Seat Occupancy sensor
Discussion
Hi
I have a 2007 R55 MCS. This week the seat belt warning light is permanently on. If I plug the passenger seat belt in, the light and the warning go off. (no airbag warning light so simply the car thinks that someone is permanently sat in the passenger seat)
I can find plenty about airbag lights but nothing related to this. There is a small plastic box under the seat which I imagine is linked. This has several electrical wires coming out, readily unclips, but I cannot figure out how it works?? (a little worried about disturbing the airbag system)
Any hints or anyone know how the seat occupancy sensor works??
Thanks
Mie
I have a 2007 R55 MCS. This week the seat belt warning light is permanently on. If I plug the passenger seat belt in, the light and the warning go off. (no airbag warning light so simply the car thinks that someone is permanently sat in the passenger seat)
I can find plenty about airbag lights but nothing related to this. There is a small plastic box under the seat which I imagine is linked. This has several electrical wires coming out, readily unclips, but I cannot figure out how it works?? (a little worried about disturbing the airbag system)
Any hints or anyone know how the seat occupancy sensor works??
Thanks
Mie
Fairly common fault. Two likely causes:
1. the first is easy - the seat is moved and snags the cable or pulls out the connector; sounds like you've already found it but check the wiring for worn insulation.
2. the second is expensive - there's a matting in the seat that fails. New seat base is the official solution, though you can buy bypass kits (which I think are just a wire loop with a low resistance <5 ohm resistor in series) but this means the passenger airbag might not deploy. If you're the main user, then just leave the seat belt in place.
1. the first is easy - the seat is moved and snags the cable or pulls out the connector; sounds like you've already found it but check the wiring for worn insulation.
2. the second is expensive - there's a matting in the seat that fails. New seat base is the official solution, though you can buy bypass kits (which I think are just a wire loop with a low resistance <5 ohm resistor in series) but this means the passenger airbag might not deploy. If you're the main user, then just leave the seat belt in place.
Just to round this topic off..... (I hate searching for stuff and do not find an answer to the OP!)
My car went in for an MOT at my local BMW dealership. I didn't mention the fault and left the seat belt plugged in prior to the test....
Picked the car up later that day. Nothing mentioned by the dealership and the warning light had disappeared. I suspect wiggling the connections underneath the seat and a reset by the dealer sorted things out.....??
The car passed the MOT first time and I got charged for the MOT only. My car was cleaned inside and out, warning lights gone, I was driven to work and back by them and a 'free' pack of MINI mints was left in the glovebox!
Its not often I sing the praises of a main dealer, but my local main dealer has turned up trumps again this year! (Snows, Isle of Wight)
Mike
My car went in for an MOT at my local BMW dealership. I didn't mention the fault and left the seat belt plugged in prior to the test....
Picked the car up later that day. Nothing mentioned by the dealership and the warning light had disappeared. I suspect wiggling the connections underneath the seat and a reset by the dealer sorted things out.....??
The car passed the MOT first time and I got charged for the MOT only. My car was cleaned inside and out, warning lights gone, I was driven to work and back by them and a 'free' pack of MINI mints was left in the glovebox!
Its not often I sing the praises of a main dealer, but my local main dealer has turned up trumps again this year! (Snows, Isle of Wight)Mike
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