devoid

As of yesterday morning (October 26th), Mazda has released a TSB pertaining to the illumination of the airbag light in the dash. I have had this issue ongoing for many months, as fellow riders of the dragon can attest to as well. I have looked on Rosenthal for the TSB, but did not see it.

The problem:
The problem for me has been that my airbag light will randomly illuminate, and stay on. When a code is pulled from the system it says something to the affect that the driver's airbag is sensing high resistance. My dealership originally replaced my steering wheel airbag, my clockspring, and my airbag control module, all with no success.

On my part, a semi-successful solution was to disconnect and reconnect the seat plugs, and this would apparently reset the system, and I would be light free for quite a long time, but that didn't always work either...

The solution:
Mazda is releasing an "overlay harness." This harness is not to replace the current harness, but to be put into the vehicle in addition to the vehicle wiring harness. The connections will thus run through the new harness.


* Side note - so apparently I had good timing on allowing my dealership to deal with this problem. Though it has been present through most of my summer, I only this week gave them my car so that they could do a full wiring check (and for those of you who know my car, I'm sure you know the Mazda tech wasn't looking forward to that...I'm sure a few "choice" words were muttered. )

KYLiquid

I hope this actualy fixes the problem, and its not just a fix for the light coming on.....cause when you need that air bag, you want to know it goes off, and theres really no good (cheap) way to test it.

Brice-RX8

Yea mine comes on from time to time, usually after cleaning the inside of the car and moving the seats around. I usually cut the car off and push on the plugs under the seats and then it goes away. Just what I have noticed on my car of course.

RotaryJeff

I just started having this problem about a month ago, and reported it when my car was in for service on Wed (26th). They said they "had just got" the TSB, but didn't show it to me. They received the harness on Friday, and it will be put in next Wed.

I have not seen the new TSB in the usual places online, anyone got a link to it yet (or TSB number)?

Jeff

Gomez

The TSB number is 08-008/05.

MX6_2_RX8

Thanks for posting that Devoid! Mine has been in the shop for the problem and they fixed a "bad connection" but the light just came on again a few months later. I was going to call them today.

I guess the plus side to having it in for warranty work every 2 months is that I get a rental car while they do my oil changes.

MX6_2_RX8

Is this TSB posted somewhere? I tried Rosenthal Mazda's site but I didn't see it there yet.

MX6_2_RX8

So I guess that's a no? (bump)

devoid

sorry, I've been so friggin' busy that I haven't had time to see if I could get a copy or something, but no, I don't see it on rosenthal. Your dealer should be able to look it up though, it exists, guaranteed. My dealer showed me a copy of it.

Gomez

I have it. It's a 1 Meg pdf file. I can't upload or host it. I tried a freeware shrink program....no way could I get it under 100K for upload.

Gomez

Standby....'twill be up soon....

expo1

Gomez

Well done expo1

This is quite a major install and not something you'd attempt at home, BTW. Makes for interesting reading though.

MX6_2_RX8

Thanks guys!

And, ****, my car's never going to be the same after those monkeys take it apart and put it back together again. Maybe I'll hold off until they have done one or two. Besides, the windshield will stop me in a crash, who needs an air bag?

devoid

Yeah...as it was, I worked out a deal with my dealer to work on my car. Given the custom nature of my car, they weren't thrilled to have to track down my issue. So I agreed to comletely take apart the interior (ie - remove non-factory head unit, remove center console, remove carpeting, etc. Everything but the driver and passenger seat.) That made everything pretty much a breeze for them. They didn't have to remove anything. Worked out well for me...don't know if you guys want to go to that length to preserve your cars!

devoid

Hey...just to let people know....my car is back in the shop today, b/c the airbag light is STILL coming on. They are supposed to pull the code and diagnose it today, and hopefully fix it...but we shall see. So interestingly, as of right now, an entirely new harness doesn't seem to have fixed the issue....hmm....

MX6_2_RX8

I just re-read your post because mine is scheduled to go in tomorrow and now I'm worried. My light kept coming on more and more. Some times blinking, some times solid.

devoid, did they ever fix your problem.

Does anybody know, if the airbag light is on does that mean that the incredibly safe, 8 (total) airbag system is dead. One would think that this would be a total recall not just a TSB if that were the case.

devoid

Mine still is not fixed. They replaced the entire rear harness with the fix...but it didn't solve the problem. Because mine is away for the winter, they won't get the chance to work on it again till spring. They tried diolectric grease in the front connections, but still no good. They have said that maybe they'll need to replace the front harness....hopefully mazda will come up with something by spring.

kmg1186

my airbag light just came on two days ago while i was driving home from school doing nothing out of the ordinary. i originally thought it was because i had some heavy bags on the seats and that it would turn off when i removed the luggage.. however, the light has consistently come on ever time i have driven the car since then.

is there no solution to this right now? is it worth it to bring it in to the dealer? i don't want to get in an accident and not have any airbag.

expo1

This happens to me from time to time. I just disconnect the THREE connecters that are under the set and then re-connect them, light goes away. There are two from the floor to the seat and one connecter from the seat belt buckle to underneath the seat. If that doesn’t help then it’s to the dealer for you.

kmg1186

thanks a lot expo, i'll give it a shot.

Rotary Rasp

iTrader: (2)

any update on this matter, my air bag light has become common place in my guage cluster.