wingless

My '05 C320 sports coupe recently started illuminating the SRS failure indicator lamp and the SRS Restraint System Malfunction message in the display. This would happen whenever the passenger seat was unoccupied, after the vehicle was on for several minutes, but never with a passenger present and buckled.

The dealership diagnosed the problem. Fault codes 9080 and 9083 were present. The cause was the cable routing under the passenger seat. The wire was dressed from the factory such that the cabling to the connector was under tension. The cabling was redressed to provide slack at the connector and the fault codes were cleared. It is now fine.

Saprissa

Interesting. My guess would have been something related to the BabySmart seat setting. Not saying you had a BabySmart seat, but the computer thinking it did. Maybe it was triggering the SRS off, but since it wouldn't detect whatever electronic gizmo the actual seat has inside, it gave off the malfunction message.

But, glad they were able to trace it and get it fixed.

Good info !

CitronC230K_03

glad it worked out for you. i had an SRS failure when I had my COMAND replaced. not sure what the problem was, but it was fixed.

raunen

I had a SRS Malfunction last week but was told it was OK to drive (the car was diagnosed and deemed drivable by MB Manhattan). I had it fixed today (by MB Somerville)

They had to replace the horn contact spiral (as far as I can gather, it's a spring that affects the sensor which measures how far the streering column is from the driver seat).

(Part #169-464-03-18 for those interested).

(Was given a replacement MB car while they worked on mine).

SUNILP

If you had an SRS failure when the comand was replaced, it was probably due to the upper switch row not being connected. The spiral contact is the actual wire assy that connects the airbag and steering wheel buttons on the steering wheel to the connector behind the steering wheel. It's a spiral since the steering wheel has to turn. If the passanger seat being occupied solves the problem, it is the occupancy sensor on the passanger seat, or babysmart seat sensor pad, or a tight cable under the seat

raunen

I don't have COMMAND in my car

The SRS light was ON regardless of the passenger seat being occupied or not.

On that note, does the center console light indicating the passenger air bag is ON/OFF stay on all the time if no one is sitting in the passenger seat? Mine goes out after a few seconds. In the 05 C240 they gave me as a loaner, it was on all the time. The Service Advisor (two of them in separate dealerships) told me that it is supposed to go off after a few seconds.

Anyone know better? (According to the manual it is supposed to be on for 6 seconds then goes off unless there is a child seat installed. Maybe the loaner was broken!) Thanks.

SUNILP

That light should go off after a few seconds of starting the car. The only other time it should stay on is if a babysmart seat is installed. When I said Comand, I was referring to Doug's car.

raunen

Ah! Sorry for the COMMAND confusion. Thanks Sunman.

dgwee

Interestingly, the other day when I left my security access card to my office on the car seat, the SRS airbag light came on...

raunen

In other threads owners have talked about interference from mobile phones as well. In my case it was actually a bad connection in the steering column. I wonder if adjusting the steering wheel while driving can damage the coil.

jlm003

Had the same problem... Scared the hell out of me as I was on the expressway doing about 75 when the panel lit up red with the SRS warning.

According to the repair manifest, they changed two corroded electrical plugs in the steering wheel area.

SUNILP

If your security card uses proximity detection, it can disable the passanger seat airbag as this is the same techinology on the baby smart seat.

hassanm

hey guys, i have a few questions about the airbag system as a whole. if there is a problem with one of the airbags and u dont want to fix it, will the system still work less that part? for example, if my left door airbag came out due to an accedent and i dont want to replace it. i just want the system to disregard this airbag, can that be done by reprograming or will the SRS warning keep popping up on my dash? another question, does the deployment of an airbag effect the sensors? or will the sensors still be working even if the airbag has been deployed?
cheers guys, hope someone knows his ****.

hassanm

anyone????

jan ken po

Just happen me tonight the same way...doing 55 down a back stretch and it popped on. Scared me ****less as I drove home the next 25 mins wating on teh airbar to deploy. O well...hi ho, hi ho, its off to the dealer I go.

advans

my SRS indicator came on for a few mins, but after that it never showed again

jan ken po

Naw, mine is on...and won't go off. Says to drive straight to the shop. I'll take it when I get back from the holidays.

raunen

nearly two years after my first SRS failure, something has malfunctioned again

taking the car in on monday.

raunen

they performed a wiring update in the steering wheel to fix it.