all is well. I can even see the break on the old one.

Thanks everyone for your help

 

[panason1c]

Having now seen the break in the old one does it look like it could have (easily) been repaired rather than buy a new one?

 

[television]

Having now seen the break in the old one does it look like it could have (easily) been repaired rather than buy a new one?

Interesting point if Brighton benz would post it to me I would love to have a look at it.
I would re fund the postage

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

I think a repair would be very tough as is flat tape type construnction, but might be able to be done.