Hard 8

My daughter slammed the right front door closed while the rear was still open. It wasn't much of a slam; in fact I think it was probably a normal-strength tug that turned into a "slam" because the rear door wasn't there to soften the hit.

Anyway, we got both doors closed while I lectured her not to do it again, and as I drove off the airbag light blinked, then stayed on. But the next time I started the car, the light did not come on again, and it hasn't displayed since then (other than the normal illumination of all the lights on start-up).

So I'm thinking that the door "slam" somehow shook up the side-curtain airbag sensor. Anyone else ever see this happen? Any theories? Just curious, and grateful that the light's out now.

JOHNRX8

Well, it happened to me too execpt i'm not sure how. All i know is some friends of mine were "in" my car trying to figure out how the rear doors opened. Then i get in it to drive home and the Air Bag light starts flashing and then stays on. Same thing every time i start the car, flashing then constant. Took it to the dealer for repaire and he said there was a wiring harness damaged.
Not sure what the deal is but it was fixed for free under warranty.

Hard 8

Yeah; I thought maybe it (almost?) jarred loose one of the connectors. Thanks for the information.

RX-8 friend

There is no way slamming a door could jar loose a connector. If it could there would be a massive recall of all vehicles. It may be coincidence. I would suspect if the vehicle is brand new, there was a little oxydation on the connector pins, and that made the system "worried".

We have slammed the front door closed with the rear open several times (to demonstrate nothing bad happens) and haven't seen any lights.

Hard 8

OK. BTW, I've had the car almost two years now, and it's got about 16,000 miles on it. (Sweet, sweet miles.) But how about slamming the door and "tickling" the side-curtain sensor--not enough to activate the airbag but enough to prompt a fault code? I know that doesn't sound right, but couldn't it be possible?

KYLiquid

Maby it was hard enough to triger the air-bag sensor, but because the car wasnt running. it just set off a fault code.

Was the car running at the time? If it was then my theory is not valid, since the airbag SHOULD go off if the car is running, even though its not moving (ie, hit while at a stop light).

If the car was not running then maby its possible, since if the car is off, it thinks no-one is in it and doesnt activate tha airbags....although dont most cars run the airbags of a sensor to see if there is weight (person) in the seat, not just if the car is on or off.

who knows.

Hard 8

The engine was not running at the time.

Seems to me like the airbags should work even when the car's off.

RX-8 friend

Not sure exactly what sensors the side bags use, but there is a small "computer" that reads all the sensors and decides what bag to fire when. I don't think a sensor input would trigger the light. It either ignores the input, because it knows from logic it's not valid, or it fires the bag. The light tells you there is a problem with a sensor, such as an open wire, or a short. As I said, it's probably just a coincidence. The side sensors are mounted low in the cabin, in about a foot or so from the sides, from what I can see in the manual. There may be a dirty contact in one of the connectors for one of the sensors. It could be any of them. I wouldn't worry unless the light comes on often. Try it again and see if it triggers a light. Note that the airbag computer also controls the seatbelt tensioner (in a crash the seatbelts are first yanked tight and then the airbags are fired). The computer may have seen something happen in the tensioner and "got worried" about that too.

Hard 8

Fascinating. Thanks. Maybe I'll try it again, or just watch for the light. l appreciate the information.

Hard 8

Epilogue/resolution: I reset the PCM and the light went out for a while, then recently it started up again, so I brought it in. Turned out to be a dirty side airbag wiring harness connector under the front passenger seat. The dealership cleaned the connector and the light went out, so I guess that was it. (A search here earlier and RX-8 friend (above) had both suggested that would be the cause, so it was no surprise to me.)

JOHNRX8

Glad to here ya got it all fixed up. Sounds like that harness is somewhat vulnerable to damage.

Hard 8

Thanks. Yeah, maybe my kids kicked it or got dirt on it or (I suspect) maybe it was just dirty from the factory. Kinda wish I had disconnected the connector and looked inside (instead of just trying to push it together and pull it apart and finding it to be tight, which is what I did).

(I try to post epilogues on my threads that sought help for an unresolved problem.)

guy321

You're probably better off not messing with the airbag connectors/sensors unless you disconnect the battery... Don't want those suckers firing while your face is down there..

Hard 8

Yeah; good point. And I think you need to disconnect a specific airbag reserve battery, too.

P.S. While I was there, the tech noticed the car is slow to start, so they're going to do a service where they replace to spark plugs and the starter next Friday. Kinda nice to get brand-new parts for free, although while I'm milking it I'm gonna ask them to check the battery, also; maybe they'll give me the new, beefier one, too.

Krankor

And that is greatly appreciated.

Hard 8

Oh, you betcha.