6G Celicas Forums

Going to check why all of a sudden my airbag light went on today. only thing I changed was the accent light bulb. This is the info I pulled out from the search function.

1. Air bag sensor up front, where is this located?
2. TC and E1 gives you the code
3. Someone else with the second O2 sensor plug came off and got the code, donno how this is related.
4. Can i just unplug and replug the yellow harness back into the airbag ECU?
5. I also see a yellow harness up front near the headlights, I assume this is the other end of where the airbag harness that goes to the sensor (maybe got loose)?
6. Pull out the SRS fuse but this is not a true fix or workaround, more like an ignore and doesn't fix the problem.
7. Someone posted this: Ignition / radio/cig lighter fuses. Here is what it actually says "WHEN THE IGNITION SW IS TURNED TO ACC OR ON, CURRENT FROM THE CIG & RAD FUSE FLOWS TO TERMINAL 14 OF THE
CENTER AIRBAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY. ONLY WHEN THE IGNITION SW IS ON DOES, CURRENT FROM THE IGN FUSE FLOWS TO
TERMINAL 13"

any additional info is gladly appreciated.

What is "accent light bulb"?
First I think you should read the code to know whats wrong with it.

More info I found here: manual

The airbag ECU is under the center console, if you want to check that. You CAN NOT unplug it while the battery is hooked up, otherwise the airbag will go off. And that's a whole load of other problems. Disconnect the battery before proceeding.

^ right, what I am really asking is what areas could I check, did I cover them all, I wasn't near my car at the time I posted.

Ok, so I just looked at the manual provided by edvatronas, it appears the sensor is right where I was changing my accent light. What happened yesterday was I changing the accent bulb, and the bulb fell inside, I used an antenna type magnet to curve in to reach in and get the LED bulb. I got it pulled out without have to remove the bumper, and lights, etc.. Will a magnet damage an air bag sensor? or perhaps it got loose?

or how do i reset the code but I need the picture of what to jump connectors.

This post has been edited by trdproven: Apr 1, 2010 - 6:07 PM

To reset the codes pull the EFI fuse in the fuse box under the hood for a few minutes (with your car off) and it should reset. You might have to put your ignition in the ON position, without actually starting it.

I posted how to reset the code... let me see if I can find the post, I'll copy and paste it in here. It's pretty easy actually. You'll need two paper clips and 2 wires that will reach from the strut tower where you'll need to ground them to the diagnostics box.

Found it. Will edit in a sec w/diagrams as to which terminal is which.

CLEARING CODES
1) At DLC, connect a jumper wire to terminal Tc. See Figs. 11
and 12. Connect another jumper wire to terminal AB. Turn ignition
switch to ACC or ON position. Wait about 6 seconds.
2) Starting with terminal Tc, apply body ground alternately
to terminal Tc and terminal AB twice each, in cycles of 1/2 to 1 1/2
seconds (sequence is: Tc, AB, Tc, AB). Finally, keep applying body
ground to terminal Tc until air bag warning light flashes quickly,
indicating codes are cleared.
NOTE: When alternately connecting jumper probes to terminals,
simultaneously release one probe from one terminal while
connecting other probe to other terminal. If time interval
between probings exceeds 0.2 second, codes will not clear.

Download the entire PDF here. Otherwise, here are excerpts from the document, detailing diagnostics and how to clear the code.

That is not true. The repair manual does say if you start working on the airbag system within 90 secs of having the car on or disconnecting the battery the airbags may deploy. That is more so while working with the front sensors, airbags and/or wiring. If you disconnect the airbag ECU all together nothing will work let alone the airbags actually deploying.

You should check the code first, then you can clear it to see if goes away or just comes back.

This post has been edited by hurley97: Apr 1, 2010 - 6:51 PM

I also have a 5th gen celica, pulled the cluster without disconnecting the batt., got the light. Tried the paper clip reset with no luck. Go to http://www.celicatech.com, there is a tool you can make with a pill bottle, switch, & small indicator lamp. Easy to make, & worked first time.

I really think I just loosened the front sensor harness or something with the wires cus thats the area I was working at the other day, for people with airbag experience, can I just disconnect the battery, remove and replug the pass side air bag sensor and the code will clear itself if the error is corrected or is the error something that stays on until manually reset by jumping the connectors. Can't I just remove the fuse to reset the code or just by disconnecting the battery? I'm not planning on working on the entire airbag system, just the harness of the pass side air bag sensor area.

Not sure if I got this sequence right, is it
Tc+ground simultaneously, AB+ground simultaneously, Tc+ground simultaneously, AB+ground simultaneously just like a tap on the strut tower each time?

the way i did it was a broke a paper clip in two, put one in each terminal and had a wire grounded on the body with a screw, then i just moved the wire from each protruding paperclip to the next one. i hope that makes sense...

This post has been edited by samir0189: Apr 1, 2010 - 8:29 PM

I finally got the code 53, which means either the center sensor or front pass sensor. I tried disconnecting the battery and replugging in the harnesses but no luck. I tried to clear the code, I do get blinks which should mean it cleared but I still have the steady air bag light on.

Yes but you need to end the sequence with Tc+ground and hold it until the light blinks then goes out. You have to switch very quickly or it wont work.

I am gonna guess the airbag light came on for a reason to begin with... code 53 says

Code 53
Circuits between passenger-side air bag and center air bag
sensor are shorted together; faulty passenger-side air bag; faulty
center air bag sensor.

So I would start by checking the wiring from the passenger airbag and see if anything is melted/frayed/etc?

I am not sure if airbags go bad (beside when they go off), so I'm not sure if the pass air bag would be the problem.....

When my center airbag sensor went bad it gave me code 31, not to mention under EVERY airbag code there is the center air bag sensor is listed as a cause, So I would put the center air bag sensor as the least priority and say that the problem is with the wiring from the airbag has some kinda problem maybe?




Clearing the code it helps to have someone inside the car that can tell you the status of the light. Try it with the paper clip as i mentioned before, one sticking out of each terminal, and then just touch Tc, AB, Tc, AB, then HOLD Tc until the light blinks fast, and if all is well the code should clear... pretty much as soon as you ground one terminal you should be moving to the other terminal, less than a second.

I got it to blink after the last step but the light is still on, I guess this is only a move to do if you actually fix the problem first.

Well, it clears the code, but if you have an actual problem, once you turn off the car and back on again, the code will just come right back. This method is best for figuring out if it's just a phantom code; also, I believe you DO have to actually do this to clear the code once your problem is resolved, so keep the info handy because you'll need it.

When you're clearing the code, what you can do is have the paper clips sticking out of the terminals on the diagnostic box, and use 2 wires that are grounded. You can touch the tc wire first, then the ab and then release the tc, back and forth... in other words they can "overlap" but they cannot be more than like half a second apart or it won't work. Then you touch the TC ground repeatedly (or hold it there) until the light flashes quickly. All of this should be done with the key in the ACC position or it won't work.

i did that but i guess I gotta fix the problem first. it blinked a few times, imma try again though

will the SRS fuse just disable the warning light or the entire air bag system in general?

Thanks for the info all

This post has been edited by trdproven: Apr 2, 2010 - 9:56 PM

Theres a specific airbag warning light fuse in the box under your hood. I pulled mine because im running a GT4 steering wheel w/out an airbag. Even passed safety at Jiffy Lube
This isnt a fix, but itll keep the light from being annoying.

yea but does it disable the air bag system or just the light itself? I rather pull the bulb.