Mercedes-Benz C-Class Remove or Replace the Airbag

Is your Mercedes-Benz airbag light on due to a faulty airbag? Learn how to fix the problem by replacing the airbag of your Mercedes-Benz. Always make sure to follow safety procedures while working on airbags. Accidental deployment of airbags can result in injury or death if not taking proper safety precautions.

What you will need

Tools

• T25 Torx bit
• Professional OBDII Scan Tool

Parts

• Replacement Airbag for a Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Procedure

1. Start by disconnecting the battery by removing the negative terminal and letting the car discharge any current for fifteen minutes or more. Be sure to stay as far away from the airbag as possible while working on it.
2. Locate the two holes on the rear of the steering wheel. Insert a Torx bit and loosen the two bolts inside the holes. On newer models of Mercedes, the airbag is held in by clips. A flathead screwdriver can be inserted into the holes to press the tabs and pull the airbag out.
3. Carefully pull the airbag away from the steering wheel, do not yank the airbag, it is still connected with wiring to the steering wheel. Push the airbag up and away from you so that you can get to the electrical connector and have the airbag safely face away from you.
4. Remove the brown and yellow electrical connectors from the center of the steering wheel by squeezing the plastic tabs outside the connector and pulling it out of the steering wheel.
5. Handle the airbag with caution while removing it. Remember to keep it away from your body and store it safely.
6. Reverse the procedure when installing a new airbag, connect the battery and reset the airbag module with an OBDII scan tool that can do so. After the module is reset, the airbag light should go away. You are done!

Use a specific airbag scan tool for Mercedes; mostly, generic OBD-II scanners can not reset the airbag light. You can use the YOUCANIC Full System Scanner to reset the airbag module. This scanner also can read and clear fault codes through every Mercedes-Benz control module.

It is important to diagnose whether or not the airbag needs to be replaced. There are many different problems other than just the airbag being faulty that can cause an airbag to light on the dash. Below are some examples.

Was my airbag previously deployed?

If the airbag light is on and the airbag has been previously deployed, it is possible it was replaced and the system was not reset. It is also possible the airbag light is on for various reasons discussed above, and that issue needs to be fixed instead. A diagnosis can be made with a professional OBDII scan tool. Use a scan tool to see what codes are stored in the airbag module and try doing a reset on the system.

Vehicle Applications

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021

Symptoms

Common causes of the airbag light:

• Blown fuses
• Airbag deployed
• Water damage to the airbag
• Faulty airbag sensors
• Faulty clockspring
• Discharged airbag battery
• Faulty passenger weight sensor

Also, remember that if an airbag was deployed from a crash, the impact sensors may have been tripped and need to be replaced and the airbag module reset. You can tell if an impact sensor has been tripped and read the codes stored in an airbag module with a professional OBDII scan tool.

We hope you find the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Remove or Replace the Airbag guide helpful. Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your Mercedes-Benz.