If you own a Honda Civic, you already know the SRS light is on the dashboard. It’s critical to understand what it implies and how to reset it. This blog post will explain what the SRS light on a Honda Civic represents and how to reset it.
The SRS light will let you know which supplemental restraint system you are using. An airbag light indicates a deployed airbag. An SRS light indicates a problem with the system. I recommend checking the fuse for the SRS unit. The only way to prevent this is by using a scanning tool.
- What Does SRS Light Mean On Honda Accord?
- What Would Cause The SRS Light To Come On?
- How Do I Fix SRS Light On Honda Accord?
- 1. Switch on and off your ignition
- 2. Restart your vehicle and do a test drive
- 3. Examine the passenger’s airbag switch
- 4. Make sure the seatbelts are fastened and working correctly by doing an inspection
- 5. Use a scanner with a reset button for the airbag or SRS light
- 6. Check to see if the sensor for the passenger seat is off
- 7. Repair or substitute a faulty clock spring
- 8. Repair faulty airbag sensors
- 9. Verify that the airbag is operational
- How To Replace The SRS Unit?
- Can You Drive With The SRS Light On?
- Conclusion
What Does SRS Light Mean On Honda Accord?
A Honda Civic is a vehicle produced by the Honda Corporation. The manufacturer’s corporation is where the name comes from. Supplemental Restraint Systems, or SRS, are included with Honda Accords and allow the airbag to be deployed in the event of an accident.
The Supplemental Restraint System light, or SRS light, is a safety feature in your car. When the indicator illuminates, it denotes an issue with one of the car’s airbags. However, a breakdown in this mechanism after an accident could prevent the airbag from inflating as intended.
It will notify you if there is a problem with the system. An SRS failure, for instance, will be shown by the dashboard’s yellow “SRS” light.
What Would Cause The SRS Light To Come On?
The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) light should turn on briefly once the ignition is turned on. The light should then go out after that. If the light is on consistently, there is a problem with the SRS system.
The light could be caused by a broken control module or clock spring. One of the most prevalent issues with vehicles similar to yours is the seat occupant sensor. Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) are issued for this problem because it is frequently encountered.
Several typical issues can trigger Honda airbag lights:
1. Dead SRS backup PC battery
The SRS computer requires an additional battery to store received data. The battery still works even when the engine is off. The SRS light could come on if the battery is low on power or dead. It is only possible to fix this issue by installing a new battery.
2. Defective clockspring
This electrical hookup is housed inside the steering wheel. Its primary responsibility is maintaining a connection between the rotating wheel and the SRS computer. Yet, this section is frequently mistreated. If it stops working, the driver’s side airbag might not deploy in a collision. Also, the SRS light will alert you to the situation by flashing.
3. Faulty SRS computer
All electrical components deteriorate over time. Like any other computer, the SRS computer is prone to failure. Heat, intense vibration, aging, and water damage are all potential causes of its demise. If the SRS light comes on due to a dead computer, the only option is to replace it.
4. Fault in the passenger seat occupancy sensor
The SRS system is informed if someone is seated in the front seat, thanks to a sensor. It measures weight as well as notifies the sensor if someone is nearby. The passenger airbag will safeguard any adults seated in the passenger seat. The SRS light might come on if the sensor isn’t working correctly.
5. Faulty seatbelt latch
The SRS sensors monitor when the seat belts are buckled. If something has entered the buckle, it can interfere with the connection. To fix the problem, remove anything unique from the seat belt buckle. If nothing is there, blow some compressed air into the buckle.
Other causes include:
- It has been unplugged from the connector
- The wiring harness has damage
- SRS and crash sensors are harmed
- Faulty airbag
- Wire harnesses that are broken or disconnected
- Problems in the connectors
- A blowout of an airbag has occurred
- The battery has expired
- The time-spring pieces
- The SRS module saves a fault following a collision
The airbag system includes numerous sensors in addition to airbags, buckles, and tensioners. Any one of these parts could malfunction. To find out why your Honda airbag light is on, check the fault codes on your SRS / Airbag module.
How Do I Fix SRS Light On Honda Accord?
You’ll need a Honda OBD-II scanner to identify and fix SRS errors, such as Foxwell for Honda. Regrettably, primary code readers cannot be used to troubleshoot or reset Honda airbag signals.
Here’s how to reset the SRS light:
1. Switch on and off your ignition
First, turn the ignition switch on. The airbag light should then come on; it usually does so seven seconds later and stays on until it shuts off automatically. Turn off the ignition switch immediately after three seconds have passed.
Repeat the fundamental steps a few times before starting the engine. If everything is done correctly, the airbag light on your automobile should flash for seven seconds before permanently going off.
2. Restart your vehicle and do a test drive
Start your ignition again before going for a test drive. Once the airbag light stops intermittently flashing, the problem has likely been fixed. If not, finish the other items on this list.
Before starting your automobile again, inspect the electrical system under the driver’s and passenger’s seats. Also, look for any corrosion or loose wires in the connector plug. If not, spritz the connecting plugs with an electronic cleaner.
3. Examine the passenger’s airbag switch
One of the first things to check when turning off the airbag light is the passenger seat airbag on/off button (only present in some vehicles). It could have been unintentionally turned off, leaving the airbag light on. This button often found on the passenger-side dashboard is occasionally visible by opening the glove box or passenger door.
4. Make sure the seatbelts are fastened and working correctly by doing an inspection
As the SRS is worried about occupant security, the airbag light can activate if it notices loose or improperly secured seatbelts. The airbag may be turned off automatically even if a seatbelt isn’t utilized.
Be sure that the proper operation of seatbelts and seat belt sensors is on your list of things to check out. It may surprise you to learn that even seemingly unimportant things like spare coins can cause seat belt sensors to malfunction.
Since coins are regularly put close to the seat belt fasteners, a little bump or pothole might allow a coin to enter the fastener and become caught between the sensor and the buckle. When this happens, the airbag light can activate because the sensor might not recognize that a seat belt is fastened.
Before you replace your sensors, be sure nothing is stuck inside the buckle. Most auto owners underestimate the cost of clearing debris inside the seat belt clasp. The scenario is inverted if your seat belt’s components cannot be changed independently and its sensors are integrated into the belt.
5. Use a scanner with a reset button for the airbag or SRS light
If you’re mechanically minded, consider getting a scanner with SRS functions to reset your airbag light. Just be aware that not all OBD-II accessories can turn the airbag light off automatically. Before purchasing an OBD-II scanner with the capabilities you need, doing some research is a good idea. Check out the top OBD2 scanner lists.
6. Check to see if the sensor for the passenger seat is off
The majority of automobiles have a sensitive passenger weight sensor. With these specific vehicles, the problem is that placing a large container or box on the passenger seat might easily trip the sensors. Hence, the airbag light turns on.
The problem can be solved by removing the item from the passenger seat or fastening the seatbelt. If this resolves the issue, it will demonstrate that the sensor was activated, causing the airbag light to come on.
7. Repair or substitute a faulty clock spring
The clock spring, also known as a spiral cable, coil assembly, contact reel, or cable reel assembly, is a crucial component that, in the event of destruction or damage, may cause the airbag light to illuminate.
A clock spring will cost between $80 and $150 in parts, but a competent mechanic would charge, on average, between $200 and $400 to replace the spring for you. Changing the clock spring yourself can save you money if you use extreme caution and according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Repair faulty airbag sensors
Sensors are crucial to an automobile’s functionality, especially in more modern vehicle makes and models. To begin with, sensors ensure that airbags deploy in the event of a collision.
The SRS is operated by several sensors embedded in various vehicle components, particularly the SRS. Any of these sensors that corrode, fail, or cease working will cause the airbag light to turn on, which you will undoubtedly notice.
On rare occasions, airbag sensors malfunction and unexpectedly deploy without apparent cause. If the vehicle has water damage, it may malfunction and illuminate the SRS light. In some circumstances, the airbag system control unit may have failed. If these occur, the problem might be fixed by swapping out the malfunctioning sensors, control system, or water-damaged parts.
9. Verify that the airbag is operational
Although they are rare, defective airbags do occur. Your inability to turn the airbag light back on could be due to it. If this problem is the root of the problem, you won’t be able to fix it on your own. You must spend a few hundred dollars hiring an expert to help you with this problem. An airbag replacement may cost significantly more than the airbag itself.
They are time-consuming and expensive to replace because they are connected with many other elements. Depending on the kind, model, and complexity of the SRS in your car, replacing an airbag typically costs between $360 and $1,500 without factoring in labor expenses.
Depending on which airbag is damaged, the labor costs change. The driver’s side airbags are more uncomplicated to replace than the side or passenger airbags. So, it costs extra to work on that. Both can be costly, so you wouldn’t want to put them off.
In case anything else fails, you should probably have your car fixed by a professional. The expense of going down this road will be more, but the mechanic will correctly identify what is making your airbag light flash and permanently solve the problem.
How To Replace The SRS Unit?
Due to a malfunctioning SRS device, you might be unable to turn off your SRS light even after resetting it. Before replacing the entire device, make sure all connections are secure. Also, if the SRS light continues to illuminate due to loose connections, this issue can be fixed by tightening the connections.
- Disconnect your battery and wait three to five minutes before replacing your SRS unit. Behind the factory radio, an SRS unit is installed on the floorboard beside the firewall.
- Remove the two side panels and the central console to reach the unit. One screw and one clip are on the driver’s side. Two clips are present on the passenger side.
- Four Torx T30 screws keep the SRS unit screws in place. Using a T30 screwdriver, remove them. There are two screws on the top and two on the sides. Ensure these screws don’t end up in the air conditioning vents.
- Before unplugging the device, be sure all connections are secure. Tightening the connection may remedy the problem without replacing the harness if the SRS light comes on because of a loose harness connection.
- If the battery is now reconnected, the light ought to turn off. If the connections are secure, the SRS light should remain on. Proceed after disconnecting the battery.
- Unplug the three connectors before connecting them to the SRS unit. After that, plug in the replacement device and secure it with the four screws. You should swap out the two side panels and the central console.
- After reconnecting the battery, start the engine. The SRS light shouldn’t turn on again now that it has been turned off.
Can You Drive With The SRS Light On?
You are more likely to sustain severe injuries if you are driving a Honda with the airbag light on when you are in an accident. For your safety, you should thus fix it. When the car has been started for a short while, the SRS light will come on and then go off.
The light would not illuminate or would stay lit when the car was started if one or more SRS components were to malfunction. The first thing that must be advised is to contact a nearby Honda dealer. You might be eligible for free repairs if a non-expiring warranty protects an SRS component.
Conclusion
Even though this technology helps prevent unauthorized deployment of the system, the SRS system in the car may occasionally need to be inspected. If the sensors are broken, the airbags are useless.
If the SRS light suggests a more severe issue, having your local authorized Honda/Acura Expert diagnose the problem is crucial. Keep in mind that your airbag could save your life or the life of someone you care about, so you shouldn’t ignore the light unless you’re positive nothing else could have caused it.