Air Bag light flashes

[glatham]

My '99 Avalon's air bag light is flashing. It seems to be flashing a code of 8443, which the mech says may be the sensors gone bad. I checked the connectors on the module under the center console and still have the problem. Any other advice before I go back to the mech? THANKS a bunch. Oh, I'm also having problems with the car alarm going off randomly.

[TedL]

Originally Posted by glatham

My '99 Avalon's air bag light is flashing. It seems to be flashing a code of 8443, which the mech says may be the sensors gone bad. I checked the connectors on the module under the center console and still have the problem. Any other advice before I go back to the mech? THANKS a bunch. Oh, I'm also having problems with the car alarm going off randomly.

Per the FSM, the codes obtained by using the short/flashing light method are two digit codes. If the tech doesn't know that................

Suggestion, if you want to avoid the dealer: Call a couple quality body shops and ask who does their SRS work for them.

[glatham]

Looking for the front sensors to check the connections. Clymer manual doesn't show any. Don't see them anywhere. My system worked briefly after being in a very humid environment (3 days of rain while camping) which makes me think it might be some marginal connections. I have cleaned the main module connectors but that did not fix the system.

[bob2]

connections may LOOK good...

clean with contact cleaner then apply silicone grease as tou reassemble. lots of cars have been in floods...

[glatham]

Thanks, But does my '99 Avalon have front sensors, if so where are they? I've looked in the wheel wells, behind the headlights, on the bumper, but no luck. The manual doesn't show any other than the main sensor under the armrest. thanks

[BMR]

This CAIG Deoxit stuff is aces for cleaning electrical connectors. It's spendy, but worth it. Great for cleaning noisy pots on stereo equipment too.

[glatham]

I tried the deoxit stuff on the 3 connectors at the SRS airbag control unit, but my airbag light continues to flash.

[robcam13]

the alarm going off randomly is probably the wire harness that hooks to the drivers door lock. a quick fix is to unplug the dome light switch in the door jamb. your key fob will still work. there are 2 sensors behind the bumper ( i forget where) the sensor in the center is a yaw sensor. your car needs to see a front sensor and the center sensor get tripped for the air bags to deploy. maybe a google search etc will help find the front sensors. a bad clock spring can also cause an airbag light ( i changed one today on a tacoma)

[glatham]

I tried snipping the wire to the door closed switch and that worked for a while but not any longer; the system sets the alarm like normal when all the doors are locked either manually or with the fob.

Originally Posted by robcam13

the alarm going off randomly is probably the wire harness that hooks to the drivers door lock. a quick fix is to unplug the dome light switch in the door jamb. your key fob will still work. there are 2 sensors behind the bumper ( i forget where) the sensor in the center is a yaw sensor. your car needs to see a front sensor and the center sensor get tripped for the air bags to deploy. maybe a google search etc will help find the front sensors. a bad clock spring can also cause an airbag light ( i changed one today on a tacoma)

[bob2]

might try resetting the electronics

remove battery cable. hold foot on brake pedal for 1 minute

reconnect battery cable