Hello. I am considering an 06' Five-Hundred with slight left door damage. During the test drive I noticed that the airbag light was illuminated. NO airbags have been deployed. Any thoughts on what could be the cause?

Thanks.

 

a lot of things can set a air bag light, but it sounds like it may be a side impact crash sensor

 

Thanks for the reply. I do not think that the car has the side airbag option. Would it still have "side sensors"?

 

it could have set off the front crash sensors too, other things will set off a code too like safety restaints, if you are buying from a dealership tell them to retrieve the codes. other wise i'm not sure if autozone can pull airbag codes.

 

Thanks. Actually, the car is not owned by a dealer. The owner said the light did flash a code. Attached is a photo of the damage. As you can see, it was not a direct side it... it was more like a "side swipe".

 

well all i can say is ask the guy to watch the flashes and get the code number, that is about all you can without a diagnostic tool.

 

Is your car equipped with seat-mounted side airbags? If so, I'd check the connectors under the seat. Even if it doesn't have side airbags, a quick check of this under-seat connection would be a quick and easy check.

The wiring harness under the seat is often equipped with all of the connectors required for power seats, side airbags, heaters, etc. even if you didn't purchase those options. Makes it easier for the factory folk to just plug in the options to a standard set of connections.