SRS Unit Failure?

I have a 1996 Honda Civic EX with 52,000 miles on it.......the SRS light
stays on so I called the Dealer and was told the up front cost to run the
diagnostics was $71.00 and that would be deducted from any actual repairs.
Ok so the Code was 07-2 and 07-3 which means SRS Unit Failure and the cost
to replace is $549.82!!!!!!!!!!

I was shocked as the car has never been in a wreak and has low miles. I
asked the service guy if it was common to replace the SRS Unit and he said
no it is rare....so I think ok than maybe it's a defect in the Manufacturing
process and they should replace it for free<G> nope it's past the 3 year
warranty. Well I said forget it for now and he suggested I call the 1-800
number for customer service and maybe they will cut me a break.....I think
fat chance but it's worth a try.

I would like to research the failure rates for this part number and or get
the OEM name so I can check them out, the part number is 77960-S04-N81

Thanks for any ideas and or help!

Donna

 

Did they reset the light, and if so, is it staying off? If it stays off,
don't worry about it. Sometimes low battery voltage will set the light. I
got the same story on a '95 Accord two months ago but the light hasn't come
back on. BTW, they charged me $110 to reset the light and quoted me $700
for the SRS unit. I think this is a big $ maker for dealers.

WW

 

Yes they reset it but said that is no guarantee the bags or belts will
work....was that a scare tactic? I think your right....what a racket and I
will file a complaint at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ tomorrow and call the
1-800 number....this is my third Honda and have been very happy....started
with a 1982 Prelude. Oh so far it is staying off.

Thanks!
Donna

 

DAB wrote:

They questioned whether the /belts/ would still work???

 

Yes

 

Shameless, scumbag scare tactics. If they aren't working, why doesn't the
light come back on? And the SRS is for the airbags, not the seatbelts. I'd
report them for telling you crap like that. My dealer reamed me for $110,
but at least he didn't try scare tactics. Furthermore, Honda has a lifetime
seatbelt warranty, so tell them if it affects the seatbelts then they need
to fix it under warranty. If you do, they will quickly back off on any
assertation that the SRS affects the seatbelts.

WW

 

LOL ok so I assume if they reset the light that means they kinda did a
reboot like on a computer so as long as the light stays off the SRS system
or whatever it is, is working?

 

the srs unit also monitors the seat belts, if there is a problem it would
let you know. I work for the company that makes them.

 

As far as the belts go, most definitely YES.

The belts are controlled by a mechanical inertia sensor, unrelated in any
way to the sodium azide explosives in your steering wheel. And they are
explosives, you know. It is illegal under federal law to possess sodium
azide outside of an airbag assembly that is installed in a motor vehicle.

IF, and this is a big IF, the SRS computer is bad (highly unlikely), the
ONLY thing that would be affected as far as the belts go is the
pretensioners. IF the pretensioners are not operational because the SRS
computer is inoperative, your belts will continue to operate just like any
belts did prior to about 1998.

IF the bags are inoperative, you have about a 5% greater chance of serious
injury or death in a collision than you would have if the bags were
operative. And considering the probability of being involved in a fatal or
injurious collision is less than that of being struck by lightning, that
added 5% is tiny indeed.
http://tinyurl.com/3wdye

It astonishes me how frightened people get these days over this crap. When
I was a kid, our cars DID NOT EVEN HAVE SEAT BELTS. We rode UNRESTRAINED IN
ANY WAY, in the front seat, back seat, all over the US and Canada. Yeesh.

 

Or protective ass-covering. America's stupid winner-pays legal system is
rather predatory, you know.



If they aren't working, why

It's also for the belt pretensioners. Take a look at those bright yellow
connectors on yours and you'll see.

If the error does not recur, the system is fine.

In any finely-tuned electrical system, electrical transients will cause
intermittent errors. Such transients are outside the system's normal range
and will cause the system to set an error code.

The accepted procedure is to reset the computer. If the error does not
recur (which is the usual result), it was a transient. If it does, then
there may be a real problem with the system.

 

Ok so is it common for a car with only 52,000 miles to have the SRS Unit
fail? Thanks for your reply.

 

Yep I have fond memories of the back seat and no seat belts......I turned
out ok

Agree.....I would be more likely to die from the air bag impact...I am only
5 feet tall and inorder to see I sit close to the steering wheel....actually
I would feel safer it the damn thing was disconnected.

Thanks for your insights and I won't worry about it<G>

Oh and thanks for the link too!

 

Ok that makes sense.

 

If the auto industry wasn't concerned about the legal system we probably
wouldn't have seatbelts, much less airbags, to worry about. It's long been
said that safety doesn't sell. But lawyers will get their attention.
Notice that you don't see Firestones on Fords anymore. I'm not saying
that's right, but it is part of the evolution of the automobile industry.

I don't think my '95 has pretensioners. I certainly can't find any reference
to it in the owner's manual, my two repair manuals, or the original sales
brochure. Perhaps the OP's '96 has them. At any rate, the seatbelts will
still work without the pretensionsers.

WW

 

did anyone ever notice how the 03 exploder with the independent rear
suspension came out the previous february not september? coincidence???

/any/ vehicle should be able to remain upright in the event of a sudden
blowout, regardless of cause. firestone got hosed for something that
wasn't their problem.

 

Speaking from an Electronics/Communications Technician's standpoint, the
automotive system is one of the harshest environments to operate
electronic devices. Lots of electrical noise and transients to cause
problems.

Randy

 

If you are of short stature, you can apply for permission from the NHTSA to
have your bag disconnected. It is well known that small individuals are in
great danger from airbags because of their need to sit close to the wheel,
hence the NHTSA's height allowance.

However, according to this page:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/airbags/pages/FAQsABDeactiv.htm
you must be 4' 6" or less to qualify for legal disconnection.

Canada has no federal requirement for airbags, so in most places they may
be disconnected without legal or insurance penalties, and without need for
permits. Most garages will do it for you for about $40.

Make sure you are sitting at LEAST 10 inches away from your frontal airbag
to help minimize injury.

 

Cool I will check it out.

Well dang .......

Ok I am within that range but still have concerns.

Thanks your info is very informative!

Donna