@soobydoobydoo this is a pretty common issue with the airbag connector under the seat getting loose, sometimes from items slid under the seat or from rear passenger feet hitting the connector. Normally pushing on the connector or unplugging & reseating the connector will clear the airbag light.

I should note that the SRS... supplemental restraint system is not functional when that airbag light is lit!

Bobby...

['07 FSXT Member Journal] ['03 X Member Journal]

 

@2.5x_sleeper Thanks for mentioning this Bobby, I'm pretty sure I tried to disconnect and reconnect the connector under the seat when this light first appeared over a year ago but it didn't do anything. I will try it again and see if it makes the light go away. if not what else could I do to narrow down the source of the issue?

 

@soobydoobydoo as to the air bag light issue, take a look at this thread:

('03-'05) - Air bag light - SOLVED!

Well air bag light came on driving down the road? Very new to me only had it a week what could be some issues?

www.subaruforester.org

Bobby...

['07 FSXT Member Journal] ['03 X Member Journal]

 

My Airbag light was on after I had my radiator replaced. It had never been on before that. So I checked the two Impact Sensors on either side of the radiator, made sure they were both plugged-in okay, went back and checked, and the Airbag Light was off again.

 

Nice I'll have to check those out and see, what do they look like and where on the radiator are they located?

 

Nice I'll have to check those out and see, what do they look like and where on the radiator are they located?

You can't miss any of the Airbag dircuitry. It all has that light yellowish colored wiring associated with it. The Impact Sensors (2) are on each side of the radiator.

 

@arhargi @2.5x_sleeper

Does anyone know if this is the airbag connector I am looking for under the driver's seat?

I suppose I never disconnected this thing to reseat it cause I sure as heck cannot unbuckle it with all my might. I probably in the past assumed it was connected but now I want to disconnect and reconnect to be sure whether or not it causing my airbag light.

I have tried so hard with pliers and a flat head to disconnect it. I've tried multiple times and my tools are starting to chip away and break the plastic. any tips?

I'm real close to just cutting the connectors and splicing the wires directly.

What is the purpose of this connector anyway?

Thanks!

 

@soobydoobydoo "yellow" = airbag system wiring or connector. That connector has a lock that needs to be released, then it will pull apart easily.

As I recall, there are several connectors under the seat & each one has a different type lock. On that connector, I believe that green piece slides to release it. Not all the connector locks release as you would think they would!

Bobby...

['07 FSXT Member Journal] ['03 X Member Journal]

 

@2.5x_sleeper I tried it every which way to no avail. I would get the green part to slide pack and I would pinch the yellow part in but still no dice. I guess I'll just keep at it and if it becomes destroyed in the process I will just splice the wires. Thanks

 

@soobydoobydoo I don't recall it being that difficult to detach?

My internet search found this that might help?

Depress the yellow tab, then slide the green bit back. You can release the yellow tab once you're holding the green bit back. Takes an uncomfortable amount of effort. Slide the connector apart once you've got the green bit all the way back.

► CAUTION - keep in mind you're messing with the SRS - airbag system wiring & if that air bag deploys, you don't want your face in front of it!

Bobby...

['07 FSXT Member Journal] ['03 X Member Journal]

 

► CAUTION - keep in mind you're messing with the SRS - airbag system wiring & if that air bag deploys, you don't want your face in front of it!

Bobby...

Bobby, If I spliced these wires is that what would happen? I figured if it was a connector it would mean the circuit is connected so splicing it should be the same as if it was connected correct? Unless this connector some function I'm unaware of.

I still cannot disconnect this connector for the life of me. I have tried so many times, I get it a little loose with the green tab pulled back but it just wont budge apart no matter what.

The airbag sensors appear intact and secure near the radiator.

All airbag related fuses under the steering wheel check out to good.

Other than this connector where else could I look for a fix to this airbag light?

 

@soobydoobydoo

Those yellow plugs are a common problem - gave me so much grief that I recently replaced the passenger side with a yellow Anderson plug.

 

@2.5x_sleeper @Kevin
Good to know I'm not the only one, this connector is something else, I've been working so much I haven't been able to go at it again the last few days. I may try to get some help from my girlfriend, an extra hand or two in there might get it detached. Thanks y'all. I'll update ya once I get it off!

 

If you splice you will not be able to remove the seat easily which is why I replaced the plug.

 

We had this issue in our 2003 XS. I cleaned the connectors with DeOxit D5 spray and reconnected. Light never came back. The connections accumulate dirt and dust since they’re under the seat.

 

This works great. It’s also for batteries and any electrical connectors.

 

@Kevin What did you replace it with?

@Theseus161 Thanks so much for the tip! We have the same exact car 2003 XS, gives me hope!

 

@soobydoobydoo "a yellow Anderson plug" as I already said in the post

 

As mentioned in the linked thread, the clockspring ribbon in the steering wheel/column can break. The ribbon has multiple circuits in it, so one can fail, while everything else works. I had that issue with my '99 XJ Jeep. The horn worked fine, but the airbag light was illuminated. Since it was a $270 dealer only part, I never fixed it.

I don't know if the older Subarus have anything else in the steering wheel besides the airbag and horn, but I'm glad I never had any issue with my 2010, with all the additional stuff on the steering wheel.

Hopefully you can get the seat connector apart, and the issue is there, and not the clockspring. You could try some penetrating oil on the connector to get it to slide apart. Then just clean it up once apart.

Something like WD-40 should be pretty harmless. It will evaporate on its own in a few days if you didn't clean it with contact cleaner.

 

I am so stumped on this airbag light.

WD40, did not help me get the connector apart so replaced it with one of these orange connectors from home depot.

The airbag light is still on, I'm pretty sure I did the connector right, I made sure each wire matched up on each side.

Went through every fuse again with a meter just to make sure and I'm reading continuity across each fuse.

What could the next action in trouble shooting be?

Clockspring? I'm not even sure what that is lol.

At this point I am just stumped and scratching my head.

 

@soobydoobydoo those connectors are a know problem, so a good place to start the troubleshooting, but not necessarily the only cause of the airbag light being on.

Questions:

1. Did you replace the connector on both seats?
2. Have you read or had the SRS diagnostic code read? If so, what code do you have?

Bobby...

['07 FSXT Member Journal] ['03 X Member Journal]

 

SOLVED!

I swear my brain just over looks the obvious and starts going overkill trying to solve things.

Did you replace the connector on both seats?

All it took was a jiggle, pushing the passenger's side under the seat connector together.

If I had only fiddled with the connector in the first place I would have had this solved last year lol. But I didn't even inspect under the passeneger's seat.

Instead I went nuts and even replaced the connector harness on the drivers side.

Bigger problems emerged so this went on the back burner.

I attempted fixing it 8 months later and all I did was jiggle the connector on under the passenger's seat.

It's only been a day or so but the airbag light does not come one any more.

Silly me, at least its fixed and I have an airbag working again!

Thanks for all your help last year trying to solve this!

Look no Airbag light!

 

@2.5x_sleeper Sorry for the late reply!

I started a new job and a bit all over the place at the moment.

1. No, I only did it on the driver's side. I didn't consider the other one lol. I will have to take a look.

2. No I have not but I shall give it a shot and see what we got. I have never done this before. Thank you for sharing those documents!

Looks like I gotta find two connectors and connect em with the the ignition on and depending on the flashes it'll tell us a code.

I'll post an update once I get this done and am able.

Thanks for your help!

 

Okay so this time I think I really solved it as it kept coming back on. The fiddling with the connector just wasn't a permeant fix so I replaced it with a connector I bought at home depot. It went away immediately and seems to be the solution, it's only been since this morning though but I think it's finally fixed for real!

I cut the old yellow connector wires as close as I could, individually of course, and then threw that orange one on each end and boom no more airbag light.