Passenger Airbag off light stays illuminated even without passenger in seat

[Bean]

Let me redo this in English LOL

When my daughter sits in the front the light goes on for the Passenger airbag stating it is off.

Before the problem started today if someone or nothing is ON the seat the light does not illuminate.

When I sit in the seat or when hubby is there, the light remains on indicating the airbag is off.

This is what I meant to say. The light is on all the time now. So there is a problem

[kevcol74]

You have something sitting on the seat? Your lunch? Books? Anything with weight and under the weight limit (80lbs?) will turn the light on... like you dog or something... books... anything probably over a few lbs.

[Bean]

NOTHING is on the seat, just crumbs. LOL

[MSMitch]

Here we go again, another problem.

This one though concerns me. Anyone else have this problem?

Uhhh, is this a trick a question? The airbag is supposed to be off when no one is in the seat and will hence be illuminated. Now, if it is still illuminated when someone is sitting in the seat, THEN you (or they) have a problem...:whoa

[Bean]

It has NEVER been illiminated before when no one was in the seat. Thats what I am getting at or trying to.

[cwp_sedan]

Do you have the seat belt buckled?

[Bean]

When I am in the seat, yes, Otherwise no. I hope this is the right answer. Man, am I having a BAD day today :)

[cwp_sedan]

When I am in the seat, yes, Otherwise no. I hope this is the right answer. Man, am I having a BAD day today :)

I meant the passenger seat. :)


This is straight out of the manual.

Front passenger seat weight sensors
Vehicles equipped with front passenger seat weight sensors are also equipped with a front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light is also equipped (page 2-33). These sensors are located under both of the front passenger seat rails. These sensors determine the total seated weight on the front passenger seat. The sensors are also designed to prevent the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system from deploying if the total seated weight is less than approximately 30 kg (66 lb).

To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the front passenger air bag, the system deactivates the front passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt pretensioner system when:

- There is no passenger in the front passenger seat. (The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate.)

- The total seated weight on the front passenger seat is less than approximately 30 kg (66 lb). (The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.)

This system shuts off the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system, so make sure the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates according to the following table.

The air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes and the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates if the sensors have a possible malfunction. If this happens, the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system will not deploy.

Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
This indicator light illuminates to remind you that the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.

If the front passenger weight sensors are working properly, the indicator light illuminates
when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position. After about 6 seconds it goes out.


http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/cwp_sedan/airbag_light_chart.jpg



If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position and does not illuminate as indicated in the above chart, do not allow a child to sit in the front passenger seat and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. The system may not work properly in an accident.

[Bean]

I know, I read my manual.

It is ON all the time. Regardless if no one is seated in it or not. Thats what I am trying to get at. There is a problem and thats it.

[Noisy Crow]

I had a look at the repair manual. There are pages and pages on running diagnostics on the restraint systems. Nothing nice and easy that you can check yourself.

Bottom line: You'll need to take it to a dealer and have their computer have a chat with your car.

[cwp_sedan]

+1

[Bean]

Okay. When we turn the car in sometime in January they can deal with it.

[sas]

Hello Bean.
The last hope, if you HAVE the “Passenger Airbag Deactivation Switch”.
It is located at left side where lights are adjusted, the most right button.
Shift it to OFF and back to ON position. If nothing help then MOT.
Sometimes they are deaf but not blind.

[Bean]

Hello Bean.
The last hope, if you HAVE the “Passenger Airbag Deactivation Switch”.
It is located at left side where lights are adjusted, the most right button.
Shift it to OFF and back to ON position. If nothing help then MOT.
Sometimes they are deaf but not blind.

No we dont have that :(

[Bean]

Sometimes they are deaf but not blind.


LOL

[wherermykeys]

OK, my light comes on when I start my car but only for a few seconds. then it goes off. This happens whether the seat is empty or my girlfriend is sitting in it (she weighs more than 66lbs). Is this working right?

[cwp_sedan]

OK, my light comes on when I start my car but only for a few seconds. then it goes off. This happens whether the seat is empty or my girlfriend is sitting in it (she weighs more than 66lbs). Is this working right?

Yes it is working correctly. I already mentioned this above. :)


If the front passenger weight sensors are working properly, the indicator light illuminates when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position. After about 6 seconds it goes out.

[Bean]

Today, alll was fine.

Sigh.....

[wherermykeys]

Yes it is working correctly. I already mentioned this above. :)

oh, ha ha! I read the whole post except the last two lines!

[cstraw]

I too have the airbag warning light in the gauge cluster on. I only came on when the air temperature was -10C or greater. Hopefully it is just a tempermental sensor.

Chris

[Ogata]

good thing this thread came up. I had my bag which had my lunch in it and the airbag light illuminated when i put it on the passenger seat and went off when I put my bag with my lunch below. I better pack a lighter lunch next time...

[daitienshi]

My airbag light is on, but not the passenger one, and not consistently.
I brought it into the dealer and they said it was a problem with the pretensioner in the passenger seatbelt that's causing the issue (4.00 Ohms too high according to the report).
They want me to pay over $400 to fix.
Is there a better/cheaper solution to this?

Thanks!

[Bean]

My airbag light is on, but not the passenger one, and not consistently.
I brought it into the dealer and they said it was a problem with the pretensioner in the passenger seatbelt that's causing the issue (4.00 Ohms too high according to the report).
They want me to pay over $400 to fix.
Is there a better/cheaper solution to this?

Thanks!

Should this not be under warranty???

What year is your car?

[daitienshi]

Should this not be under warranty???

What year is your car?

It's a 2004. Warranty just ran out... but really, for all the problems I've had with my cars (other is a mazda 6), what the hell is actually covered under warranty is still a mystery to me since I've been paying out the nose for practically everything.

[Bean]

Can you get in touch with Mazda of Canada? Maybe they can help you although I do have my doubts :(

[daitienshi]

Can you get in touch with Mazda of Canada? Maybe they can help you although I do have my doubts :(

haha... they've been useless so far so I doubt it too :P

[FLIPDADY]

I have this same issue on my 2008.5. I use to put a light object or my lunch bag on the passenger seat. This would randomly trigger the airbag warning light to come on later on even though there wasn't anything on it.

It's fine now and I try to avoid putting things there. Other than passengers of course.

[Bean]

It is a sad thing when Mazda of Canada couldnt care less about customers. :(

[daitienshi]

I have this same issue on my 2008.5. I use to put a light object or my lunch bag on the passenger seat. This would randomly trigger the airbag warning light to come on later on even though there wasn't anything on it.

It's fine now and I try to avoid putting things there. Other than passengers of course.
yeah, we thought this was the case too, but we've tried putting things on, leaving it empty, but it still comes on intermittently. what a pain....

[omalak]

Back from the dead!

noticed today that my passenger airbag deactivated light comes on when no one is in the seat, the seat belt is not buckled, and nothing is on the seat!!

if i sit on the seat the light goes off.

car turns on normal, the light comes on, then goes off, but then it stays on when nobody is in the seat..

wondering if its just the temps around this year, if not gone by the weekend i guess i'll be seeing a dealer

[McGuyver_3]

sounds like you may have a pressure point somewhere that is causing a simulated pressure below 80 pounds i think setting on the light. Just the light at the ashtray come on right? not the one on the dash? try hitting the passneger seat bottom as this often times will releive the pressure and turn off the light. If that does not fix it then i would suggest turning to the dealer

[omalak]

sounds like you may have a pressure point somewhere that is causing a simulated pressure below 80 pounds i think setting on the light. Just the light at the ashtray come on right? not the one on the dash? try hitting the passneger seat bottom as this often times will releive the pressure and turn off the light. If that does not fix it then i would suggest turning to the dealer

yeah you got it, it;s just the light in the ashtray area, nothing on the dash.

i'll check the connectors under the seat and feel around tomorrow morning, hopefully that will solve the issue.

Thanks Dan

[wikdslo]

Folks, there is a TSB on this, do a search and you can find it. It describes what the tech's are supposed to do and what the general causes are and how to fix it.
Edit: http://www.finishlineperformance.com/pdf/mazda3/bulletin/08-001-07-1758.pdf

I had the same issue for several months, and then decided to tackle it myself.

I read someone was told that their seat belt receptacle was showing an output of 4.00 ohms too high.
What causes ohm's to be to high? Resistance.
What causes resistance? Frayed connections, dirt, corrosion.

Where is the harness located for the seat weight sensors? Underneath your seat, where it's often wet, dirty, and attached to a seat that constantly moves forward and back putting undue strain on the wires/harness connection.

I disconnected my harness and made sure all of the terminals were clean and clear. If you want, you can try adding in one of the sprays that helps make connections more fluent and reduce the risk of rust/corossion buildup.

The TSB also has a diagram of how to zip tie the harness to the brack where it connects, which will limit the amount of strain put on it when moving.

Since I did this, I have no longer had any issues with the airbag warning light coming on.

Took me about 15 minutes, and it was free.

I would say anyone who can read a document and understand it can do this, so don't be afraid to try it no matter how inept you are when it comes to mechanical work.

If this doesn't fix it, I'd highly recommend taking it to a dealer or shop to have it serviced. It could be the actual rececptacle is in need of replacement or something more serious, and at the end of the day, it's someone's life you could be toying with.

Best of luck.

[omalak]

UPDATE:

I checked the connectors under the seat all looked fine, so i buckled and unbuckled the seat belt a few times, that did the trick.. Haven;t had any issues since then

TSB is worth checking out though

[McGuyver_3]

sometimes if some sticky stuff gets in the buckle they dont like that usually lol atleast you figured it out

[Zotaga]

Just experienced this.. haha.. problem was with the buckle. Pressed the red button a couple times and the light went off.. too bad.. could've just told people it was a ghost sitting in the passenger seat 😅