SRS light on 2003 forester

[art harron]

has anyone had experirnce with this, I don't want to go to the dealer and be
soaked..

 

[Stewart DIBBS]

has anyone had experience with this, I don't want to go to the dealer and
be soaked..

SRS lights come on for a variety of reasons, and there's usually an error
code that gives an idea of the cause. Might be the driver or the passenger
airbag that's has some sort of issue. Sometimes the SRS lights up because
the SRS controller has failed (rare), other times it decides that the airbag
is not being detected. COMMONLY but not always the SRS light can be reset by
disconnecting the battery for 30+ seconds. Undeployed airbags themselves
rarely fail: its usually a harness connection / mechanical problem or
controller.

SRS systems have to be handled with care. The harness has special
anti-static connectors which MUST be shorted together if the harness is
disassembled, as a static discharge can cause the bag to deploy (this is Not
a Good Thing). There's also a clock spring in the steering wheel that can be
finicky.

The best advice to you is
a) try disconnecting the battery;
b) Look for any fuses that have blown. Is anything else not working?
c) look in the owners manual for any info on clearing SRS error codes.
d) take it to the dealer and at least get the SRS error code read.

Reading and resetting the error code take a couple of minutes max: don't get
screwed for labour on this: maybe offer 15 minutes if they won't do it for
free. After all, if there is a real problem you'll likely have to have the
dealer fix it anyway. There are also companies who claim to repair computers
eg www.airbags-oem.com but you have to able to take yours out without
breaking or exploding anything. A repaired computer will be lots cheaper
than a new one from the dealer.

There is I believe a LOT of car owners who get an SRS light, get a huge
quote for the repair, and decide that the best option is to take out the SRS
lamp and rely on the seat belt.

SD

 

[Dano58]

has anyone had experirnce with this, I don't want to go to the dealer and be
soaked..

You should be able to get any codes pulled at an Autozone or other
chain-type parts store. I know Autozone does it for free and gives you
a printout showing possible fixes.

Dan D
'99 Impreza 2.5 RS (son's)
Central NJ USA