Ok so I have read some of the other threads, but I do not know what has caused this light to come on. Later on this morning I'm going to run out to the car and check the connections under the seats and the fuse for the airbag.

Anyway, here'* the story. My car has been at the body shop (friend from the FD) for the last week and a half. He finally got to repainting my front bumper and buffing out the paint 2 days ago. The car sat outside and it didn't rain the entire time it was down there (surprising). Guy comes to drop off the car and asks me if the Airbag light was on when I brought it down to him... LOL yeah right! My warranty makes it so I wouldn't have taken it anywhere but the dealership to fix the problem.

Now he had the bumper off to repaint it, but he said there wasn't any way that he pinched a wire or left something airbag related unplugged.

Anyhow, I did have the intermediate steering shaft replaced about 2 months ago, but the light is definitely new since the body shop had my car. I already checked the clockspring operation and my horn and steering wheel controls still work fine.

About 4 months ago I did have water in the driver'* rear footwell, but that was traced back to a bad trunk seal and hasn't been a problem since (I don't think).

Let me know your thoughts on my particular problem... My body guy doesn't want me to take it to the dealership right away becuase he doesn't want them to screw up the bumper due to the paint being not fully cured. I doubt that my dealership would just plug it in for free for me, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask...

Airbag lights are ugly ones. Need a Tech scan to find out which problem the system is complaining about.

Yup, definitely know that, but I figured I'd check the simple things before going that route. We're going to pull the bumper back off tonight to inspect the wiring in there.

I just don't want to be without my car too much longer! Heck, I've only driven it 3 weeks so far since it'* been nice out (after sitting all winter long). Had the hood repainted and let it cure for a month without driving it (early spring - not quite nice outside then anyway) and now this. Really don't want to drive it while the bumper is curing, but wanted to see if it was just a fluke.

*EDIT* - Well, I can rule out the simple things. Plugs look perfect under both seats and the fuse was good... Unplugged both of them and looked inside with no indication of corrosion at all. Don't know now. I'm going to swing by the dealership on my way home from work and see if they'll do a courtesy scan to see what'* wrong. After that attempt, I'm runnin' back out to the body shop to pull off the bumper to inspect in there properly.

Just a quick answer, I'll have to look in the FSM to confirm though. There is a sensor for the SIR System up in that frontal area that may have been accidently disconnected. Inflatable Restraint Front End Discriminating Sensor, it may be worth checking out.

Yeah. It'* behind the radiator smack dab in the middle. As mentioned in another airbag related post, all of the SIR connectors are yellow.

Anyway, I stopped in at the dealership this afternoon and they said it was the front sensor/accelerometer. So hopefully that'll fix it. They had to order the part so I'll let everyone know

Well, here'* an update...

The code was B0100 which the dealership attributed to a failed EFS (electronic frontal sensor). So I'll be getting a new one of them. None of this was covered under my warranty although in the coverage section it states "Major Airbag Systems", but then in the not covered section it states "airbags and sensors".

One thing that is puzzling me is that the light will go off for a bit, then come back on. It happened 3 times on my 18 minute drive to work this morning...

Anyone venture to guess why this is happening?

It sounds like a loose connector. My dad'* stupid kia'* airbag light came on whenever we put something under the seat.

All connections have been removed and cleaned so I do not think it is that... And by all connections, I mean EVERY SINGLE yellow connector on the car has been taken apart, cleaned with electrical contact cleaner and put back together. I even removed the B pillar trim to access the side impact sensors, but this was before taking it in to the dealership to have them plug in a Tech2 for 2 minutes and charge me $79 to tell me it is the front sensor.

I'm really starting to think there is a pinched wire from the bumper removal and reinstallation, but the guy that did all of the paint work says that there are litterally no wires that could have been pinched by that process and that the harness that is under there is free and clear from everything...

Hi...how did you end up resolving this situation? I may be in a similar situation with my 2001 SSEi, the airbag light is on and the dealer says the front sensor and also the control module are gone...one day the airbag light and "service airbag" message came on in the DIC out of nowhere.

We're trying to sell the car anyway and weren't going to fix it, but instead are just offering it at a reduced price. But if it'* perhaps a loose connection or something that can be fixed w/o replacing all this stuff, that would be good to know. Thx...

I replaced my frontal impact sensor which was the only thing indicated by the dealership. I now have a scan tool that can access the airbag module (along with any other system in the vehicle) and read the codes so I will no longer be tied to the dealership for diagnosis of the higher systems in my vehicles.

The first thing I would try if I were you would be to pull the center console, and remove the air bag module (it'* under the center console). First you need to pull the airbag fuse in the rear fuse box under the rear seat. Then remove the center console (not as simple as it sounds), and finally remove the airbag control module. Clean up all of the connections on the module and coat with dielectric grease. Put everything back together (including the airbag fuse) and see what happens.

If the light and message return, then replace the frontal impact sensor. The sensor is meant to be unbolted from the top. It is a left hand thread bolt and requires a special inverted torx socket. If you need to go this route, I would spray the threads with some penetrating oil once a day for about a week before attempting this. I ended up having to drill mine out from the bottom which required the removal of the front splash sheild.

Good luck!