'Passenger Airbag Off' Light keeps turning off an on

[BlackIce]

This morning i noticed that while I was driving the passenger airbag light was turning off and on. I had my school bag on the passenger seat if it matters.

2006 Mazda3 Sport with about 116,000 kms.

[JSI]

There is a weight sensor, bag doesn't weigh enough.

[BlackIce]

I've had the bag on there before, today the bag actually weighs more then before. And when no one is in the seat, the light isn't on.

There is a weight sensor, bag doesn't weigh enough.

[cwp_sedan]

Depending on the weight of the bag, it may turn the light on = airbag off. The light shouldn't be on unless you have under the specified amounts that are in the user manual.

This is meant for younger children.

[FoXy]

If you put a bag of groceries on the seat it will do the same thing. It's normal. It's trying to detect if youre putting a baby seat on there or a small child. Which you shouldnt do anyway but that's besides the point.

[Pillbox2010]

Completely normal as others have said.

I usually put my laptop bag on the seat beside me which weighs about 30lbs and it shuts off the airbag. I kinda wish it didn't do that, my laptop deserves protection!

[BlackIce]

Same here, i wish the airbag was always on. My light flashes so it can get annoying seeing it turn on and off in the corner of my eye. Is there a way to disable the weight sensor or is that not a good idea? I dont get how this works though because when nothing is on the seat, the light is off which means the airbag is on, what gives?

Completely normal as others have said.

I usually put my laptop bag on the seat beside me which weighs about 30lbs and it shuts off the airbag. I kinda wish it didn't do that, my laptop deserves protection!

[cwp_sedan]

Read the manual. Also, you should not disable it otherwise the airbag may not deploy properly.

Put your bag on the floor. Problem solved.

[slam525i]

Perhaps it'd help if you knew the logic of how that light/airbag/weight sensor works:

No/very little weight: No one in the seat, don't fire the airbag, don't bother telling people the airbag is off.

Small amount of weight: Someone small or child-seat in the seat. Don't fire the airbag because the seatbelt will be sufficient to hold the person in place. Warn people the airbag is off. (Always put children in the back seats.) I have this problem with my GF's mom; she's too light for the airbag sensor.

Normal weight in the seat: Normal person sitting in the seat. Fire the airbag as per normal. No need to warn anyone.

Put your bag in the backseat/trunk! I remember I almost got whacked in the face by a passenger's handbag once. No, not because I tried to touch her :chuckle, but because the E34 could turn so sharply, the bag flew off her legs, bounced into the air, and was headed for my face before she caught it. Since then, I never put anything remotely heavy in the front seat.

[cwp_sedan]

Put your bag in the backseat/trunk! I remember I almost got whacked in the face by a passenger's handbag once. No, not because I tried to touch her :chuckle, but because the E34 could turn so sharply, the bag flew off her legs, bounced into the air, and was headed for my face before she caught it. Since then, I never put anything remotely heavy in the front seat.

Definitely a good point.

[vinnierap]

Hey you can always put it on the floor of the passenger seat so it is still easily accessible if you need it while you drive.

[Cosmo77]

There are about 25 different ways your air bag (s) will deploy. The passenger side air bag 'may' even deploy is the "air bag off" light is on. It is always %100 better to not have anything weighing more than a wallet and maybe the Toronto Star (not Saturdays though) on the seat.

Disabling the air bag system in ANY way is illegal without written consent...and thats a big headache....plus if someone gets in an accident in your car and it is proven they could of been saved injury if the air bags had worked, well...I think you can fill in the blanks.

[peterm15]

i will say the light is annoying though...
when my GF is sitting in the seat the light turnes on and off,can be very distracting espically at night.

Is there an easy way to disable the light? not the sensor or the air bag, just the light

[Cosmo77]

The easy answer is I cannot tell you how to disable the light....Your gf must weigh not that much, rest assured even with the light on in certain conditions with her in the seat.....the air bag MAY go off

[ElectroJay]

The easy answer is I cannot tell you how to disable the light....Your gf must weigh not that much, rest assured even with the light on in certain conditions with her in the seat.....the air bag MAY go off

When my gf or my sister sit in the passenger seat, the light comes on. They each weigh about 100lbs or a little less. I think the manual said that the light will turn off if they're over "approximately" 90-something pounds. Close enough, I guess.

[Cosmo77]

its hard to believe but you loose about 10-15% of your body mass when you put your feet on the floor. a lot of wieght is transferred through your feet. So a 100lb person usually has only about 80-90lbs on the seat.....so you can get a light that goes on-off

[ElectroJay]

its hard to believe but you loose about 10-15% of your body mass when you put your feet on the floor. a lot of wieght is transferred through your feet. So a 100lb person usually has only about 80-90lbs on the seat.....so you can get a light that goes on-off

O___O

Soooo true. That was rather profound lol

[r4BBiT]

its hard to believe but you loose about 10-15% of your body mass when you put your feet on the floor. a lot of wieght is transferred through your feet. So a 100lb person usually has only about 80-90lbs on the seat.....so you can get a light that goes on-off

Same with my wife, she is 105lbs on a good day :D

IIRC 2nd gen manual says 90lbs is the mark at which the airbag will be on. I think they changed to 60lbs for 2012 models?

[vinnierap]

If the light really distracts you that much put a piece of electrical tape over it...lol..

[sol_searchin]

Normal operation, put your bag on the floor lol

[dexter]

Not wanting to create a new thread for a similar issue:

Today I started having issues the the Passenger Airbag Off light. Normally it comes on upon ignition and after a few seconds turns off. Today it came on upon ignition as usual and turned off. About 5 seconds after it turned off it came back on again for the duration of the ride. There is nothing on the front seat and nothing touching the front seat. The light will go off indicating the airbag is active if the car is running and I sit in the passenger seat but when I get up again the light comes on indicating a deactivated airbag.

According to the manual the light should come on upon ignition to indicate that is is working and then turn off.
No Light + No Passenger = Airbag off.
No Light + Adult Passenger = Airbag on.
Light On + Child = Airbag off.
Light On + No Passenger = ??

Anyone have any thoughts? Maybe the sensor is having an issue?

Thanks!

[eaybulut]

Not wanting to create a new thread for a similar issue:

Today I started having issues the the Passenger Airbag Off light. Normally it comes on upon ignition and after a few seconds turns off. Today it came on upon ignition as usual and turned off. About 5 seconds after it turned off it came back on again for the duration of the ride. There is nothing on the front seat and nothing touching the front seat. The light will go off indicating the airbag is active if the car is running and I sit in the passenger seat but when I get up again the light comes on indicating a deactivated airbag.

According to the manual the light should come on upon ignition to indicate that is is working and then turn off.
No Light + No Passenger = Airbag off.
No Light + Adult Passenger = Airbag on.
Light On + Child = Airbag off.
Light On + No Passenger = ??

Anyone have any thoughts? Maybe the sensor is having an issue?

Thanks!

Stupid point.. but if the buckle is connected and no one / nothing is on the seat, the light will still come on. I randomly came across this when trying to figure out another problem.

I hate the passenger airbag light.

Based on your explanation though, I'm already leaning towards the sensor.. Its most likely not detecting the weight on the seat correctly.

On another note, while everyone is joking about it... you definitely want to resolve the airbag light issue. The last thing you want is to have the airbag not deploy when you have a light guest in the passenger seat.

Another thing I have read a while back is the strap thats on top of the air bag module located under your coffee cup holders. Not sure how the hell the system would detect the velcro strip from not being strapped on properly, but someone had stated that this was their problem.

Also, I would say check the connections/wires under the passenger seat... this gave me problems a week ago randomly. No disconnected wires or anything, all i did was move the seat forward, then back...and the light never came on.

Lastly, possibly a fuse ?

[dexter]

Almost forgot about this thread... The problems mysteriously resolved it self the next day and the light is working as it should. I read somewhere online about rapid changes in temperature which is about the best guess I have, even though any cabin temp changes wouldn't be that rapid.

[dietsprite]

Anyone know the upper weight limit for the sensor to it to come on 2012 mazda 3 i'm too lazy to look through the manual, I'm asking cuz the light went on tonight when my date sat in my car. Kind of concerning me lol Is that 100 LBS or less ?