Hey, guys. I'm getting ready to sell my 02 civic EX, and about a month ago the SRS light came on. It's a 4 door D17a2 single-cam 16V VTEC, no side curtain airbags. Issue just started at 199800 miles. I pulled codes and only got 1-1 "increased resistance" in driver's side airbag inflator. I was able to reset the light at first, but it's slowly started to come back on or not reset.


I started out thinking it was a voltage issue because it happened when I started then immediately shut off the car and left the AC fan running for a minute. I started to leave work, got a call, pulled back into the space, left the lights and AC fan on for a 2-minute phone call, then had the light come on. Car started without issue, but it seemed to be fine if my AC was off. So I got the battery tested and replaced. Alternator was only holding 12.6V at idle with Max AC and high beams on when the car was hot (read over 13.5V when cold), so I put in a new one and get 14.1V in the same situation..... Not fixed.

I thought maybe the clockspring (cable reel), but I disconnected the battery then the 2 connectors on the column on each side of the clockspring and it looked good. All 4 contacts through the clockspring had 0-0.1 Ohms resistance. The airbag inflator read 2-4 ohms on all leads, but I think my battery in my multimeter might be almost low enough to warn me to replace the battery. No warning light yet, but I had a feeling. I turned the wheel with the probes on the clockspring with and without the airbag hooked up and had the same readings.



What is the ideal resistance range for the airbag inflator? I don't think these airbags were replaced under the Shrapnel recall, but I'm not sure where the metal VIN tag is under the hood to check. I'm starting to think this is a false code....

Any help?

 

https://itstillruns.com/read-vin-num...c-5828313.html

 

wat?

I know most of the locations for a VIN tag. The vehicles that had their airbags replaced are supposed to have a punch mark added to an existing *metal* VIN tag. It definitely isn't the one that's 1/2 inch from the windshield.

 

Solution:

Turns out I did not read the codes right. The code was 9-3 = bad driver's seatbelt sensor. I removed the 3-pin plug under the seat and jumpered pins 1 and 3 (Black to Green. Center pin is for Unbuckled)so the SRS module things the seatbelt is always installed. I'm never going to drive with my seatbelt off because I'm not an idiot, so not an issue... but the dealership offered to cover it. They said it's "vin specific", which sounds like the different styles matter. I found a used one for $49 on eBay, and the dealer source has an indefinite back-order for the part.

I want to sell this car ASAP, so I might just buy a used one and install it so I can sell it right away.