Guys,

My '95 M3 failed inspection over 2 months ago for a faulty signal light (worked when I pulled in) and the airbag light being on. 2 months later, 3 parking tickets later and about $2,500 less to mechanics, I'm ready to go to get re-inspected....with one exception...

...the darn airbag light won't go out. Schneller looked at it and could not figure it out, I replaced the airbag module under the rear seat and that was a waste of money.

I have to get this thing inspected before the weekend to drive to CT. Anyone know of a shop that is not going to give me a hassle for this?

Thanks in advance.

I duno in boston, but I heard on cape there cracking down on pretty much anything you can get away with. What if you just rip the bulb out for a temp fix?

temp fix is to pull out the bulb... takes about 5 minutes

Did Schneller scan the SRS system to figure out what fault code it was?:confused

Did Schneller scan the SRS system to figure out what fault code it was?:confused

Yes, they said it was the airbag module under the seat. Bought a used one off this forum and voila. Nothing. More money wasted.

If I pull the bulb;

a) how do I do that?

b) won't the car still through a fault with inspection computer?

If you pull the bulb and bring it back to the same place they might just check to see if you fixed everything through visual inspection. If you drive down here to worcester county I have a friend who does inspections , he hooked me up countless times.

If you pull the bulb and bring it back to the same place they might just check to see if you fixed everything through visual inspection. If you drive down here to worcester county I have a friend who does inspections , he hooked me up countless times.

The 60 period for a "free" reinspection expired so I have a feeling they would start from scratch. I've got to head to CT Friday. How far off the Pike is your friend? And thanks.

Gotta be careful with pulling the bulb. You basically gotta go somewhere where they wont notice that the light nevet turned on. Otherwise you will fail at most stations for the light never coming on iirc.

Thanks for all the advice guys.

How do I pull the bulb? Sounds like a good calculated risk at most shops.

it is easyer to cut the wire comming out of the airbag controll module under the rear seat, then reconecting the wire after you get it inspected. I have an SRS scan tool if you need to use it.

The airbag light has secondary illumination - pulling the bulb isn't enough. You have to plug the hole with something.

Just read out the codes with an SRS tool and fix the problem. It's most likely the passenger seat occupancy sensor.

Their inspection computer reads OBD fault codes, not SRS.

The airbag light has secondary illumination - pulling the bulb isn't enough. You have to plug the hole with something.

Just read out the codes with an SRS tool and fix the problem. It's most likely the passenger seat occupancy sensor.

Their inspection computer reads OBD fault codes, not SRS.

I found that out teh hard way! Damn BMW. But I just black duct tape over it and no one was the wiser at the inspection place. Took me 10 minutes all said and done.

The 60 period for a "free" reinspection expired so I have a feeling they would start from scratch. I've got to head to CT Friday. How far off the Pike is your friend? And thanks.


20 Minutes off the pike, he is located in webster MA. He won't just give you a sticker but he will pull the car in and "inspect" it and then pass you lol. Just let me know so I can tip him off because he is really skeptical about doing it for anyone but me but I am pretty persuasive when it comes to him so.

Any chance you could email me the name of the station and your cell off the forums to jroman@arn.com? I'm heading to CT tomorrow and don't have time to pull bulbs/cut wires at this point.

I would like to fix this right so I may hit you guys up for the scan tool if someone does not mind helping with that.

20 Minutes off the pike, he is located in webster MA. He won't just give you a sticker but he will pull the car in and "inspect" it and then pass you lol. Just let me know so I can tip him off because he is really skeptical about doing it for anyone but me but I am pretty persuasive when it comes to him so.

Hey man I sent you an email.

Lucky Star Gas in Bridgewater will pass anything, as long as its not emissions failure

I really appreciate all the offers to help. I did not want to get anyone in trouble.

As it turns out, the taped airbag light worked although they mentioned my ABS light and that the third brake light was still out. They passed me though so I'm all set. If anyone needs this for reference in the Boston area, I'm happy to PM you the name of the place in Chelsea. I don't want to put it up here and get them in trouble.

Back to the origin of this issues - the airbag light. Knowing that it's not the airbag module, does anyone know how to replace/check the passenger seat occupancy sensor?

Anyone have issues with window tint at the inspection stations? One smelly foreign guy in Milton broke my balls about it being 30% which was probably legal in FL but won't fly up here. The guy said he would fail me if he inspected it so I passed on them. Found two guys who let it slide nearby. WTF is up all of the sudden with that? I've been pulled over twice with this car and had it inspected twice since I got the god dam car. Quincy cops never said anything.

I really appreciate all the offers to help. I did not want to get anyone in trouble.

As it turns out, the taped airbag light worked although they mentioned my ABS light and that the third brake light was still out. They passed me though so I'm all set. If anyone needs this for reference in the Boston area, I'm happy to PM you the name of the place in Chelsea. I don't want to put it up here and get them in trouble.

Back to the origin of this issues - the airbag light. Knowing that it's not the airbag module, does anyone know how to replace/check the passenger seat occupancy sensor?

I too would like to know how to do this, my SRS light is on too. i was told the seat belt pretentioner was known to go bad alot. i havent scanned for codes or anything though because of lack of obd1 scanner.

Anyone have issues with window tint at the inspection stations? One smelly foreign guy in Milton broke my balls about it being 30% which was probably legal in FL but won't fly up here. The guy said he would fail me if he inspected it so I passed on them. Found two guys who let it slide nearby. WTF is up all of the sudden with that? I've been pulled over twice with this car and had it inspected twice since I got the god dam car. Quincy cops never said anything.
as of october this year the inspection laws changed and they got VERY strict. its complete bull and i've ranted about it before and dont want to right now, but its crap complete b/s I've been doing stickers for maybe 8mo now and i've already been taken to court by mass RMV for "not preforming a complete inspection" meaning i put a sticker on someones truck and the RMV said it shouldent have had one.
the fines are rediculas as well. something like max of 50,000 and loss of drivers license.
I HATE MASS.. but hey if you cant get around the inspection laws like me, become an inspector and you dont need to follow any of them :evil2

They pull the same bullshit (surprise, surprise) up here in Maine. Every year or two there's enough public furor generated that someone gets a petition up to get rid of the yearly inspection hoopla, and then all the legistlators say "It's for safety, think of the children" :mad even though there are other states that have just as bad winters (and just as much salt) with either 2-yearly or even no inspections at all.

What really fucking gets me is that, every time someone has the balls (and lack of brains) to tell me to my face that it's because of the salt on the roads in winter, I say "Oh yeah, shithead? Why does my motorcycle need to be inspected every year too?" because I sure as shit don't ride that when it's snowing, fuckface. And then they just go blank...

Sorry to highjack your thread, rant over :)