Acura Airbag Light Stays On

If your ACURA AIRBAG light is on, there is a problem with the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). This means one or all airbags may NOT deploy if you are involved in an accident.

At a Glance

Read the SRS codes first; the code names the circuit at fault.
Common Acura causes: seat belt buckle or seat wiring, occupant sensor, clock spring, a weak battery.
Disconnect the battery and wait before working on any airbag part.
Check your VIN for open airbag recalls.
Clear the codes after the repair and confirm the light goes out.

To find out why your Acura airbag light is on, use a YOUCANIC UCAN-II Pro to read the fault codes from the SRS control module.

Common Causes

Acura airbag light may come on due to:

low battery voltage
previous accident
damaged clock spring
wire harness
damaged crash detection sensors
passenger occupancy sensor faulty

What does the ACURA airbag light mean?

If the airbag light is on, your car will run and drive fine. However, if you get into an accident, the airbags may not deploy to protect you and your passengers. Having working airbags can mean the difference between life and death.

You must read codes from the airbag module to determine why the Acura airbag light is on. Fault codes will provide descriptions of why the airbag light is on. You can determine if this is a repair you can perform yourself or call various auto mechanics for a quote.

How to Diagnose ACURA Airbag Light

What you will need

Acura Honda Airbag OBD2 Scanner

Procedure

Follow these instructions to read the Acura airbag light and related fault codes.

Under your ACURA dashboard, you will find the Onboard Diagnostic port, the OBD-II port. All 1996 and newer ACURA have this port.
Plug the OBD2 scanner into the 16-pin OBD2 port. Note that the port is trapezoid and allows the scanner to plug only in one way.
Turn on the ignition. Do not start the engine. If your ACURA has a START/STOP button, press this button without pressing the brake pedal.
Allow your ACURA airbag scanner to power on. The scanner should turn on once the ignition is turned on or to position II. Once the scanner is fully powered on, select ACURA from the menu.
Follow the promptings on the diagnostic scanner to scan ACURA airbag fault codes. If the codes you retrieve are NOT present, you can erase them. Otherwise, you must fix the ACURA airbag problem and erase the fault codes.

If your Acura airbag light is on and there is a stored code in the airbag module, you can use a scanner to clear the code as long as no other codes are present.

If you are reading the codes and your scanner shows no code related to the airbag light, you most likely are using a scanner that cannot diagnose the Acura airbag system.

Important Notes

Always disconnect the battery when working in the restraint system.
If removing any airbags, handle them with care. Keep airbags two feet away from your body at all times, even during removal.

Can I reset the airbag light by disconnecting the battery?

No. Airbag codes cannot be reset by disconnecting the battery.

How soon will an airbag code return?

If you haven’t fixed the problem that triggered the airbag light or the fault code status is current, the airbag light will return immediately or at restart.

Can I use a generic OBD2 scanner to erase the airbag light on my car?

No. The Generic OBD2 scanner, or what we refer to as Level 1 OBD2 scanners, can only access the Engine Control Module (ECU) and not the Supplemental Restraint System where airbag codes are stored. To clear airbag codes, you need a YOUCANIC UCAN-II Pro.

Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your Acura.

Acura Airbag Light Stays On

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