What sensor do I need to change to correct the issue of a bad sensor? I've noticed, everytime that someone sits in the passenge seat that the sensor dash error light comes on. It suppose to activate the passenger sensor but it doesn't. What is it I need to do to correct the issue?

 

So has anyone fixed this issue before?

 

What does the dash say in the error message? Just saying that it puts out an error message doesn't help much.. but most likely if it's linked to the passenger awareness sensor it's under the seat I bet

 

It gives the red light icon error for passenger seat airbag malfunction when that airbag is not working properly.

 

I had an issue similar to this, and it had to do with a short in the wiring under the passenger seat that goes to the seatbelt pretensioner unit in the B pillar (the part that the belt rolls up into). The seatbelt pretensioner is all one unit, so I had to buy a new one. Recalibrating/resetting the passenger seat sensor code that it was popping didn't work, as it came back. The dealer or special scanner would be able to pull the codes kept in the seatbelt/airbag/SRS system. It showed as a B0081 code.

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Bulletin No.: 09-09-40-003A

Date: July 26, 2010

Subject: SIR/Airbag Light Illuminated, DTC B0081 and Passenger Presence System (PPS) Code 23 Stored (Replace Passenger Seat Belt Retractor and Re-Route Wire Harness)

Models:
2006-2008 Chevrolet Cobalt Coupe
2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Coupe
2006 Pontiac Pursuit Coupe (Canada Only)
2007-2010 Pontiac G5 Coupe Supercede:
This bulletin is being revised to update the model years. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 09-09-40-003 (Section 09 - Restraints).
Condition

Some customers may comment that the SIR light is illuminated. Upon investigation, the technician may find the following SDM code stored:

DTC B0081 71: Passenger Presence System Invalid Serial Data Received With Passenger Presence System (PPS) Flash Code of DTC 023

Cause

The wire on the Belt Tension Sensor (BTS), that is part of the retractor assembly, may become open or acquire a ground near the sensor. If the BTS is rotated toward the rear of the vehicle, added stress is applied to the wire bundle that may cause an open or a ground path. The two photos below illustrate the possible effects on the wiring. Each photo indicates the area to investigate at the arrow labeled (1).

 

So this indicates that i need to look into this area and see if I find a short of some sort. I have a scanner but never picked up the code for the seatbelt. is it anything special that I need to do to pull that code?

 

Usually a general scanner won't pick it up for some reason, and I'm not sure why. Perhaps the SRS / airbag system is on its own dedicated data bus, and only certain scanners know how to communicate with the module that's actually on the GMLAN. Going from memory, none of my scanners would pick it up, but the dealer did. The main way I knew I had some sort of issue was because the airbag system error light would come on. Once I figured what tended to cause the error to suddenly happen, I looked up the symptoms, and found the code, and when the dealer called it was the same code: B0081 71.

 

Ok. So do this procedure and this should fix my problem?

 

Well I'd verify that that's the code you're getting first. If so, then yes.

 

Ok. Thanks bro!

 

No problem. Good luck!

 

sorry to bring up an old thread but is there anymore details on how you fixed this ?

just replaced the hole assembly or did you find a shorted wire ?

thanks!

 

^^^^This. What is the Torx wrench size needed to remove the bolt near the bottom of the passenger seat? I have up to T40 but not bigger and it does not fit. Is this a difficult procedure?