Air bag cheat? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Scalded Dog · 08-24-2015, 10:53 AM

Okay, like (apparently) a lot of other owners, there's a problem with my air bag sensor. Whenever I have a passenger, the "Service air bag" message appears on my DIC, the air bag "off" indicator is illuminated, and alarm bells irritate to no end. 10 seconds later, everything is fine, but 20 seconds after that, the problem appears again... a drive with a passenger (doesn't do it when I am alone in the car) has turned into a real pain in the tail.

I've Googled the crap out of this issue, and tried a few fixes... no luck. It seems that the most likely culprit at this time is the sensor that registers whether or not a passenger is in the seat... and it appears that the typical bill for this repair is $700- $1000, which is about $700- $1000 more than I feel like paying.

So... why not bypass the sensor? Sure, the passenger air bag would always be ready to fire, in the event of a crash, but that is surely better than it NOT deploying when I DO have a passenger. Other than increasing the likelihood of an air bag deployment with no passenger (who cares, other than extra repair costs), what would be wrong with bypassing the sensor?

I don't travel with children in that seat, ever... there is never a reason for the air bag to be off when I have a passenger.

Also... anybody know WHERE that sensor is... or what wires go to it?

flyer08 · 08-24-2015, 06:09 PM

Good question. Driving me crazy in The wife's car but luckily i dont ride in hers often.

I saw a diagram when I looked up this issue. I believe everything is under the seat but dont remember specifics

MLL67RSSS · 08-25-2015, 10:00 AM

With the "Advanced Frontal Air-bags" the passenger weight/size is one of the factors in how the computer calculates the air-bag deployment force. So the only issue it seems could be the air-bag deploying with too much force for a small passenger.

http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shop...ontal+Air+Bags

1. What are advanced frontal air bags?

Advanced frontal air bags are designed to meet the needs of the occupant in a variety of specific crash situations. Depending on design, advanced frontal air bag systems automatically determine if and with what level of power the driver frontal air bag and the passenger frontal air bag will inflate. The appropriate level of power is based upon sensor inputs that can typically detect: 1) occupant size, 2) seat position, 3) seat belt use of the occupant, and 4) crash severity.

baum · 08-25-2015, 10:37 AM

i may be wrong but i thought seatbelts/airbags were unlimited mile/years warranty since they are safety items

Nzcamaro · 08-26-2015, 04:20 AM

I'm guessing it has a sensor pad in the seat. Same as BMW.
The seat belt stalk also may have a connection to the computer. Try and unplug seat belt with passenger next time and see what changes.

Scalded Dog · 08-26-2015, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nzcamaro

I'm guessing it has a sensor pad in the seat. Same as BMW.
The seat belt stalk also may have a connection to the computer. Try and unplug seat belt with passenger next time and see what changes.

Good suggestion, but I've beat you to it... tried all kinds of seat belt affixed/ not affixed, even different lengths of seat belt extended from the spool, to see if I could change the status of the error (either create an error, or end a current error). I cannot seem to change the status with anything that I do, with seatbelt configurations, passenger size/ position, driving events, or witch's incantations and spells.

I've also spent a considerable amount of time pressing on various parts of the seat to see if I could activate/ deactivate the alert, both with and without a passenger in that seat. I got nuthin.'

Being a redneck, I may just duct tape a big stack of pillows to the dash in front of the passenger seat.

Nzcamaro · 08-27-2015, 05:47 AM

A scan should show fault code I guess.
I,m swaying towards seat pad sensor.

08-24-2015, 10:53 AM	#1
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	Air bag cheat? Okay, like (apparently) a lot of other owners, there's a problem with my air bag sensor. Whenever I have a passenger, the "Service air bag" message appears on my DIC, the air bag "off" indicator is illuminated, and alarm bells irritate to no end. 10 seconds later, everything is fine, but 20 seconds after that, the problem appears again... a drive with a passenger (doesn't do it when I am alone in the car) has turned into a real pain in the tail. I've Googled the crap out of this issue, and tried a few fixes... no luck. It seems that the most likely culprit at this time is the sensor that registers whether or not a passenger is in the seat... and it appears that the typical bill for this repair is $700- $1000, which is about $700- $1000 more than I feel like paying. So... why not bypass the sensor? Sure, the passenger air bag would always be ready to fire, in the event of a crash, but that is surely better than it NOT deploying when I DO have a passenger. Other than increasing the likelihood of an air bag deployment with no passenger (who cares, other than extra repair costs), what would be wrong with bypassing the sensor? I don't travel with children in that seat, ever... there is never a reason for the air bag to be off when I have a passenger. Also... anybody know WHERE that sensor is... or what wires go to it?

08-24-2015, 06:09 PM	#2
flyer08 Account Suspended Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 3,418	Good question. Driving me crazy in The wife's car but luckily i dont ride in hers often. I saw a diagram when I looked up this issue. I believe everything is under the seat but dont remember specifics

08-25-2015, 10:00 AM	#3
MLL67RSSS Account Suspended Drives: car Join Date: May 2008 Location: location Posts: 1,569	With the "Advanced Frontal Air-bags" the passenger weight/size is one of the factors in how the computer calculates the air-bag deployment force. So the only issue it seems could be the air-bag deploying with too much force for a small passenger. http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shop...ontal+Air+Bags 1. What are advanced frontal air bags? Advanced frontal air bags are designed to meet the needs of the occupant in a variety of specific crash situations. Depending on design, advanced frontal air bag systems automatically determine if and with what level of power the driver frontal air bag and the passenger frontal air bag will inflate. The appropriate level of power is based upon sensor inputs that can typically detect: 1) occupant size, 2) seat position, 3) seat belt use of the occupant, and 4) crash severity.

08-25-2015, 10:37 AM	#4
baum Drives: 2013 1LS, 2013 Ram 1500 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Minneapolis, mn Posts: 645	i may be wrong but i thought seatbelts/airbags were unlimited mile/years warranty since they are safety items

08-26-2015, 04:20 AM	#5
Nzcamaro NZ Camaro. New Zealand Drives: 1968 camaro. 2010 2ss Camaro Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: New Zealand Posts: 284 View My Garage	I'm guessing it has a sensor pad in the seat. Same as BMW. The seat belt stalk also may have a connection to the computer. Try and unplug seat belt with passenger next time and see what changes.

08-27-2015, 05:47 AM	#7
Nzcamaro NZ Camaro. New Zealand Drives: 1968 camaro. 2010 2ss Camaro Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: New Zealand Posts: 284 View My Garage	A scan should show fault code I guess. I,m swaying towards seat pad sensor.