Honda Car Forum

I just bought a Civic EX that has the passenger airbag deactivated light on (yellow). If I (the driver) push on the seatback of the passenger seat the light goes off, release it turns on again. So this system thinks a child is perpetually in the front seat. After looking at the diagram of the sensor positions I have to deduce that the lower seat sensor is faulty and constantly activated. If the seatback is not activated, the computer thinks a child is in the seat. I also have to assume the seatback sensors are in fact working. Based on this info how hard is it to replace that individual sensor in the bottom seat cushion? Since I no longer have really small kids can I bypass the sensor so that the side airbag will deploy normally without prejudice?

Here's a question for the technicians. Is the seat sensor circuit normally open or closed. I would guess normally open and a human occupant would close the circuit. If this is the case, can I simply splice the sensor wires to trick the computer into thinking an adult is always in the seat and it is alright to deploy side airbag? Or the reverse, cut the wires if normally closed to tell the computer the same?

The SRS light has stayed off after I cleared the code.

The idea of spending $1000 for parts and labor to maybe fix the problem seems rediculous.

I would appreciate some insight into the function of these seat sensors.

Thanks

ttt