Need To Vent
 

So I just upgraded my stereo. The chop shop was unable to reset the airbag light after countless attempts. The chop shop agreed to let the Nissan dealership try to fix it and they too are unable to reset the airbag light. The dealership replaced the sensor that they thought was the problem. But still no dice.

My car has been at the dealership since Monday. Now I am beginning to get very nervous that something is majorly wrong. My VIN is probably flagged. I hope nothing electrical fails as I will most be denied warranty work. At this point I am beyond pissed. FYI anyone in the Bay Area (Nor Cal) steer clear of Audio Design.

Sucks about the issue OP. Shoot a PM to bigaudiofanat for some help. He did my head unit upgrade and knows the Z in and out when it comes to this kind of stuff.

This is why I am afraid to upgrade my stereo in my Z. It also sounds like lack of experience on their part. You would think the service dept can pin point the issue ,whats up with that?

Another reason to go DIY =) I know it's not for some folks...but changing a stereo is a pretty simple one.

:iagree:

he did my stereo as well and no lights came on...

When the dealership scanned the car it showed that the sensor in the left door panel was bad. They replaced that sensor and still can't clear the blinking airbag light.

I also had new components , dynamat, a sub and a amp installed. There is no way that I would personally try to attempt that.

Is this it? Common issue.

SRS Reset

This may be easier to follow:
It's actually in page 14 of the SRC.pdf file in the 2009 service manual. Here are the steps if you just want to reset the error without checking the code:

1. Turn the ignition from OFF to ON, you don't have to start the car for this. Just press the start button until it gets to the ON state, usually OFF > ACC > ON.
2. The airbag light should turn on, wait until it turns off (it should stay on for 7 secs and then turn off) and then turn the ignition to OFF within 1 second.
3. Wait more than 3 seconds after the ignition turns OFF.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3, twice. (Total 3 times)

So total you're turning the ignition OFF to ON 3 times and then turn it on 1 more time. This time leave the car in the ON position until the light flashes, the car is now in diagnostic mode for the SRS system. Typically you'd now look in the service manual and count the flashes to see what error it was. I didn't bother and just cleared the error.

To clear the error simply turn the car to OFF again and wait more than a second. When you turn it ON again, the warning flashes should be gone.

From the service manual it looks like there's a specific error for if the Passenger airbag indicator light is malfunctioning. So basically don't turn on the car if you have that disconnected or else you'll have to reset it with these steps as even disconnecting the battery after that point doesn't clear it.

That is quite a bit more involved... I would DIY it but I certainly understand that most would farm that out.

Did your shop run new speaker wires for the door speakers? Common practice is to bore a hole through the door wiring harness connector to slide speaker wire through. They may have damaged the wiring related to the airbag sensor.

check the connectios that they have disconnected, to make sure they didnt damage it while messing with it, the system wont reset untill everything is connected.

PS i am more than sure that is the problem.

Sorry to hear this...On my first 09 370Z after audio install, something kept triggering the TPMS light, come to find out it was the speaker wire coming from the crossovers sending signals triggering the sensors etc etc. Don't understand why the airbag light would go off during audio install, I did same install on my last 370Z and audio does not involve removing the steering wheel, sensors etc. even steering wheel controls have no effect on airbag light.

My personal opinion would be to get your money back go somewhere else or DIY and save a ton. You should receive your car back in the same condition if not better than what you left it with to them.

Yep new speaker wires were installed. This was my initial thought -They damaged a wire that connects the sensors.

I tried this, the chop shop tried this and the dealership tried this.

this fixed it for me

Update - Got a call from the chop shop and they said the Nissan Dealership said the ECU is the problem and needs to be replaced. Hmm we will see what happens. I find it hard to believe the ECU is bad.

Raider - That all sounds sketchy as hell.

Excuse the probably obvious and simple questions:

1. Disconnect and reconnect the battery after a few minutes do anything?
2. Since the airbag light is on - did the dealership find that it is throwing any codes?

ECU.....audio installers...some mentioned they used the same shop...could have been a different installer who knows.....again I am sorry....is Nissan going to warranty it for you? Next you should hear something along these lines...Sir....for your trouble, time and hassle that you have went through after the install....that is of no fault of your own....seek some sort of compensation...what I don't know but something is better than nothing...anyway hope everything gets fixed and worked out bud...good luck.

For resetting the ECU ignition on off trick. I literally has to be timed perfectly! I mean perfectly. I can walk you through it on FaceTime or something... I've done it to my car maybe 6 times now? Sometimes I even fail a couple times in a row before its complete. Tards just probably don't know how to do it right.

The dealership scanned the car and saw a code for the left door panel airbag. They replaced that sensor and they still couldn't clear the airbag light. They have tested every airbag sensor, wire and everything is working. The only thing they could think of being a problem is the ECU. I still have not been told to get my car. I guess we will see tomorrow. If I don't get a call by 12ish then I know the ECU isn't the culprit.

It just blows that we put our trust in who we think are professionals only to be screwed over.

PM bigaudiofanat on here.

Wait wen were u born again? Kinda naive. Or is dat ur cat typing?

Roool cat

:iagree:

Also also this:
http://www.the370z.com/audio-video/4...u-install.html

ECU's can go bad, mine did. Electronics are tricky like that.

Ok so once again that step by step procedure was tried by me, the chop shop and Stevens Creek Nissan. The problem has been traced to an ECU issue. A new one has been ordered and should be at the dealership on Saturday. I was told that my car would be ready by Tuesday (Monday's a holiday).

will you have to pay for the ECU or the chop shop will cover it?

uhhhhhh.... but u like drove to da moon and back (300km odo or something crazy). :ugh2:

My husband and I did mine. Just takes focus and dedicated time.

Sorry about your troubles OP.

Chop shop is covering all the expenses. At least they are doing one thing correctly.

Over 400...but who's counting? LOL

Mine died early in the cars life, first 6-8 months.

Update - Of course the part didn't come in. Looks like I'll get my car next week. At this point I am beyond pissed and am ready to pick up my car and take the chop shop to court. Once again Bay Area folks please avoid this chop shop. Audio Design should be avoided like the black plague.

Ok the ECU was replaced and the airbag light has been turned off. Car is back in one piece. What a nightmare experience, one I would never wish on my worst enemy.

So here is a list of my upgrades:

Kenwood Excelon 5902 deck
Kenwood Excelon Xr400 amp
Hertz Mille Pro MPK components
Kicker CompRt 8" sub

Good news! Congrats on the end of your nightmare.

Do you know what caused the ECU to go out? I'm not taking any sides, but what did the audio shop do that caused the ECU to go bad. What I was reading was a rant by someone that had some bad luck with their car. The shop did what they could and so did Nissan, it didn't seem like anyone was doing you any wrong. **** happens, but I am glad your Z is good and healthy now.

The shop admitted fault by "probing the wrong wire" and frying the ECU.

:shakes head:

Congrats on getting to a solution :tup:

Now go :driving:

After all is said and done and with consideration to the error made by a human. Sh!t happens, etc.

Do you still believe in saying this shop should be avoided like the Black Plague? Just curious since they did cover the expenses. Customer service other wise was ok/not ok? Quality of install good? Being without your car sucks, been there done that. Glad to see you got it all sorted out.

Cars are pretty complicated these days. IMHO, new stereos, major suspension changes, engine tinkering means that you have to be prepared for stuff like this to happen. Good luck, but I suspect you're stuck with it. I hope that the problem hasn't inserted itself into other of your electrical systems.

Following this forum for years, it's clear to me that problems like this are far from rare. Everyone should know that major or minor problems can realistically be expected when you "upgrade" components of your car.

Ah ok, I understand fully now. I retract my previous statement.