7th gen civic ex 02

[Willo]

Documenting new tools.
I’m taking one step at a time.
My 02 civic ex has the SRS light and I grabbed the 9-3 code (driver seat belt switch).
It’s had ( according to the dealer ) both driver and passenger side air bag recalls
done Oct 2013 – fully dealer serviced until 2011 when I took over routine maintenance myself.
So far, I’ve narrowed this issue to the passenger side seat belt switch not turning off the seat belt warning light. I’ve already cleaned the driver side seat belt switch, and it works almost like new. ( a bit sticky 1 out of 50 clicks, but I may go deeper into the switch with contact cleaner if I have too.

My next step is to check fuses. and not forget to put the passenger side head rest back in before I go any further.
( I took the head rest out of the seat so I could make more room
with the “front passenger seat back” and the “rear seat backs” down. )
I loaded 2 10 foor pressure trreated 2×10’s ( kinda heavy ), on the passenger seat a week or two ago,
and the passenger side srs warning light has come on many time with small packages on the seat,
I usually just move the stuff a bit on the seat and the passenger side air bag warning light would go out, so it’s always been sensitive in this car.
I’m looking at the BBBinc honda air bag replacement notice, opds initialization procedure notice and the seat belt- srs wiring diagram for more clues. Thanks Eric..

This is my first post here and I want to thank all you guys that keep this place up.

I’ve been having my share of dealer issues and I’m dreading the day I have to start maintaining the other one (a hybrid) myself.

Topic

[Kevin Criswell]

See if this helps you diagnose it

Attachments:

• civic9-3codetroubleshoot.pdf

[Willo]

It will help.
I was just under the seat a few minutes ago,
tracing the wires from the seat belt switch to the plug under the seat.
I looked at a seat belt buckle pic online and thought it would be a bit easier
to identify the seat belt buckle switch 3P connector after seeing the pic,
so I could test to see if it was loose.
Now I can actually use my multi-tester to check for resistance
without too much fear of messing with the wrong terminals.

[Kevin Criswell]

Good deal.

I hope you figure out what is giving the system fits. Not sure, but I think Honda SRS systems won’t fire the airbag unless they see the seat belt is latched.

[Willo]

I’m still a bit in the confused state ATM.
Once I start testing the circuit(s), I’ll keep my fingers crossed
and hope one of the tests points at the cause.

What I’ve noticed so far on the passenger seat is a three plugs terminal array
where the 3p seat belt switch connector is plugged into one of those terminals in the array.
I’m assuming about the other two as well as the side air bag connector
that the honda tech did not put back up in it’s cradle ( from what it looks like to me ).
I can do things like put that back myself, when and if I find them and I know what I’m doing.
But the poor 02 keeps throwing new issues at me, and I’m hoping I can wrap this one up shortly.

I’m also thinking about my own hds system. I have a lower middle actron (2 years ),
and a scan gauge 2( about a month ),
I’m still learning how to set and read the scan gauge.
The hds might be a bit more then I can handle currently,
but I’m already starting to think about the newer hybrid.
And the jobs on the older civic I’m thinking should be a good primer
for what I’ll be looking at on the hybrid,
( still fully dealer serviced ),
but I’m already getting hints from the service dept ( not good ones either )
and having replace the recycled oil I’m now getting.
both cars are under the dealer lifetime free oil change extra service agreement.

[Willo]

sorry about all that whining above, I see there are mechanics here with real issues.
Mine seems trivial in comparison to some.
Anyways, I shot some video and stills and I have the center console out, but now I have to find the
srs controller, because it’s not under the radio behind the center console where I thought I was going to find it.
I’ve got open and resistance to the pins in the wiring both from the 3P plug under the seat to the seat belt switch and the floor harness to chassis ground, so my next step is checking the floor harness to the srs controller leads. I’m now thinking I may need to have the srs controller reprogrammed, or get a HDS HIM and try to do it with that.
I also unzipped the passenger side seat back cover, but all the wires back there are in plastic holders.
It’s early in the morning and I am quitting for another day, but before I did I ran another code check on the srs. This time I got a 9-4
I was confused until I remembered I had not plugged passenger seat belt switch connector back in.
I’ll recheck srs scan tomorrow with connector plugged back in, before I start my search for the srs controller and disconnect the battery.

I replaced the passenger control arm 2 weeks ago

Attachments:

• P1000286-6×8.jpg

[Kevin Criswell]

See if this helps

Looks like the main SRS controler is more in front of the center console

Attachments:

• civicairbagcomponentlocations.pdf

[Kevin Criswell]

Here is some more information that might help you on your search for the issue

SRS component pinouts

Wiring diagrams for the SRS system

(that should be “bag” not bad, my typo when saving it.)

Attachments:

• CivicSRSconnectorpinouts.pdf
• Civicairbadwringdiagrams.pdf

[Willo]

I was able to reset the SRS light but the system is still not working right.

I plugged passenger side 3P back in then got srs 9-4 and 9-3
I ran the car for 15 min with the heat on to warm up, (it’s snowing)
Then I cleared the SRS light.

But, some stuff is still not working right.
The seat belt warning light stays on when I get out of the drivers seat
The passenger buckle switch still doesn’t turn off the seat belt light
If I buckle the driver seat belt while in the passenger seat the seat belt light goes out.

I know it still could be anything…. but at least the srs light is out,
at least for now.

pics
driver-seat plug
passenger-seat plug
peeking at the srs controller

I’m taking it for a test run..

thanks for the docs Raistian
I’ll post back of the srs lights up again, or I actually figure out what is wrong.

Attachments:

• 333driver-seat-plug.jpg
• 334-passenger-seat-plug.jpg
• 338-finding-srs.jpg

[Kevin Criswell]

Looks like your passenger seat has an occupancy sensor in the seat back. Buckling the passenger belt without weight in the seat will illuminate the light to let the driver know the passenger airbag is deactivated (it thinks an infant is in that seat).

[Willo]

Here is my models (( EX 4DR (side SRS) AT ))
passenger seat parts dia
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/auto/jsp/mws/prddisplay.jsp?inputstate=5&catcgry1=CIVIC&catcgry2=2002&catcgry3=4DR+EX+%28SIDE+SRS%29&catcgry4=KA4AT&catcgry5=FRONT+SEAT+%28R.%29

I think the part is #5 pad assy seat back (with OPDS sensor )

I should be able to trace that sensor.
I think it may be the wire that enters the front seat cushion up near the head rest.

I’ll look at it again in more detail later today,
but I doubt I’ll mess with it until I’m sure I know what I’m doing
and thanks again for helping me to get the SRS light off.

[Kevin Criswell]

Yeah, number 5 is the OPDS sensor (occupant position detection system). There were some issues with the OPDS system causing Honda to extend the warranty on that system to 10 years/150,000 miles.

BACKGROUND
Several vehicle models may have a problem with the
OPDS (occupant position detection system) that
causes the SRS indicator to stay on. Typically, one or
more of these DTCs will be set:
• SRS DTC 15-1 (faulty OPDS unit or OPDS not
initialized)
• SRS DTC 15-2 (faulty side airbag indicator circuit)
• SRS DTC 15-3 (faulty OPDS sensor)
To ensure continued reliability with the OPDS,
American Honda is extending the warranty on the
OPDS unit and the OPDS sensor to 10 years or
150,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

The OPDS system is designed to prevent an airbag deploying and killing/injuring an infant in a car seat. Chevy and Ford trucks have a similar system in their bench seats for the reason.

[Willo]

I’m hoping to have more info about this in a few days.
So far so good after about 50 miles and no SRS light, fingers still crossed..

[Willo]

From what I can see so far it looks like there are 3 opds sensors in the passenger seat back.
Two or three trips ago , my “side air bag off” light came on again. Long story short, I found (by touch) a connector ( I believe ) projecting through the seatback a bit. It seemed that by pushing on it lightly I was making the “side airbag off” light turn off. It took about 10 highway miles (10 minutes) of pushing on the sensor connector before the side airbag off light stayed off.
The only thing left for me now ( I hope ) is the getting the computer to recognize the seat belt being buckled when no one is in the passenger seat, because when I buckle the passenger seat belt with the seat not occupied, the side airbag off light doesn’t come on ( like said above ) it is supposed to.
I also have to double check sitting in the passenger seat myself without the seat belt buckled, to see if the SRS light stays on like it’s supposed to.
I have another seat ( taking pictures as I go along ), but I want to get the original seat working as much as I can before I mess with the SRS computer again, by disconnecting the battery to switch seats around.
Let me know if you see I’m missing something obvious, I wouldn’t be surprised at all. 😉

[Author]

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