Airbag Light On. Code 9123. Known Issue, With Update. Mercedes Won't Fix...
 

So I recently bought my brothers Mercedes that he purchased new. It is a 2005 C230 compressor with 30k miles. The airbag light has been on for a few years and he just never got around to doing anything about it. I scanned the codes and came up with 9123. After a search I found out that this was a known problem and there is an update for it and Mercedes extended the warranty to 10 years to cover it. Unfortunately this ended in February of this year and now I will be out the expense to have this fixed. They know the issue but will not perform any work without charging me 1 to 2 hours of diagnostic plus the fix. Does anyone have any info on what is needed to do this repair? I work at a European shop and don't mind doing the work myself if I can figure out exactly what I need to purchase to replace and update my car. Thanks for any assistance!

You have the diagnostics to read airbag faults. You work at a European shop.

Now you are telling us you don't know how to fix the fault-----post the name of the shop you work, because we want to tell folks to watch out for these schisters who say they repair European cars!---wada joke!!

Any monkey can fix a fault when he knows what's wrong. The skill and the knowledge lies in being able to correctly diagnose a problem before you can fix it. For that you most definitely have to pay for. Go study how these systems work in detail then you can make your own diagnosis. You pay for people's brains my friend.

Thanks for your help... I am basically wondering if anyone knew the part number for the updated part, as it is apparently a known issue, and poking around on the Internet didn't pop up with that info. If I book shop time I'd like to have the new updated part in hand. It's not easy for me to get personal shop time so I'd like to do this in one shot if possible.

I help people all the time on car forums when I know the answer for free. And this is a known common issue, I thought someone might know the needed part, that's all. I didn't think this would cause an upset. I'm more used to the classic car forums, and the VW/Audi forums, I guess I just assumed the community would be similar here. Sorry.

I'm guessing most people on the forums here don't know about this supposedly issue. Haven't even heard of it personally to be honest, and I would like to consider myself as one of the more proactive owners out there. (maybe it doesn't apply to my year)

If nobody else here can help you, just pay the dealership and get it fixed properly. Do it right or do it twice. Good luck.

Thanks. When you google that code for these cars, you get flooded with results, and info about how Mercedes recognizes the problem, and has the update to fix it, so I assumed it would be more widely spread known around here. I definitely wasn't trying to stir up chaos in here. I was just trying to avoid having to diag. the car one Saturday, order parts, and then be back at the shop the following Saturday.

Post you VIN!!

WDBRF40J65F651674

I'm not at work so I can't look up your fault but I feel like 9123 was the fault my girlfriend's car just had, too much resistance in right rear airbag squib. Solution was to just cut out connector in door sill and solder wires directly together. If I'm wrong and you're referring to the airbag harness repair in the steering column, which was covered for ten years, I can get you a part number for that Monday https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...322a96bc9b.jpg

Thanks! The code reads: "9123: The resistance value in the ignition circuit containing component R12/14 (Driver airbag ignition squib 2) is too high.". If that helps to clarify this at all.

Now I am really confused---have you double clicked on the 9123 and did all the resistance tests--because the confusion is what is all his BS about if you did not do the test to determine if the issue is the wiring, squib or have forgot about all the tests and want the part number for the new drivers side air bag.:crazy:

There is a known update that is known to commonly fix the problem that is recognized by Mercedes. Weather this is the cause of my issue or not, I want the update done as it is a safety issue. My code comes back immediately, so I would know if it fixed the problem right away, if not, I'd diag from there. With my limited shop time accessability, it makes sense for me.

Yes, that's the steering column harness fault then.

The part for you VIN is 171 860 07 02 9116

Thank you very much!

Edit: I read that it was a harness update, not an airbag replacement. That would suck, definitely not gonna buy a $1500 airbag. Hope this is not the case!

Not sure what part of this thread you didn't read...