2002 Cooper airbag light

[Shuvi McTupya]

Wondering if anyone can advise?

I have a diagnostic tool that allows me to read and clear the error codes but the airbag one is obviously serious as it won't go away.
The message I am getting is this:
05 Front left side airbag squib. Resistance too high.

I know these cars have a bit of an issue with the connectors under the seats so I have popped them off and cleaned them and put them back on.

I assume this message is about the airbag in the front passenger seat,( as I don't think it has side airbags in the doors) rather than the one in the dash?

If so, I am thinking that changing the seat maybe my best option, unless anyone has any tips for me to try?

[mon the fish]

The cables stretch and break as the seats are moved backwards and forwards over the years. Take the seat out and have a good look at the cables as they disappear under the carpet - likely to be the culprit

[E-bmw]

Surely "front left side airbag" is the one in front of the passenger.

[Shuvi McTupya]

E-bmw said:

Surely "front left side airbag" is the one in front of the passenger.

I am not 100% convinced either way yet!

[Shuvi McTupya]

mon the fish said:

The cables stretch and break as the seats are moved backwards and forwards over the years. Take the seat out and have a good look at the cables as they disappear under the carpet - likely to be the culprit

My skills leave something to be desired, as does my tool kit..I am struggling to get the bolts undone just to remove the seat, they are torx rather than normal bolts , I need to get some fatter torx bits so I can use them half inch socket or Impact driver or something !

I have another mini I with a 'good seat' is could use as a test seat , time to tool shop..amazon here I come.

[Pip1968]

I had the airbag light on for a while and the error was caused by the battery cable. The end result was I needed to solder in a resistor onto the BST. The car's computer system seem to think the BST had blown (it is supposed to blow when you have an accident to prevent fire).

Yours sounds a little different. If you are Kent way I would be happy to try and help you. I have a large tool box with plenty of tools and electrical knowledge. The helicopter makes th8nk you are in Yeovil though.

Let us know how you get on.

Pip

[Shuvi McTupya]

Thank you for your very kind offer of help! Unfortunately I am north of Aberdeen

Excuse my ignorance but what does BST stand for?

Certainly no mention of anything along those lines from my diagnostic tool.

I am still also assuming that 'front left side' airbag is infact the airbag in the seat, as I would assume it would just say 'passenger airbag' or front left airbag if it was the one above the glove box.

[mon the fish]

I'm west of Aberdeen if that helps. I've got a B200 Airbag tool but I assume you do too if you know where the problem is

[Shuvi McTupya]

mon the fish said:

I'm west of Aberdeen if that helps. I've got a B200 Airbag tool but I assume you do too if you know where the problem is

I actually have a fairly comprehensive diagnostic tool that is capable of reading and clearing errors from all sorts of vehicles, and writing to ECU's etc..it is overkill for someone at my 'level' but it was a bargain.

If nothing else it should save me money just because I would be telling the mechanic what to replace rather than him telling me what he would like to replace

[Pip1968]

Apologies for the delay BST is Battery Safety Terminal. It is essentially a small explosive device that disconnects the positive cable from the battery when you have a crash. Think of it as a small percussion cap.

Pip

[steve-5snwi]

We had a cooper in where we couldn't clear the fault and it just came up with communication error, we had to replace the speedo assembly to clear the code and reset it.

[Shuvi McTupya]

steve-5snwi said:

We had a cooper in where we couldn't clear the fault and it just came up with communication error, we had to replace the speedo assembly to clear the code and reset it.

Well, I don't think I have that problem , but will know what to do if I do get that message. Ta!

[steve-5snwi]

There is also an airbag ecu, it lives under the centre console below the handbrake, you need to take a seat out and peel the carpet back to reach it.

[Shuvi McTupya]

Well, that will be a pain to get too as I still haven't managed get the remaining two torx bolts out that hold the passenger seat down! Bloody tight they are!

But my diagnostic tool is saying it is the front left side airbag, so I suspect it is the connectors under or the passenger seat or possibly the airbag in the passenger seat.

[Shuvi McTupya]

Well, I unplugged the two connectors and left them unplugged for a week, I then plugged them back in, hooked up my diagnostic tool and reset the light and it appears to have fixed itself !

Cheers guys

[E-bmw]

It won't have fixed itself but you have more than likely found the plug with the dodgy connection that was causing the problem.

[mon the fish]

Yes, the light does have a nasty habit of waiting just long enough to make you think it's fixed before coming on again

[Shuvi McTupya]

I know that those connectors are usually the culprit and the problem is likely to keep recurring. I wonder if the airbag system is actually disabled when the light is on?

[mon the fish]

Shuvi McTupya said:

I know that those connectors are usually the culprit and the problem is likely to keep recurring. I wonder if the airbag system is actually disabled when the light is on?

No direct experience but I'm sure I read on MiniTorque years ago that someone had fitted bucket seats, the airbag light was still on as he hadn't fitted the resistors yet, and the wheel airbag still went off on impact

[Shuvi McTupya]

mon the fish said:

No direct experience but I'm sure I read on MiniTorque years ago that someone had fitted bucket seats, the airbag light was still on as he hadn't fitted the resistors yet, and the wheel airbag still went off on impact

Interesting,
That makes me wonder if there was a direct correlation between fitting bucket seats and then having a crash