636lover

Hello, I bought my 99 Civic EX a few weeks ago from a dealership. The SRS light was on continuously and had been on for who knows how long since it was a trade-in. The salesman said they didn't know why it was on.

My boyfriend and I took the car to his friend's shop and hooked it up to his diagnostic computer. We couldn't get the car to throw a code so the computer couldn't tell us anything.

Yesterday I took out the dash (carefully) and replaced 1 or 2 of the illumination bulbs that were out behind the fuel and temp gauges. The car was off and the key out while I did this and nothing was forced. Now when I turn the car on the SRS light is the only one that DOESN'T come on at all!

Since then I've checked the fuse (fine), disconnected the battery (nothing changed), and taken the cluster back out to check it again.

Code manuals say if the bulb doesn't come on at all it's a "Faulty SRS Indicator Circuit." But I can't find anything online on how to fix this. Could the SRS led bulb be blown, will I have to buy another cluster, and how could replacing those bulbs mess up the SRS light when it can't even be reached from where the other bulbs are?

Former User

The bulb could be blown. Swap the SRS bulb with a known good bulb to check.

If the bulb is good, make sure it makes good contact with the circuit board and verify that it gets battery voltage.

Make sure the SRS connector at the rear of the cluster is fully seated.

When you get the SRS light working again, pull the SRS codes using the method described in the Codes sticky.

636lover

Thanks for the response. I can't seem to find info anywhere online but is the SRS light an actual removable bulb that twists out like the rest or an led bulb that will require soldering? Also does anyone have any diagrams or instructions on how to get to the bulb.

Former User

You're right. My mistake. The SRS light is on the printed circuit board.

It gets voltage on the yellow wire at F5 in the SRS cluster connector.

It gets ground on the black wire at F3 in the SRS cluster connector.

Start by checking those.

636lover

Thanks for all your help! My SRS light is now back on (which is actually a good thing.)

Turns out the SRS bulb was just blown. After being on for so long the filament was weakened and it just broke from the vibrations of me taking out the cluster the first time. Fortunately the bulb is not an led it's the same as the small bulbs with the black bases that twist into place used for the other warning lights (CEL, low fuel, trunk open, etc.) it's just hidden in a tricky spot under the tach face. Mine say Toshiba V-2 on them.

I did have one issue. the tachometer needle came out smoothly when i was taking the face off but upon putting it back the tach doesn't read like it's supposed to . But I guess I'd rather have that broken then not be able to troubleshoot my SRS system.

Former User

Good to know. What SRS codes did you recover?

636lover

The only code being thrown is 1-1 "Open in driver's airbag inflator". Trying to find what steps to take next about it.

636lover

For anyone else who might stumble across this post looking for a solution.

My SRS code is finally cleared! My boyfriend and I disconnected the battery and removed the driver's airbag completely last night.

We were originally checking for any visible problems like loose wires, etc but when we hooked everything back up and erased the code the SRS light went off! Apparently the plug had just wiggled loose after all these years. I was thisclose to ordering one on ebay. I can't imagine what the stealership would have charged to "fix" that

Also my tachometer needle is back to reading correctly since I (stupidly) popped it off to change the SRS bulb. Maybe having the battery disconnected for so long "reset" the gauge. Driven 25-30 miles today already and both the light and needle are still fine.

darkmentality

By any chance do you know what bulb type it is for the SRS indicator, casue my bulb was removed from a dumb previous owner cause he didn't know how to bypass the SRS system.

636lover

darkmentality, don't know the exact name or part number for the bulb (if you were going to order one or something like that) but like I said above the SRS bulb and base is the EXACT same one used for the other indicator lights.


Cheapest way is to go to a salvage yard (I went to Pull-A-Part) and pull a whole bunch of those bulbs + the bases out of a compatible car to use.

Chochx11

I don't know why I'm having such a hard time trying to find where the SRS Bulb goes it was taken out I see where it's supposed to go I just don't know how to replace it I can't find one single video on it only on how to reset the thing but I need to find a way to put the bulb in so I can pull a code. this car has officially drove me nuts I need to get this bulb in so I can pull the code to get this thing inspected please help me

muellersfan

What car do you have?

Chochx11

95 Honda Civic ex .. I'm literally losing my **** lol I feel so stupid.

muellersfan

Remove the SRS assembly in the cluster. The bulb should be inside the assembly.

Chochx11

Thank you so much.. found it got it in.. Reading as 5-1. The cord under the seats have been cut from the seat. Will that cause it to read bad?

Chochx11

Do you know if there should be a connection under the passenger seat for the air bag?

muellersfan

There is no connection there

muellersfan

Erase the code from the SRS unit. If the code returns, replace the SRS unit.