Airbag light

[mdlavari]

2001 e53 airbag light on with 240 internal error!
No crash, passenger seat was removed without disconnecting battery. Any help with clean eeprom data or hint would be great

[andrewwynn]

My understanding is if you remove the airbag control module under the seat and replace with different or you unplug and replug with power to it you will need to reset the abs. I bought the foxwell NT510 specifically to be able to do the same and plan to swap my passenger seat soon and will report back the results.


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[oldskewel]

Yes, the airbag light can be triggered by things like restoring power to the car while any airbag components are disconnected. I do that all the time when going in for my quarterly door panel removal and repair of the latest breakage.

The light was on when I bought the car about 4 years ago and I bought a special purpose ~$20 tool off eBay that does nothing else other than resetting the airbag light on BMWs. Works great, and I have not needed to fund a research project into a more advanced diagnostic tool. Since it does only one thing, there's not much to learn and not much to go wrong.

So I'd recommend doing the same thing. If you need more advanced features, then yes, a more powerful general purpose tool will definitely have those, at a cost.

Also (not sure about this) my understanding is that the airbag system is still functional, even with the light on, in a case like this where there is not really anything wrong and it just needs a reset of the warning light.

[andrewwynn]

+1 on the cheap reset tool 90% less than my scanner with 99.5% less complexity

+1 on the notion of failsafe abs programming. Example: when it can't tell how heavy the passenger it will assume higher weight.


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[mdlavari]

Thanks guys for quick reply! I see if I can reset the airbag light with one of those gadgets.


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[andrewwynn]

While we are on airbag light. Scan with NT510 shows defect on airbag module but there is no light. I do get occasional light when it's very cold ambient which resets itself if I power cycle the car once the temp inside rises enough. The scanner had a part number that was list price over $1000 but I think I've seen on eBay for $25 just need to figure out where the hell the part is. I think under the passenger seat

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

While we are on airbag light. Scan with NT510 shows defect on airbag module but there is no light. I do get occasional light when it's very cold ambient which resets itself if I power cycle the car once the temp inside rises enough. The scanner had a part number that was list price over $1000 but I think I've seen on eBay for $25 just need to figure out where the hell the part is. I think under the passenger seat

The airbag module is located in the center console at the back of the console. You will need to lift the rear of the console up and you should be able to see the module. The module is held down with some TORX screws so don't F it up by using an Allen wrench. The connector is also a Bitch to get off. Good Luck.

[chedeng]

I will put in my 2 cents regarding airbag light since I have experienced this myself.

I have the same airbag light with the code F0 [240] Internal control unit fault. I also have another code something to do with "Power Supply." The fault codes kept coming back and my BMW Scanner 1.4 could not get rid of the faults.

As a test, I intentionally disconnected one of the seat sensors and that too showed up on the list and could not be reset. This tells me something else is wrong and that led me to airbag module itself.

I read somewhere any third-party company that resets airbag modules as a service won't be able to fix this.

To fix my issue, I had to get an exact airbag module from Ebay and it took three modules for the airbag light to disappear. The seller I dealt with was very cooperative in resolving my issue so if you want the name I can PM it over to you.

Since you already have the picture of the airbag module, I am assuming you already have it off the car.

Regarding how I access the airbag module, I did not have to lift the console. Below is how I remove it:

• Bring both front seats all the way forward
• Disconnect negative cable from battery. Wait 5 minutes before doing any work
• On the sides of the center console, there are long trapezoidal panels. They just pop off
• Once they are off, you can see the airbag module.
• On mine, it is just regular hex bolts (I think three(3)10mm bolts?) You will need to verify this.
• The bolts can be removed with a 1/4" drive and a short 10mm socket
• Once the module is loose, you can swing it forward a bit so that you can reach the connector to release it.
• Once you get a replacement airbag module, secure it in place
• The hardest part is re-connecting that connector back on the module.
• Make sure you secure the 10mm bolts (or TORX) back before testing the module. Note: There is I believe a "ground" wire that is fastened with one of the bolts. Make sure it is secured.
• Re-connect battery
• Using the BMW Scanner 1.4, go to the module and see if you can reset the faults. Once all faults are cleared, you will need to re-program that module based on the option on the car. This can be done also with BMW Scanner 1.4.

Good Luck.


Note: It could be NUTS not bolts as I have specified on the original reply. I remember there where studs to line up the holes of the airbag module.

[mdlavari]

Thanks for the information!
I was thinking to get hold of a clean data and change the eeprom in my ecu, knowing it goes wrong frequently it would be good to have a solution for this reacquiring problem! Any thoughts?


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[itsbrokeagain]

my module is corrupt as well, guess I will resort to ebay to flip through them and find a good one that will be able to reset when needed.

My E39 also suffers from this problem, but its module is one generation older and apparently there isn't one good used one on the market. Its either buy new (which may be defective right out the box) or upgrade to the last generation with some slight wiring changes and a reprogram.