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Recurring SRS light issue
Sent to Car Experts June 27 12:03 AM

I recently purchased a 2002 Honda Civic EX Sedan. As soon as I got it home, the SRS light came on. I took it to the dealer and they said it was a seatbelt tensioner and replaced it at no charge. a week later, it came on again for the same reason and they fixed it again. 3 Days later, it came on again and this time they said it can't be the same issue and it was probably electrical interference from my cell phone and simply reset the code.   Later that day, it came on again totally unprovoked. They said they may have to replace the SRS computer which may not even fix the problem/ What should I do?

 

Optional Information:
2002 Honda Civic 3 Cyl

Already Tried:
3 trips to dealership, resetting SRS light manually from web tutorial

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $15
Answer
June 27 4:04 AM (4 hours and 59 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
Here is how to actually extract the SRS trouble codes from your Honda without a scantool. Set the ignition off, install jumper wire on pins 4 and 9 of
OBD2 diag connector. Turn Key to On, Engine OFF (When all the dash lights are active just before the spring loaded start position. watch SRS light. light will then
give main code (long flash) then sub code (short flash) for
instance, code 7-2 will be seven long flashes then two
short flashes. module will store up to three codes.
to
clear codes? thats another story. remove cover below
steering coloumn, on interior fuse panel above fuses you
will see a bunch of connectors plugged into fuse box. there
is one yellow connector with 2 wires in it. unplug this
yellow connector. install a 12 inch wire on each term of
connector (makes following procedure easier) pinch wires
together shorting connector. turn on ignition. SRS light
will come on for 6 sec then go out. within 4 seconds of
light going out unpinch wires opening connector. light will
come back on and within 4 sec pinch wires together again
shorting connector again. when light goes out open circuit
again within 4 sec. when light on again, short conn again
within 4 sec. if done right you should see light make 2
short flashes now. turn key off for 10 sec. codes should be
cleared. BY THE WAY, THE LAST TWO 01,02 CIVICS I HVE REPAIRED ENDED UP NEEDING A NEW SRS MODULE, WHICH COSTS ABOUT $400 IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS. fOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, I HAVE POSTED BOTH A PICTURE OF THE OBD-2 CONNECTOR AND IT'S PIN NUMBERS AS WELL AS THE COMPLETE LIST OF HONDA SRS CODES ON MY BLOG, http://fullthrottleworkshop.spaces.msn.com/
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German Car Expert -- GERMAN DIAGNOSTICIAN -- No feedback on 2 Car accepts
BMW MERCEDES SPECIALIST, ASE L1, CA SMOG LICENSE - SHOP OWNER DIAGNOSTICIAN, CHIPTUNING EXPERT
Reply
June 27 12:19 PM (8 hours and 14 minutes and 32 seconds later)
         
Reply to German Car Expert's Post: I already used a web tutorial to reset the code manually, I was looking more for a strategy of fixing the problem, will I have to replace the SRS computer and if I do, will this solve the problem?
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 27 5:20 PM (5 hours and 59 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
Dear sir,

I suggest you read the last part of my answer once more. The last two Civics I worked on for SRS issues both had existing codes for seatbelt pretensioners. The tensioners tested out perfect. However, swapping out a new SRS module into the same cars, no other parts replaced, did solve the code. You are unfortunately at the long end of diagnosis where, unless you want to get into digital frequency analyzers and logic probing, the factory will say this "REPLACE WITH KNOWN GOOD UNIT". There seems to have been some problem with the original SRS modules synching to the network bus, and although the factory is loath to admit it, the new ones are a "Fix". I would go ahead and replace it, and if it does indeed repair the problem (I am confident it will) , take your invoices back to the honda dealer and talk to them about a refund of the work they did for naught.
Picture
German Car Expert -- GERMAN DIAGNOSTICIAN -- No feedback on 2 Car accepts
BMW MERCEDES SPECIALIST, ASE L1, CA SMOG LICENSE - SHOP OWNER DIAGNOSTICIAN, CHIPTUNING EXPERT
Reply
June 27 5:41 PM (21 minutes and 23 seconds later)
         
Relist: I want a different opinion.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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