Second Generation Nissan Xterra Forums banner

Flashing Airbag Light and No Passenger Airbag Off Light

9.5K views 16 replies 8 participants last post by  unpaidintern  
#1 ·
Hi all,

2008 xterra with 66000 kilometers...

Yesterday my airbag light started to flash on my gauge cluster. Also the passenger side airbag off light turned off. I believe it should be on when no one is sitting in that seat? When I push down on the passenger seat, the airbag off light comes back on but the gauge cluster airbag light continues to flash.

I found a airbag light reset code online and did it. The gauge cluster light did reset for a moment but started to flash again within a kilometer or so.

After searching the web, it seems that there's a recall for the roll over sensor or something like that having to do with the airbag system. Does anyone know if that recall is to address this problem? If Not, does anyone have any experience with a problem. Such as the one I'm having?

Thanks for any help...
 
#2 · (Edited)
The light is only on in my X when there's just a little bit of weight on the seat. When there's nothing on the seat the light stays off after startup.

The recall you're talking about is mostly likely the side curtain airbag recall, they reprogram the X so it doesn't go off at the wrong time.

To search for your problem on this site put something like this into a Google search.

Airbag flash site:thenewx.org
 
#3 ·
The light on the dash shouldn't be on, if it's flashing then there's a fault in the system being indicated. Usually this is because someone installs a radio and turns the key on while having that secondary passenger light unplugged in the dash but since you've already done the reset procedure I think you might have an actual problem. Has any work been done on the truck recently?
 
#4 ·
Thanks for the replies! There hasn't been any work done on the truck recently. I was offroading a little and pulled my buddy out of the snowbank with it this weekend gone.

I tried the reset again. This time the light stayed off for a good 30mins of city driving. Once a passenger hopped in, the light started to flash again. Probably a coincidence.

I'll search around the site some more to see if I can find anything. I'm guessing I'll have to take it to a stealership to get that code read?
 
#5 · (Edited)
You will need to put it into test mode and count / watch the flash pattern to determine which part of the system is causing a fault. Do the reset procedure and on the 4th turn of the key leave it in the on position and watch for the light to blink. It will stay on for a number of seconds and off for a number of seconds depending on the code. You may want to record it so you can play it back with the list of codes in front of you to find the best match.

For example this is for the passenger curtain airbag.


Mine was just a pinched wire. Cut it, soldered it back together and put some heat shrink tubing on it. Has not flashed again since I fixed it in 2017.
 
#7 ·
As a qualified, at home, shade tree mechanic, I can tell you with 100% certainty that the answer to your wondering question is a definite, positive, absolute "maybe". :wink: