The car was in an accident which activated the driver's airbag. The airbag was replaced, but the light is still on. The dealer wants $55 to turn it off. I'm guessing this is simple to do myself if you just know the procedure. Any tips?

 

Have the pretensioners been checked?
If one or more has fired, (likely if you've been in a crash) the o/c squib element will show in the micro's initialization routine at switch on, leaving the airbag light on.
Check the length protruding from the floor of each fastener where there was a passenger + driver, if one or more is noticeably shorter than the others -- they've fired.

Leedsman.

 

Checked the code, it is U0170, left front airbag sensor lost communications. So that sensor either is disconnected or broken. Does anyone know where that sensor is located?

Thanks!

 

Found the problem...it was a bad connection on the sensor. Need to order a new connector.

I assume that connecting the two two wires to that sensor is what would fire the airbag, is that correct? Would it fire when the car is off? I intend to disconnect the battery and wait a while before I splice in the new sensor, I was just curious.

For future reference, the sensor part number is 04896011AB. Its a small grey sensor accessible from above, in the left and right front corners of the car. The left one is just above the computer which is in the left front corner of the car.