Airbag light inspection at your home or office.

Our certified mechanics come to you · Backed by our 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty · Get a fair and transparent estimate upfront

Air Bag Light is on Inspection Service

An illuminated airbag light means your airbag system is compromised and you are driving without the protection of airbags, which makes this an important light to diagnose promptly.

Multiple variations of the airbag warning light exist. Most vehicles will show the word “Airbag,” the letters “SRS,” or a picture of an airbag deploying. All of these lights mean the same thing: something is malfunctioning with your airbag system.

Primary airbag system components:

The four primary components of the airbag system are the backup battery, impact sensor, clock springs, and airbag module. Each of these is susceptible to issues that can cause the airbag warning light to turn on.

Airbag backup battery:

Airbag deployment is powered by your car’s battery. Because most car batteries are at the front of the vehicle, however, they’re susceptible to damage in the event of a collision. In certain cases an accident can crush the vehicle’s battery before it has time to trigger the airbags. The airbag has a backup battery just for such cases. However, the backup battery is charged by the main battery, so if your car’s battery has been depleted, chances are high that your airbag’s backup battery has been as well. Usually this issue will resolve itself once the car battery has fully charged again, though in some cases a soft-code error will remain even after charging, which will keep the airbag light illuminated.

Impact or crash sensors:

Impact sensors – also known as crash sensors – alert your airbag module when your vehicle is involved in a crash. Your car has many sensors placed in various locations throughout its body, so that impact on any part of the vehicle can be sensed. Upon impact, the crash sensors send a signal to the airbag module to deploy the airbags. If any of the sensors or wires are damaged, the airbag module may not know when to deploy the airbags in the event of an accident.

Clock springs:

The clock springs are responsible for triggering the deployment of the airbag when the module receives a signal from the impact sensors. The clock springs aren’t actual springs, but rather wires that conduct electricity from the module to the airbags in the steering wheel. When the wires become worn or brittle they can become less reliable. The driver’s airbag clock springs are especially susceptible, because they coil in and out to maintain continuity as the steering wheel turns.

This is a more common issue on older vehicles, which have mechanical clock springs that are prone to failure over time. Newer cars have electronic clock springs that are more reliable.

Airbag module:

The module is the computer that controls the functions of the entire airbag system. It receives information from the impact sensors and deploys the airbags via the clock springs in the steering wheel or through a hard wire for passenger or side-curtain air bags. When the module is deactivated or ceases to work, the communication in the system is lost and the airbags will not deploy. Many airbag modules are placed below the seats, making them susceptible to water damage. Even a small amount of moisture can result in corrosion and can render the module inoperable.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Depleted airbag backup battery
  • Damaged impact sensors or wires
  • Worn clock springs (mechanical or electronic)
  • Corroded or shorted airbag module

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to determine the source and cause of the airbag issue, and will then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.

How it's done:

The mechanic will scan the car for error codes and carefully check the entire airbag system for problems.

How important is this service?

Driving with the airbag light on isn’t very likely to cause damage to your vehicle, but your airbags will not deploy in the event of an accident, which makes your car much less safe. When you see the airbag light illuminate, find a safe place to park the car and book a mechanic to perform a thorough diagnosis.

Fast and easy Air Bag Light is on Inspection service at your home or office.


Recent Air Bag Light is on Inspection reviews

Excellent Rating

(26)

Rating Summary
20
3
0
1
2
20
3
0
1
2

Maxwell

19 years of experience
390 reviews
Maxwell
19 years of experience
Chevrolet HHR L4-2.4L - Air Bag Light is on - Humble, Texas
He is a great mechanic very friendly and had alot of knowledge of my car. The repair was great and works good. I would definitely recommend him on any repair.

Patrick

34 years of experience
1579 reviews
Patrick
34 years of experience
Hyundai Sonata V6-3.3L - Air Bag Light is on - Austin, Texas
Had a wonderful experience. Greatest thing that he did not try to scare me with repairs to sell service which is very common at shops. Made my day.

Matthew

34 years of experience
1438 reviews
Matthew
34 years of experience
Hyundai Sonata L4-2.4L - Air Bag Light is on Inspection - Hampton, Virginia
By far the best experience I have had when servicing a vehicle. I chose this company because of convenience, and will use again because of the outstanding service. Matthew was able to diagnose and correct my vehicles issue while parked in my driveway. He took the time to explain the issue and was extremely professional. I will definitely be referring him and this company to friends and look forward to using them in the future.

Tom

43 years of experience
205 reviews
Tom
43 years of experience
Saturn Vue V6-3.5L - Air Bag Light is on - San Jose, California
This is the first time I have used Your Mechanic and I am impressed. Tom had all of the diagnostic tools at hand and quickly found the fault. Repairs and parts were not required, simply a reset. Before he left, he did a thorough once-over of the brake pads, engine compartment, oil level, tire air pressure, and checked for leaks. Tom is a very personable guy...

Recent articles & questions

How to Find a Custom Cover for Your Car
For For those without the benefit of a temperature-controlled garage or other storage space for our vehicles, car covers can serve as a useful substitute to preserve both the paint and body of a vehicle. Deciding what cover to buy...
Why Axle Seal Replacements Can Be Tricky
Changing the axle seal on a vehicle can be challenging, as it may involve working on the engine and transmission to complete the service.
How to Troubleshoot a Parking Brake or Emergency Brake That Won't Engage
Emergency brakes won't engage if the parking brake lever or pedal is out of adjustment or there are worn brake shoes or brake pads.

What causes play in the steering?

There are mechanical components inside the steering system that do tend to wear over time and you may notice a little extra play over a period of time. Usually this feeling comes from worn inner or outer tie rods. The...

Reversing sensors not working and reversing camera intermittent

Hi there. Depending on your camera setup on your vehicle, most of the wires has sensor tied in the main harness of the system along with the fuses. If the sensor is not clicking, then first check the fuse and...

Grinding

Hello, thank you for writing in. A grinding noise when turning can come from the mechanical linkage that allows your steering wheel to turn the tires, or it can come from the hydraulic system that assists you in turning. Start...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com