bad alternator will cause air bag light comes on??????

greatiliad · Post by **greatiliad** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 1:38 pm

I drive my car to several places to check the air bag light, I was always told that they can't read the code.
before I open the dash , I finally decided to go to dealer.
after 20 minutes. I was told that because the alternator is bad, it does not offer a right voltege. They just told me the replace an alternator, the air bag light will come off.

I am really surprised. Is it true? I have a multimeter. My alternator offers 14.32V, it is perfect.

MMamdouh · Post by **MMamdouh** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 2:01 pm

i don't see how those two are related... their was a recasll concerning the air bag light as i remeber you you need to investigate more on this issue before replacing parts on your engine that are running perfectly... a US resedent will be a great help on this issue than me.

MMamdouh

Daniel · Post by **Daniel** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 3:06 pm

It seems that your dealer could be right. There are voltage related Diagnostic Trouble Codes: DTC23 & DTC24 for battery overvoltage and undervoltage. At least for the Lacetti (Nubira) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=31TTB4TF
.
Don't know if this apply to your model.

Daniel

MMamdouh · Post by **MMamdouh** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 3:14 pm

indeed too low voltage and too high voltage will trigger a cel and generate a DTC but will it cause the air bag light to come on?? i think not.

MMamdouh

greatiliad · Post by **greatiliad** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 4:18 pm

the question is I think my alternator works good.
I test the voltage, usually 14.3xV, even if I turn on everything(head light, radio, air condition) ,it still keep 14.0x V

Daniel · Post by **Daniel** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 4:23 pm

MMamdouh wrote:indeed too low voltage and too high voltage will trigger a cel and generate a DTC but will it cause the air bag light to come on?? i think not.

MMamdouh

That's what I have understood from page 8B-6. But since the voltage measured by greatiliad looks within spec's it's hard to believe that the problem is there. But you know...

greatiliad, did your dealer said you the default code?

Daniel

greatiliad · Post by **greatiliad** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 4:34 pm

I will try to take off the alternator, and just use the battery to run the car.
see what happen.
maybe, it is not the voltage. I guess the alternator does not have a smooth output, like some glitch . A regular multimeter will not catch these signal.
so that's why my check engine light will flash sometime when I drive on the highway especially the AC is on.

MMamdouh · Post by **MMamdouh** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:21 pm

i am still finding it impossible that an "alternator/battry issue" will cause "air bag light"... those two components are not related at all.

with the engine off the battry should give some 12Volts and with the engine on it should read some 14Volts, if you got that then your electrical system is OK, period.

don't listen to all what the dealers say... some times - if not most - they are speaking out of their asses, look for that recall i told you about... i think it involves an airbag reolacment work or something... it is not related to the alternator at all.

BTW if the alternator is not charging the battry; the car should go dead after some miles of driving due to lack of electric power, if that was your case then your car should have died somewhere in the trip back and forth from the dealership.

MMamdouh

greatiliad · Post by **greatiliad** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 1:00 am

I agree with you
I disconnect the alternator and put a recharger on, the air bag light still comes on.
and I read the manual, do the test by myself.
Now, I think it is because a bad airbag control module. And all clues point to airbag module.

It is time to disconnect all airbag and remove the bulb.

A stupid dealer......