Passenger side airbag module

[mikedamageinc]

My air bag light started flashing recently and the code is for passenger side air bag module. The only thing I can find is just a generic "passenger side control module" which doesnt say specifically air bag but I assume it covers that. Does anyone know for sure? Pic attached

TIA

[VStar650CL]

What you're looking at is the OCS Controller, which weighs the passenger so the Bag Brain can deploy the bags correctly. It has nothing to do with the "Side Airbag", which on your M is situated inside the seatback on the outboard frame rail.

[VStar650CL]

Detailed information on your SRS system here:
https://www.nicoclub.com/service-manual ... %2FSRC.pdf

[mikedamageinc]

What you're looking at is the OCS Controller, which weighs the passenger so the Bag Brain can deploy the bags correctly. It has nothing to do with the "Side Airbag", which on your M is situated inside the seatback on the outboard frame rail.

Yea I meant passenger side - airbag. So is that the module that controls the airbag system for passenger?

[VStar650CL]

No, that module simply weighs the passenger so the Bag Brain ("Diagnosis Sensor Unit" in the manual) can decide which bags to deploy and how to deploy them if you crash. It has zero control over any airbag, that's the Bag Brain's job. The Brain is underneath your center console aft of the shifter.

I should note that side airbag problems on practically any Nissan/Infiniti sedan are almost always due to fatigued or broken wiring someplace between the seat connector and the bag.

[mikedamageinc]

Thanks, Sounds like the "Diagnosis Sensor Unit" controls all airbags right? Since the code specifically calls out passenger I'm still leaning towards the module under passenger seat.

[VStar650CL]

Thanks, Sounds like the "Diagnosis Sensor Unit" controls all airbags right?

Correct.

Since the code specifically calls out passenger I'm still leaning towards the module under passenger seat.

Positively not. The OCS will not cause bag codes. You're barking up the wrong tree.

[mikedamageinc]

Looks like it's the sensor in the seat, which can only be fixed by replacing the seat bottom, or getting an airbag360 bypass module. B1018 occupancy sensor

[VStar650CL]

You said the code was "side airbag". When you give wrong info you get wrong answers.

[mikedamageinc]

You said the code was "side airbag". When you give wrong info you get wrong answers.

I said passenger side airbag, you read it wrong, I explained it in my second post. You missed it twice and still that wasn't even the issue.

[VStar650CL]

My air bag light started flashing recently and the code is for passenger side air bag module.

Your quote, very first sentence in your first post.

[VStar650CL]

And "passenger side airbag" means the bag in the seat. Your code says OCS Control, which has ZIP to do with the side airbag. So until you know what you're talking about, please don't be an a**.

[mikedamageinc]

Passenger side as opposed to driver side, not sure why you're so stuck on this. If I said the passenger side headlight went out, you would say "there's not a headlight on the side of the car" lol

[VStar650CL]

Because you're using wrong terminology and insisting it's right. The OCS controller does not control the Side Airbag (or even the Front Airbag) on the passenger side. It doesn't control any airbags, it weighs the front passenger. So calling an OCS code a "side airbag" code in any fashion is, to paraphrase Lincoln, calling a tail a leg. Read the manual, learn something, and stop confusing anyone who reads this in the future. Then maybe next time you post, correctly identifying the parts and codes involved will get you a correct answer.

Now please, don't be an a**. Good day.

[mikedamageinc]

OMG why are you like this? Who hurt you?

You can't tell the difference between airbag module on the passenger side and side airbag, never did i refer to a side airbag. You read it wrong and refuse to admit it.

My original question was what does the module under the passenger seat control, does it control the airbag or seat heat/vent, etc?

You also said OCS won't cause a code and you were also wrong about that

[VStar650CL]

1) OCS doesn't control anything, it weighs the passenger.


2) There's nothing to misread or misunderstand, you called the same tail the same leg twice, the second time after I explained that the OCS and side airbags are unrelated:

My air bag light started flashing recently and the code is for passenger side air bag module.

Yea I meant passenger side - airbag. So is that the module that controls the airbag system for passenger?

3) I said, specifically, that the OCS will not cause BAG codes. All OCS systems throw their own discrete codes which have nothing to do with the airbags. Only the Bag Brain throws BAG codes. So when you ignorantly described your OCS code as a "side airbag" code, well -- stupid assertions win stupid prizes. Congratulations.

The OCS will not cause bag codes.

4) If you're butt-hurt about using the wrong terms because you didn't know anything about the subject, next time try posting the actual code instead of an inaccurate description. We have a saying in the shop, that, "When Harry Backyard gets involved, the answer won't be found in the service manual." Sadly, that's you.

Good day.

[mikedamageinc]

You came in here to help and I appreciate that, you've got a lot of posts helping other people too which I also appreciate so I'm not trying to start anything. That being said things are difficult to discuss on a message board as opposed to in person where a conversation would have got this thing hashed out pretty quick. But it's important for anyone reading and posting to understand the limitations and possible misunderstandings that may occur. I don't know how I could have made it more clear other than saying "passenger side" <break> "airbag" or airbag on the passenger side. Also I didn't have the code at the time of first post.

Regardless, I know I type much more coherent than many on forums so no reason to keep on me about it. You can always start your own forum and only allow preplanned phrases approved by you. And since I told you that I can understand your side but you refuse to see mine, there is nothing else to say.

[ibc]

Yesterday, my M56x passenger side airbag warning light came on. Yikes! That's bad. I don't know why it came on? I wonder if perhaps it was related to continuous 10+hr usage of the seat heater? (long drive) But the airbag warning light came on 3 days later, soon after a car wash, and the warning light stayed on. I don't have a SRS code reader. The owners manual & factory service manual both basically say that "you're doomed, and only Infiniti can help you". (ie, ka-ching!)

Did we melt the seat heater electrical connectors (see heated-seats-not-working-t596818.html)? Nope, I removed the seat and the underside looks perfect.

Googling for "what causes airbag warning in Infiniti 2011" we discovered a hidden gem. You can reset your airbag warning light, without tools, in about 1 minute. An ignition button sequence is all it takes.

See
and

It worked! Now the airbag warning light is off. Whew!

I dunno what else this magical button sequence does. Do you?

[ibc]

Oops! It came back ON! Help!

The Passenger AirBag Light (PABL) came ON again, as soon as sweetie sat in her seat. Reset again didn't help; it keeps coming back ON. It likely is related to the occupancy sensor itself, or it could be the wiring, or maybe the occupancy control board. Who knows? I really am doomed.

I wish I could manually override the occupancy sensor, and have the airbag always activated. We never have children in this car.

Has anyone solved this PABL problem on a M37/M56?
I found almost no useful info out there.
It would be a shame to junk this car due to a PABL.

The Infiniti FSM offers no details, and just insists the whole seat bottom be replaced as a single assembly. I don't even know what part has gone bad. I don't have an code reader that reads SRS or live data (eg, passenger weight) from seat sensors. Underneath our seat looks pristine to me, so it's likely electrical part malfunction. Reading about this issue for other Infiniti models (Q50/Q60) seems to indicate that dealers tend to give up immediately, and go nuclear by replacing the entire seat bottom, for $4K min. That's crazy $$. But Infiniti has discontinued the seats, so that dealership option is gone now. Only a used seat bottom can solve it, maybe, I hope.

But I can't find any (new or used) replacement seat that matches my M56. Mine has premium leather seats, in a light grey color. Where can I find a replacement?

Aside: I found that Q50/Q60 models have a different kind of occupancy sensors -- a pair of small 2" ones bolted to the seat rails. But the M37/M56 sensor is different; it seems to be just a single huge seat-sized pad that's somehow attached (glued?) to the inside of the leather seat. Maybe that's why Infiniti replaced the leather along with the sensor, but why do they also insist on replacing the seat rails? Perhaps labor costs?

Any ideas?

[mikedamageinc]

I solved the problem with a module from airbag360. Piece of cake to install, then unplug the seat belt sensor so it won't light up every time the passenger seat is empty. But don't ever let a small child sit in the front seat, 13 and older only for safety. The real fix is get another passenger side seat...oops I mean a passenger seat, that is on the passenger side. Don't want anyone thinking I mean the side seat of the passenger or something goofy like that

[ibc]

How does this AIrbag360 gadget affect the fasten-seatbelt warning light?
Is it always on, with or without an adult passenger?
Do you get any trouble codes now?

The biggie:
Will the car still pass state safety inspection?
Are any other actions still needed to pass state inspection?

Edit: I placed an order for the Airbag360 gadget. :-)

[mikedamageinc]

It will pass safety inspection and yes airbag always on. The module basically tells the car someone is always in the seat which is why it will illuminate the passenger side seat belt light...oops again I mean seat belt light for the passenger side as opposed to driver side, definitely not the side seat beat for the passenger because that doesn't exist. Sorry to be so wordy but some people get confused by words

[VStar650CL]

It will only pass inspection if the inspector doesn't notice that the airbag is armed with nobody in the seat. In most states where they check codes, there also need to be "no obvious malfunctions".

Sorry to be brief, but some people get confused by reality.

[ibc]

I installed the Airbag360 passenger occupancy sensor bypass, which tells the car that the seat is occupied by an adult. Now the passenger airbag remains ON always, which is great for us. And no blinking dashboard airbag light. Yay! But the fasten seatbelt light is on, when there's nobody sitting there. Hmm, maybe I need to use a dummy seatbelt plug?

For passing safety check, I may have to temporrily reconnect the OEM part, and let the pass. airbag light come on?
Or just hope the mechanic doesn't mind that the passenger's seatbelt light is on?



This is where it plugs in:

[mikedamageinc]

You have to unplug the seat belt sensor. It unplugs right below the passenger seat belt receiver

[ibc]

You have to unplug the seat belt sensor. It unplugs right below the passenger seat belt receiver

OK I did that, and the annoying dashboard light is gone. Yay.
And the passenger airbag remains enabled. Whew!

Thanks for making this post Mike, It saved our car. Otherwise we'd sadly have to junk it. The Infiniti dealership told me $9K to replace the passenger seat, but doubted he could even get one since it's been discontinued.

[mikedamageinc]

You have to unplug the seat belt sensor. It unplugs right below the passenger seat belt receiver

OK I did that, and the annoying dashboard light is gone. Yay.
And the passenger airbag remains enabled. Whew!

Thanks for making this post Mike, It saved our car. Otherwise we'd sadly have to junk it. The Infiniti dealership told me $9K to replace the passenger seat, but doubted he could even get one since it's been discontinued.

Glad you got it sorted! Personally I'm still keeping an eye on the local yards so I can get a seat bottom and make it work like original but if I don't find one it won't bother me too much