SRS light stays on!

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chestercheeto48

Senior Member
VIP
So this morning as I go to start my car I notice that my red SRS light stays on constantly now. I have been having some issues with it recently but turning off the car and restarting it usually did the trick. The question that I have is this: Do I have to worry about it. Will my airbags still deploy if I were to get in an accident? I have a 96 civic dx if that makes a difference. I also have access to a OBD diagnostics machine, I am not sure if it will read anything as it is not an engine code.thanks in advance.
 
You should be able to get codes with the scanner if it is a relatively good one, depending on what the fault is with the system your airbags may or may not deploy in the event of an accident.
I would take the car to the dealer, I think that all restraint systems have a lifetime warranty as long as they are not altered.
 
Question to CHESTERCHEETO48: Did you bring your 96 Civic to the dealer yet? I just am having this problem with my 96 Accord and if I can have this repaired at the dealer for free instead of me playing around with it I'll take it!
Question to WELFARE: Would I be able to use my OBD 2code reader to locate the problem or does it require a OBD 2 scanner? I just ordered a scanner as I was told it can access more information than a code reader.
 
Srs Light

Question to CHESTERCHEETO48: Did you ever bring your Civic to the dealer? I just started having this problem with my 96 Accord. If I can get this repaired for free instead of me playing around with it I'll take it!

Question to WELFARE: Would I be able to get the same information from a code reader instead of a scanner? I just ordered a scanner as I was told it would give me more information than a code reader.
 
Scanners are much more expensive than code readers, and also give you alot more information, a good scanner will cost you upwards of 1,000 dollars, I use a snap-on mt2500, which cost me 1800.00 2 years ago, Scanners give you more information yes, and can access more stuff also, but they are pricey. I think OTC makes a generic OBD2 scanner that is about 4 or 5 hundred dollars, but it is just for generic stuff. With the good scanners they will use manufacturer specific software and will pinpoint problems more precisely.
For instance a code reader may say "code 4 misfire", but a scanner would say something like "p0401 misfire cylinder 1 detected, 10 misfires since restart"
You get what you pay for.
 
SRS system have a lifetime warranty on SEAT BELTS ONLY! Nothing else. Everything else is your responsibility




And you need SRS Software specific to the manufactuer in a scanner in order to read the codes
 
SRS system have a lifetime warranty on SEAT BELTS ONLY! Nothing else. Everything else is your responsibility




And you need SRS Software specific to the manufactuer in a scanner in order to read the codes

I think you might be right about the seatbelt thing,
but scanners that are "CAN" enabled can read the engine, transmission, ABS, SRS, traction control and vehicle stability computers, so you are sort of correct because not all scanners are "CAN" enabled, and lack the memory to read those different systems.
When I had my scanner updated last time I had to pay extra for OBD1 srs systems, plus the connectors, but everything else was already built in. the update included "CAN". I am able to scan any vehicle for any of its systems.
You are probably correct though, sanp-on probably did have to purchase some of the manufacture's specific system details in order to get the scanner to read such systems.
 
I think you might be right about the seatbelt thing,
but scanners that are "CAN" enabled can read the engine, transmission, ABS, SRS, traction control and vehicle stability computers, so you are sort of correct because not all scanners are "CAN" enabled, and lack the memory to read those different systems.
When I had my scanner updated last time I had to pay extra for OBD1 srs systems, plus the connectors, but everything else was already built in. the update included "CAN". I am able to scan any vehicle for any of its systems.
You are probably correct though, sanp-on probably did have to purchase some of the manufacture's specific system details in order to get the scanner to read such systems.


Yeah you hit the nail on the head. A Scanner has to be CAN enabled in order to read SRS, TCS, VSA, ECM, computers and so on. Most of which are in the 1000+ Range.
 
guess I should have said that in the first place, haha, o well, hope everything works out for everyone.
 
Well I did a little digging in my car and noticed when the sound guys installed my amp under the seat the never hooked up some wire down there. I am assuming that this might be the cause of the problem I will try to plug it back in tonight after work.
 
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