2001 Accord 4 door EX 4cyc:
My pass seat air bag went off when the PO TAPPED the rear end of a passing car when he was pulling out into the street. Only the seat side airbag went off. Nothing else airbag wise. No one was sitting in the pass seat at the time. Another airbag has since be installed into the seat
The dealer says that a new control unit is 800 installed.
They say they wont be able to get codes off the current control unit and that it is no longer any good.
They said only way to get codes for any other issues from the deployment is to put a NEW unit in and it will catch any codes for things that may need to be addressed.
I was under the impression that the current control unit could just be reset.
Could I take a unit out of another Accord ex from 1998-2002 that has the same set up as mine? I have junk yard access to I think a 1999 or 2000 accord ex, just just like my car. Other then being cloth seats the car is the same and while I would be risking that that cars airbag system may have issues I suspect it is ok. Nothing has been deployed, car all orig.

 

are there numbers or the like on the UNIT that if I found one in the same car with the same amount of airbags, that cars unit would have the same numbers?
I know there is a accord just like mine airbag amount wise, seats, etc.
The control unit is directly under the forward center council?

 

if I put a control unit in the car that is not correct I assume I will just get warning lights, no bags will GO OFF. ha ha ha

 

would the 1999 say through 2002 have all the same things in the airbag system if the car has the same amount of airbags mine has? The seat belt igniter and the sensors? Is there a sensor in the engine area I need to replace?

 

can I get it out with out removing the complete center concil?

 

any airbag experts left on this site?

 

Airbag or SRS control units become defective when they deploy. In the event of a collision, all circuitry available is used to guarantee deployment of the air bags, rendering the module useless. A new module will need to be installed to verify the condition and fitness of any remaining airbags and control switches.

As long as the replacement SRS unit has the same part number and revision, you can safely use it so long as it has not deployed previously. As long as the sensors and air bag count and locations match, it should work given the previous restriction.

The center console needs to be removed to access the SRS unit, and is quite easy to perform. If you do not know how, a Haynes manual or factory repair manual will go a long way. If you do not have experience restoring a restraint system, educate yourself first. This is one system you do not want to take shortcuts on to fix. Your risking your life doing so.

 

Thanks for chiming in. What sensors should I be looking for? Is there one in the front of the car that needs replaced as the hit however freaking small was on the front TIP of the front fender, did not even get the bumper. Is there one on the core support that needs changed out.
I know there is a car in the junk yard that has the front airbags and side seat airbags as mine. I assume that car would have what I have been told are igniters (?) for the seat belts and a sensor in the pass seat? No one was even in the pass seat when the driver had the incident.

 

So there is a belt buckle sensor in my car? In the female end? Where is the ignitor thing also on the seat belts? There is a seat sensor also?
I am thinking of just grabbing the whole seat out of a car for the seat stuff, how to I get to the igniter stuff????

 

very hard to find video or info on these things.

 

There is a ton of information in the Service Manual.