Air Bag Warning Light

[X5-D-Sport]

A friends E53 D-Sport 2005, had a door speaker fail...
So we remove the door panel after disconnecting the battery in the rear.

Pulled all the connectors incl air-bag to get good access.

All was re-connected & re-assembled several times, but we cannot find a reason that the instrument cluster air bag warning stays on.

We have done all the tricks re the battery by shorting the cables together once removed from the battery etc, but the light stays on..

What are we missing / need to do ?

Any one experienced this before or know the answer ?

regards to all.
Grant B

[marti]

Did you disconnect both battery cables?...at anytime did you reconnect the battery with airbag still disconnected?

[Greydog]

Don't quite follow why the airbag was disconnected as it doesn't interfere with speaker access or the tweeter at the back of the mirror.
As marti has pointed out the battery was probably reconnected ahead of the airbag or the airbag connector was not seated properly. Once the Airbag light has been triggered you will need diagnostics to fault read clear the fault and reset it.

[Raj]

Airbag removal shouldn't have been required but does sound like it's just triggered so need to get it plugged in to clear the fault and see if stays off. If it returns then might need to check the pins in the connector to make sure it's seated properly.

[X5-D-Sport]

the air bag module/part was removed to fit a replacement door handle, & then re-fitted.many thanks for the replies chaps.
Much appreciated

[Raj]

the air bag module/part was removed to fit a replacement door handle, & then re-fitted.many thanks for the replies chaps.
Much appreciated

Ah ok makes sense now lol. Thought it strange for the speaker failure. Hopefully if you clear the error it should stay off now it's all connected upon again.

[Leslie]

I unplugged the door airbag in my 330d years ago and had the battery disconnected at time to fit a window regulator but had to move window up to fit a screw so plugged airbag back in first but didn't put the little cap on the plug to lock it in , if you don't do this it still triggers airbag light I found as the pins are grounded

[X5-D-Sport]

Hi Leslie,
what is this little plug you mention please ?

[Alan Gunn]

I did both jobs you did but i never disconnected the air-bag i just left it hanging.
Did you test the new speaker by any chance before putting it all back together ??.

[Leslie]

Hi Leslie,
what is this little plug you mention please ?

It probably isn't fitted to newer cars was just a little locking clip you put on after pushing the plug in.