2006 Aveo Passenger side airbag sensor

;) Hi all -

Just got the dizzying news that a new passenger side airbag sensor will cost me around $930 and some change to fix on my 2006 Aveo hatchback... in the meantime if the airbag light comes on again we'll have no airbags at all... Any advice?

More info: The "Passenger Airbag Off" light would not always "go off" when my 5'7" 130lb daughter would sit in the passenger seat. The dealership is saying it's the sensor. We just spent over $800 on the car - fixing door locks, new battery and replacing the Throttle Position Sensor - the car has only got around 78K on it. I'm out of $$$... Any advice would be appreciated! O:)

which sensor? the seat weight?

I believe so - the sensor that indicates low, middle or high weight and size of person in the seat.

i would probably buy a used seat, maybe off ebay?, in that case.

Chevy Aveo 2010 Gray Cloth Front Seat Set Manual OEM | eBay

one more thing to consider, is where the weight is set in the seat, your daughter even though 130lbs, might only put __% of her weight on the sensor as her legs are not weight bearing on the seat. So she might be just be operating the switch off and on as she shifts weight will driving.

not saying its your fault. just that these things happen. your obviously out of warranty, i would test the weight factor of the seat with known measurements of weight, and maybe buy a scan tool to reset the lights your self versus paying dealerships. That way you can test the system.

Thanks for all the suggestions! The dealer did say the scanner is a "controlled part" in that it expires so when ordered is manufactured on the spot but is not suppose to sit on a shelf so I'd want to get the newest seats... Just not sure they'd fit a 2006. The idea about turning the light off myself is good also...

thanks again!

Although a scantool is definitely a good tool to have, most regular scantools can not read airbag codes or clear them. Ive got a bluepoint(snapon) MicroscanPro which set me back $400. it reads engine codes, body codes, manufacture (some) specific codes, and some ABS codes but nothing for airbag codes. My snapon dealer told me that lower end units will not be capable of reading airbag codes. Your best bet is to try and find a friend with a high end scantool, or become good friends with someone at a gm dealer that wouldnt charge you to hook the aveo up on their tecII (or whatever GM uses)

i wouldnt waste my money on a stand alone. Dyno scan for windows with the gm enhancer with a cable will be less that $300 and states it does airbags (would verify the aveo before buying).

the computer based software is cheap, better and as long as you have a cable there are a lot of free versions. you can ever spend a little more (@$400) and rewrite tunes.

The poor man's version of clearing out the light was also suggested to me... unattach and reattach the battery.

that may or may not work for the airbag.

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Originally Posted by petrified.rabbit

i wouldnt waste my money on a stand alone. Dyno scan for windows with the gm enhancer with a cable will be less that $300 and states it does airbags (would verify the aveo before buying).

the computer based software is cheap, better and as long as you have a cable there are a lot of free versions. you can ever spend a little more (@$400) and rewrite tunes.

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Thanks rabbit, I may need to look into that. Even though I work at a toyota dealership, Toyota airbag lights are no problem but we work on all makes and models, and no one in our shop can read air bag lights. One of our techs has an older snapon scantool (it is refferred to as the brick) it can read some domestic airbag lights)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mercurial

The poor man's version of clearing out the light was also suggested to me... unattach and reattach the battery.

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Disconnecting the battery will reset to ecu (ecm) which in general clears lights, but an airbag light is a one key cycle code. basically, if you disconnect the battery, reconnect it, the ecu will go back to its original settings, as soon as the vehicle is started, if their is a problem with the airbag circuit, the light will come back on immediately

Good to know! At this point, the plan is to find a used seat to replace ours to try to avoid paying $700 for a new one.

yes but if the problem is in fact the seat sensor, if he reset it, it might be ok until someone sits in the front seat again.

My daughter was back in the front seat yesterday and so far it is working properly and the airbag light has not come on. It took about 10 days when we last had it in the dealership between turning the airbag light off (changed the battery) and it coming back on again. Do you mean that it may not be worth it to replace the seat?

if the problem is the seat sensor, replace the seat.

i am talking about if you reset the light, without fixing it, it might not come back on immediately depending on what the cause of the light is.