I brought my truck into the dealer yesterday because my airbag light would come on randomly. After sitting for 5.5 hours , they brought the truck back into the shop and came out about 15 minutes later and told me that there are sensors in/under the seat(s) that tell whether or not there may be a person sitting in the seat and it turns the airbag on and off. Anyway, he said that the plugs for those sensors need to be cleaned and have dielectric<--(sp) grease reapplied onto them. He said they could do it there for around $225. My question is, can I do this myself? If so, does anyone have a how-to on it anywhere? Thanks for the help guys!

 

First of all, there are no sensors in the seats of a 2002 to tell if someone is sitting there or not. That is pure BS. I'll bet that a service writer told you that.

If it was Restraints code 46 and/or code 47, then it is the connectors under the seats for the seat belt pretensioners - a VERY common problem. Regreasing the pins is a 5-minute job.

$225 is a RIDICULOUS price for this repair unless they are planning to completely replace the connectors. Even then, it is on the high side.

Here's what I would do:
Buy a tube of dielectric grease (about $7 at the dealer or an auto parts store). Turn off the ignition, unplug and clean the connectors under the seats with electrical contact cleaner ($4), allow to dry and apply dielectric grease to the pins and reconnect.

Odds are about 99% that the problem would be solved.

 

Wow. thanks bob. It was the guy who was helping me that told me that. not the mechanic. I didnt realize it was that easy. can I get the electrical contact cleaner at an auto parts store? Are the connectors the ones that I see coming out of the bottom of the seat, or is that for something else?

 

Yes the connectors are under the seats. They are both round 4-position connectors but the PS has only 2 wires and the DS has 3.

You should be able to get contact cleaner at an auto parts store or electronics supply. Be careful not to get it on other parts of the interior because it can attack certain plastics.

 

Wow $225 is insane. I need too find the work order from my wreck & compair.

 

thanks guys! I'll check around