2010 Chevy Equinox Air Bag Service Indicator Light
I don't want to dig through 1000'sof pages of generic problem threads for this one.
2010 4/LT 62,000 miles
All of a sudden I am getting an intermittent air bag service light. The indicator is not constant. It will pop on and stay on sometimes and other times will go out. I can drive a few days with no light, others it will pop on for an hour then go out. It seems more like a loose sensor connection versus air bag defect. I've read elsewhere the indicator has been problematic with older EQs. Before I blow a half day to bring it in, where are the sensor connections? I just want to be sure the connections are tight. Are there any other quick fixes out there?
2010 4/LT 62,000 miles
All of a sudden I am getting an intermittent air bag service light. The indicator is not constant. It will pop on and stay on sometimes and other times will go out. I can drive a few days with no light, others it will pop on for an hour then go out. It seems more like a loose sensor connection versus air bag defect. I've read elsewhere the indicator has been problematic with older EQs. Before I blow a half day to bring it in, where are the sensor connections? I just want to be sure the connections are tight. Are there any other quick fixes out there?
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Comments
I might suspect a connection problem with connector under one of the front seats. Might be loose of potential have some corrosion if it has gotten wet at some point.
Sarah, GM Customer Service
I had a long drive up to Mass and noticed the air bag service light is triggered when I turn the heater temp up to 80 or higher. I was checking under the seats since that is where a few have said there is an airbag sensor. While I didn't see anything that I would consider an airbag sensor, I noticed the heat duct for the rear located under the front seats is positioned to blow directly on yellow electrical connectors that appear to feed power to the seat hydraulics.
Leaving early in the AM on both days I cranked up the heat to 80+ to get things warmed up quickly. Within 20 minutes, the airbag sensor indicator started going on and off. It doesn't stay on, just lights up for a second then goes off. It was doing it about every minute for 3-4 minutes before I turned the temp down to 78. The indicator went off and stayed off.
About an hour later I cranked the heat up again. Sure enough, within 15 minutes the airbag service indicator started coming on and off. This time I changed the fan to dash only, no floor heat. The light went off and stayed off, even at +80 temp. I turned the heat down to 78 and switched back to floor only heat and the service light never came on.
An hour later I tried it again, heat up to 82 directed at the floor only. Bingo, the airbag service light went on for second, then off, repeating every minute of so. I let it come on for 5-6 minutes, the switched back to dash vent only.....it stopped going on. I repeated the settings every 30 minutes and sure enough, every time it was set over 80 the service light came on. The final hour and a half I drove set at 78 on the floor and the light never came on again.
So, I toyed with the heat settings on off over 2 - 4 hour drives. Every time I cranked the heat up to +80 and directed it to floor only, within 15 minutes the airbag service light blinked on and off every minute.
I know the new EQs have highly sensitive electronics, but I would not expect a connector under the seat to have any control over an airbag sensor.
Possibly, there is some form of airbag wiring or sensor that is near the duct work and when that area gets warm it is causing something to expand trigger the indicator light.
This could to be a time consuming service check at Chevy trying to replicate the conditions and I'm not so sure they are going to have an immediate solution unless this one is in their service directives already. Because the airbag system parts and labor are so costly I don't want them to be testing replacement parts at my expense. Maybe this is just a programming issue, but I doubt it.
So, if you happen to read this, I'd appreciate it if you can try to replicate this condition on your 2010-2013 EQ. Set the heat to 82 or more and direct it to the floor only while on a 30-45 minute drive. Yea, it seems like you'll be baking for a while, but I can assure you it doesn't get that hot in the cab.
If there is a known solution, please let me know. For now, I'm just keeping the air temp set to a max of 78 when needing it. Over the 8 hours of driving the indicator light never came on when the set temp was under 80 so I'm not concerned there is a safety issue.
For now, I'm going to try placing something to extend the floor duct past that yellow connector to prevent it from heating up and see if the results change and that connector can be ruled out. It would indicate the source to be the electronics behind the dash.
Comments from GMCustSvc welcome. If a regional tech rep would like to observe, I'm open to it.
Good research! I wish I had some technical information to send your way, but as a customer service representative, I don't have access to that. We'd be happy to get you set up to have this checked into by your dealership for starters - let us know! Our email is socialmedia@gm.com (include your name and contact information, the information you discovered in your post, and the last 8 digits of your VIN).
Sarah, GM Customer Service
I apologize for the issue you are experiencing with your Equinox. I understand how a light displaying intermittently can be frustrating. I see you have worked with your dealer a couple of times in regards to this issue. I would like the opportunity to further discuss your situation with you. Please email us at socialmedia(at)gm.com and include your contact information, VIN, mileage and dealer name and location. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Laura M.
GM Customer Care
There was NC I believe due to mileage 35129 on that date.
Today we took it back in for repair stated on the invoice Customer States air bag light on B001A 04 B001A OD driver pretensioner circuit connector at pretensioner loose and not reading correctly replace connector and retested system OK The charge on this invoice was $101.80 mileage on this invoice was 54489 so I presume the first one was under warranty. So how many more do you think we will have to go back to the dealership how many more $100 invoices will we have - GM Customer Care people help - is there a recall regarding this popular issue?
I have a 2011 Equinox LS...2 days ago I was on a long road trip and all of a sudden the bells started dinging and the SERVICE AIRBAG indicator showed up on my console. It did it all the way from Buffalo, NY to Albany, NY. It would go off for a while, but come back. I called my local Chevy dealer and they can't get me in for a week. I have extended coverage, so I'm hoping this is under warranty as the manual says that there shouldn't need to be any needed service on airbags. Any insights are greatly appreciated.
Hello texan21,
We are sorry to hear of the concerns you experienced during your road trip. I see that you've scheduled an appointment with your dealership for next week. Please keep us updated on your resolution! If any additional assistance is needed please don't hesitate to reach out to us via email at socialmedia@gm.com Attn:Andraya. Thank you!
Andraya R.
GM Customer Care
I had the same problem in the last few weeks. I have a 2011 Equinox with 47,930 miles. It would come on then go off and yesterday it was so frequent it was making me crazy. I took into Ardmore Chevy in Ardmore PA and was EXTREMELY shocked that it wasnt covered by my extented warranty or by CHevy. Had to pay over $200!!. If I didnt fix my air bags mught not work is what I was told. I can't take that chance with my 14 month old daughter in the car. This is a safety issue that shouldnt go bad in general but I've owned my car 3 only years today!!! I've contaced gm DEFINATELY not happy about this!
Hello tweet3409,
We can certainly understand your frustration with unexpected repair costs. I see you mentioned that you have been in touch with GM about this concern. If any additional assistance is needed, you are welcome to reach out to us via email at socialmedia@gm.com Attn:Andraya.
Andraya
GM Customer Care
80,000 Miles now and service light started coming on again. This time I took it in to Chevy since A) there is a service notice now about the seat connector,
this is the same issue subject to 2004-2009 Equinox recalls, and C) it's the same subject of the recent 2010-2014 Traverse recall. In as much as the Chevy engineer blew the approvals for the ignition design, you've got another rogue commanding the seat air bag wiring. Cost me $290 to replace a $29 part that GM should funding.
Just took my 2010 Equinox in for SERVICE AIRBAG
It has a problem with the back hatch opening on its own! The clock is always 5 hours ahead, even after resetting it. I needed a rental because the dealer in Cleveland, OH doesn't know how to fix it. I'm concerned this will be costly as I'm at 57000 miles. Please tell me about the service notice for a seat connector and the recalls for 2004-2009. Can this be covered under recall?
Hi zipadee,
Were you planning to authorize repairs once you get into a rental? We certainly recognize your concerns and we understand that vehicle repairs can pose as an inconvenience. We're sorry if you're having difficulty working with the dealership. If you'd like to private message us your VIN, full contact information and dealership name we would be happy to reach out to your dealership to discuss your situation. We're also available via email at socialmedia@gm.com.
Amber N.
GM Customer Care
Same deal here on my 2011 AWD Equinox. It's the passenger side that's causing it. Comes and goes. If I punch the seat while driving a few times, it clears it. Has a mind of it's own. If it bothers you while driving, Just hit the menu key on the dash. Ringing will stop. Anyhow I knew all along it was a wiring or sensor issue. If the passenger shifts their weight in the seat, that too will set off the air bag alarm.
Andraya
GM Customer Care
Amber N.
GM Customer Care
Amber N.
GM Customer Care
Hi Gametime56,
Very sorry for this! We would be more than happy to look into this further for you and provide the best assistance possible. Please send us an e-mail at socialmedia@gm.com along with your VIN, current mileage, contact information and preferred dealership. We look forward to your response!
Patsy G
GM Customer Care
2008 Equinox. Some small electrical issues, most of which I could repair (e.g., frayed wires in driver door causing radio to play after key out of ignition and driver door open). Months ago passenger side airbag sensor switches randomly between on and off, regardless of who is sitting in the passenger seat or if no one is in the passenger seat.
I emailed gm social media and gm customer care, both of which said I needed to take it to a dealer and pay the $99 diagnostic fee before they could move forward with my case. While I understand that the gm doesn't want to have to cover fees for unknown issues up front, this requirement presents a barrier to issue identification (likely lowering the number of issues they have to document) and service, and I had to wait to take it in. I am still surprised at the lack of concern by GM for researching a potential (and now confirmed by the dealer) issue with the airbag and safety system. If I had not paid this fee to a dealer, GM would not have to document this issue with the airbags in my car. It does not seem that GM has learned from their previous issues with under-identifying or being late to identify issues with their airbags until after a sufficient number of people are injured or killed in wrecks.
I went to dealer, paid $99 to find out the PPS (passenger presence system) module needs to be replaced, which was anticipated because I checked beforehand for other potential issues (fuses, loose wiring). The estimated repairs are over $1000.
I have emailed this information to GM customer service and GM social media. I specifically asked for the number of PPS module failures/replacements on Chevy Equinoxes as well as the number of failed deployments (either did not deploy or deployed when someone under 50 lbs was in the seat).
Since this is a public forum, I would like to address Chevy social media directly and publicly in hopes they will respond in kind: GM social media, where can we as drivers of your products find out the statistics for failed PPS modules and failed airbag deployments for Chevy Equinoxes?
The 2007 Pontiac Torrent was recalled for similar issues with the passenger side PPS, does GM not consider issues with the Equinoxes PPS system a similar issue?
passenger air bag light is intermittent as well and has been for years. Multiple trips to dealers all with different comments to the problem. These started in 2010 when the vehicle had less than 50k miles. All the dealers said it was not covered under warranty but they could replace the control board in the dash for $1000.
Between the doors not locking/ unlocking properly, the key/ ignition issue ( which I paid to fix)and the airbags issue, I finally gave up and drive it the way it is.It amazes me it passes inspection.
Once that aspect is confirmed there are some things that can be accomplished with the codes alone, and some that require the failure to occur so that diagnostics can be performed to positively identify the cause. "U" codes will be set in modules against other modules that failed to communicate to them, so they can be looked at as one module tattling on the other. Now just because you might have multiple modules coding against another one doesn't automatically condemn that module. A loss of power to the offending module could result in it falling off the data bus. Something that overloads a 5v sensor reference output from a given module could pull it off of the data bus.
The real challenge here is getting the car to a qualified and properly equipped technician while the symptom is occurring. How frequently does the problem occur?
We have had this issue from the start of ownership.
We brought it to the dealer back in '10 and they didn't have any ideas. Asked if we had electronics plugged in when the car we shut off, or started back up. We paid attention to that, making sure we had unplugged our Garmin and cell phone chargers etc. Sometimes this works (no light comes on after restart) but other times it doesn't matter and the light appears.
This has become just one of the nuances we live with with this vehicle. We take the leap of faith that the airbag is still operational and this light is just a false indicator. I hope to never find out.
Since you indicated that if you pushed on the seat, it would go off, check under the seat.
First make sure that things haven't piled up under the seat and are causing problems with the connector under the seat.
Then check that the connector that is under the seat is connected properly.
If all that is good, then you need to find someone who can plug in and see what the codes are.
If it comes up with a passenger side airbag code, then it may be the actual wiring inside the seat or the air bag in the seat.
Check with your dealer for any airbag recalls.
Seems to me there might be a recall on GM vehicles of that year, but I could be wrong.