Over the weekend, the red SRS light on the dash (91 560SEC) came on, and I wonder if there are any DIY diagnostics or troubleshooting steps that I may want to try before taking it in to the dealer. Or is this something I should not attempt to mess with ?! As always, thank you !

NEVER TRY TO D.I.Y. ON THIS ITEM. As I know (told by a tech), SRS lights on means that the system terminates the operation itself- it will NOT 'blow' in any situation including ACCIDENT. So, LET THE TECH. HANDLE IT. It can be as simple as reset the system with their handy computer within a second...hope this helps!

I wonder if your car was made or put in service in March,
1991. The bags are supposed to be replaced every 10 years.
My SRS was replaced in 1996, when my car was 10 years old.
Yours is now 10. Planned obsolescence?

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VR
1967 250SL

Should the SRS light come on with the other indicator lights in the cluster when turning on the key? I have noticed that the low fuel light and the lights along the bottom of the cluster will come on when starting the engine. The only lights that do not illuminate are the headlight high-beam and the SRS light. Should it come on to with the other indicator lights just to comfirm that the blub is OK?

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• 2001 E320

Mercedes has extended the planned replacement of all airbags. There are none that are yet up for replacement. The planned replacement was a liability issue. Since long term effects of humidity and heat couldn't be planned there was an original planned service life. When the first bags started hitting this interval in 1995 they extended the life as a history was known by this time.

Diagnostic fault codes can be read and erased using the instructions given in the DIY section under evaluating electronic engine controls (the method for doing impulse codes are the same for all systems - the pin to read is #6). There are 10 different fault code possibilities for the 91 126 chassis.

Codes are:

#1 no malfunction
#2 SRS control unit
#3 Driver airbag
#4 Front passenger airbag
#5 Driver seat belt buckle
#6 Front passenger seat belt buckle
#7 Front passenger airbag resistor
#8 Voltage supply
#9 Warning lamp defective
#10 SRS control unit was activated - was in a accident

#10 is never erasable!

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Crowe
The SRS light should come on as soon as you turn the ignition key into the first (accessory) position and will go out earlier as the rest of the control bulbs...

greetingz,

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1990 300SL-24
1993 C250D with a minor 600+k kilometer
www.MBenzNL.com(the Netherlands)

Interesting, I have a similar issue with my 560 SEC, 1989.

About 30 minutes into a drive, the SRS light illuminates intermittently for brief periods. Oddly, it always seems to wait about 30 minutes.

I plan to check codes, Steve I assume '89 and '91 are same, correct? Thanks.

Tom

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CloudNine
'89 560SEC

Yes, 89-91 are the same. The 88 is also much the same except it has a few less codes since it only has a drivers side airbag. Before 88 there are no available self-diagnostics and the system must be tested with a box that plugs in with the control unit unplugged.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

This is an invaluable resource, and I would like to thank all of you for sharing your info and suggestions.
The light comes on at ignition, and stays on until the engine is turned off.
I will read the DIY article on diagnosing, and keep you posted.
Gratefully,

BA

Exactly what happened to my car 3 mos. ago.On my way home,
srs lightwent on .As soon as Igot home I called my mechanic.
He said to bring it the next day as soon as I get off work.
But that next morning,the car is dead.It turns out to be the alternator.

Good Luck.

I may try using your guidance in the DIY article to diagnosing my situation. The SRS light on my '88 300E has never worked since I purchase the car. My hope is that the bulb is simply burned out. All the other indicator lights come on as designed. If the default in the SRS system is for the light to come on, no light might just be a bad bulb. At least I hope so.

By the way is the SRS bulb used the same as other indicator lights (000 545 34 19)?

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• 2001 E320