X5 e53 Airbag light {dealer no ODB error code & erratic communication}

[oilfield]

Hi,

my x5 has the airbag light on the dash, I ran it into the dealer hoping I would get the error code confirmation, and the fault rectified, day 1 in the garage involved the first level of simple checks (50 quids worth) with no fault showing, the Beamer garage test instruments i have been advised show an indication of communication intermittence - something I have not even come across on the world wide web.

Day 2 in the big brother dealer involves lifting centre console and seeing if they can identify the fault (under 300 notes£ worth) My concern is that this voyage of discover will eclipse the value of the car. All of my research so far indicates that even faults with units like the Airbag control module display fault codes

is it fair to say that I am paying for someones training schedule here - anyone come across No fault, communication breaks, they cant talk to the airbag system units etc. I mentioned could they not check replace the most common airbag units causing issues such as side pasenger sensor, 'No' was the answer as the electronic unit we have plugged in cannot communicate with these end units.

Is there a Brain system that handles the fault communications. Dubious because what i have been told in the showroom I can not match on feedback on the web. Help... if its not the centre console area then this could ramp up the costs like an out of control slot machine

[fmugur]

You should get a communication error, do you know the error number?
Most likely the module is faulty. I replaced mine for the same reason. Get a new/used module and replace it yourself. It's not an easy job since you have to take the central console out but it's doable.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...placement.html

[TerminatorX5]

if the airbag light is on, there is a code... if the code says, no communications with the module, there is a problem with the communications... the problem could be anything, from chaffed/shorted wire, to burnt module...

what happened just before the light came on? what there any event that triggered the light? we could possibly narrow down the issue by proxy - say, if you had somebody vigorously vacuum the car, they may have knocked something and break a wire... or, if you had a running incident with a deer, and while no airbag was deployed, some sensor got knocked out... or whatever else...

one more thing - in the lifetime of E53 production, there were several versions of the car... please put at least the year/month and engine type into your signature, this will narrow down a list of possible issues

[oilfield]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies, thinking back to any significant events. No crashes, thumps, hard stops etc, just normal uneventful driving this year.

On the maintenance front we had a major electrical issues a year ago where all the electrics died, fixed with replacing the alternator. The odd one about this - all electricals died no power from the original alternator, after a tow back to base the alternator started pumping a charge - somewhat intermittent - total fixed since changing though.

No issues since on the electrical front. I am 99% sure that the airbag light was not on around this alternator change, I am going to look up some video i may have shot in the cabin to check, I only use the car on the weekends and seem to have not been paying attention the exact time this came on.

I brought an OBD2 bluetooth module (not for airbag) connected, this pulled all the engine data etc. All my readings on the web seem to indicate that the same port with the correct scanner and software would indicate an error code - i.e. master unit, or sensor, bag etc. the scenario at the moment with the dealer, they have connected up and their initial diagnostics is getting 'intermittent' signal - no fault codes, they cannot communicate with the airbag system compnents. the next stage is to lift the centre console, on enquiring if the usual end systems - passenger seat sensor etc has been checked first. dealer advised that from the scanner side they are not seeing the signals, looks like they are going to solve this from the port end. I just hope at the end of all this costly journey its not an end component that is disconnected - but i guess does not explain no error codes - so assume they are approaching this efficiently. Once they lift the centre console and reach the MRS module - is there a test that can be applied to this unit to ensure it is indeed faulty, if its faulty will it simply cause intermittent or no Comms data through to OBD port - strange how i can find not one report of this type of fault on the web, everyone seems to get meaningful data from OBD included ECU code error.

thanks Again
x5 e53 Aril 2004 4.8is

[oilfield]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies, thinking back to any significant events. No crashes, thumps, hard stops etc, just normal uneventful driving this year.

On the maintenance front we had a major electrical issues a year ago where all the electrics died, fixed with replacing the alternator. The odd one about this - all electricals died no power from the original alternator, after a tow back to base the alternator started pumping a charge - somewhat intermittent - total fixed since changing though.

No issues since on the electrical front. I am 99% sure that the airbag light was not on around this alternator change, I am going to look up some video i may have shot in the cabin to check, I only use the car on the weekends and seem to have not been paying attention the exact time this came on.

I brought an OBD2 bluetooth module (not for airbag) connected, this pulled all the engine data etc. All my readings on the web seem to indicate that the same port with the correct scanner and software would indicate an error code - i.e. master unit, or sensor, bag etc. the scenario at the moment with the dealer, they have connected up and their initial diagnostics is getting 'intermittent' signal - no fault codes, they cannot communicate with the airbag system compnents. the next stage is to lift the centre console, on enquiring if the usual end systems - passenger seat sensor etc has been checked first. dealer advised that from the scanner side they are not seeing the signals, looks like they are going to solve this from the port end. I just hope at the end of all this costly journey its not an end component that is disconnected - but i guess does not explain no error codes - so assume they are approaching this efficiently. Once they lift the centre console and reach the MRS module - is there a test that can be applied to this unit to ensure it is indeed faulty, if its faulty will it simply cause intermittent or no Comms data through to OBD port - strange how i can find not one report of this type of fault on the web, everyone seems to get meaningful data from OBD included ECU code error.

thanks Again
x5 e53 Aril 2004 4.8is

[caisson12]

This may be of some help..........

Front Seat Occupant Protection Mat....06' X5 plus others