SRS & Belt extender - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Kieran1 · #1 03-04-2009, 09:44 PM

re. 1988 W124 300CE

* I disconnected the driver's side seat belt extender (the actual unit behind the panel), now I am getting a blinking Red SRS warning light on the dash cluster. Are the 2 related?

- Is it possible to completely disconnect the SRS error/warning system?

Thank you very much,

Kieran-

deanyel · #2 03-04-2009, 10:08 PM

Quite easy to take out the warning light bulb. What else would you want to disable?

glenmore · #3 03-04-2009, 11:47 PM

He probably has a more serious version of a problem that I only have occasionally. The seat belt extender will not retract after you clip in your seatbelt. This happens on my car maybe once or twice a year. After gently pushing it back in manually, I just remember next time
to clip in before starting the car. After a few days, it will magically repair itself and operate normally.

glenmore
1991 300CE
2000 C280

deanyel · #4 03-05-2009, 12:25 AM

He has completely disabled the seat belt extender.

glenmore · #5 03-05-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deanyel

He has completely disabled the seat belt extender.

Correct. I'm guessing that after he starts his car, the arm extends, he clips in his belt, and n the the arm will not retract and this is why he wants to disable it. I have developed the habit to first clip in before starting the car to save wear and tear on the extender. But sometimes in a hurry I forget and the extender works normally and will retract after I clip in. Once in awhile it will not retract, and I have to get out of the car and push it back in manually. If this is his problem then he just has to remember to always clip in before starting the car. You wouldn't want to take out the warning bulb because then you wouldn't be alerted if there was some other problem with the SRS like the air bag or the horn hub.

glenmore
1991 300CE
2000 C280

deanyel · #6 03-05-2009, 11:43 AM

Thanks for all these fine opinions but they have little to do with the questions at hand. Once again, he has disconnected the seat belt extender, it's an electro-mechanical device, it's dead. You're on auto-pilot and have not read the question.

Kieran1 · #7 03-05-2009, 01:03 PM

Removing the SRS light from the indicator is the most obvious solution, but I was simply wondering if there is a master SRS component that could be removed & what effect would this have...
- I DID completely disconnect the belt extender; it does absolutely nothing now. I am thinking that the SRS light is now coming on due my doing that. I will eventually remove the panel & reonnect & see if that stops the SRS light but I wanted to avoid doing that (again).

Just thought I would check & see if anyone else has experienced this result or has disabled the SRS system completely. . . ?

glenmore · #8 03-05-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deanyel

Thanks for all these fine opinions but they have little to do with the questions at hand. Once again, he has disconnected the seat belt extender, it's an electro-mechanical device, it's dead. You're on auto-pilot and have not read the question.

The obvious question to Kieran would be why is he disabling the extender. I offered a simple suggestion as to how I handle the problem that I suspect he might have. If this is the problem and if he is the only driver of the car, then this solution is a simple enough. Plug it back in, clear the SRS light, and just buckle in before starting the car. And as in my case, the problem may go away. The non-retracting extender can be annoying if others use the car and particularly embarrassing if say the valet brings your car up in front of a crowd at the Ritz Carlton. If this is the case, he needs to either fix it or just disable the extender without triggering the SRS light. I don't know if this is possible and apparently you don't either.

Suggesting to unplug the idiot light is not safe. If there is a another problem with the SRS system, Kieran will never know.

For a person that has made thousands of post, I would have thought you would have learned by now to avoid starting sentences with "You" or You're" because they are almost invariably followed by an ad hominen attack. Knock yourself out if you want to behave this way.

glenmore
1991 300CE
2000 C280

glenmore · #9 03-05-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kieran1

Removing the SRS light from the indicator is the most obvious solution, but I was simply wondering if there is a master SRS component that could be removed & what effect would this have...
- I DID completely disconnect the belt extender; it does absolutely nothing now. I am thinking that the SRS light is now coming on due my doing that. I will eventually remove the panel & reonnect & see if that stops the SRS light but I wanted to avoid doing that (again).

Just thought I would check & see if anyone else has experienced this result or has disabled the SRS system completely. . . ?

Kieran,

Why are you disabling the extender in the first place? Is it not retracting as sometimes happens in my car? It would be useful to the forum if you could give us a quick DIY on how to get in there.

Thanks,

glenmore
1991 300CE
2000 C280

Ferdman · #10 03-05-2009, 03:43 PM

Kieran, if you remove the fuse for the seat belt presenter it won't function any longer and no other issues, except the passenger side mirror is on the same circuit and won't function either. I have removed that fuse on both our 300CE's to prevent problems with the seat belt presenters and the pod trim piece coming loose. Simply reach your hand back just above the floor to grab the seat belt ... no real need for the seat belt presenter.

Kieran1 · #11 03-06-2009, 05:46 PM

[quote=glenmore;2130597]Kieran,

Why are you disabling the extender in the first place?

Hi & thank you for the helpful comments.

- I disabled the extender because the gears were stripped from the original owner's wife yanking on it. The thing was a mess & acting up even while driving. So for now, I disconnected it. I will find a good / decent replacement unit or new gear soon, but that is low on the list of priorities. I actually like not having the extender. It works fine for me...

- access DIY: very easy actually:
- remove the rear seat bottom cushion (using the simple red release tab)
- unscrew the single screw at the bottom of the panel cover
- remove the two large srews from the armrest / remove
- remove the chrome trim plate at the door frame edge
- lift up & remove away the panel unit (just like a door panel)
- find the connecting cable to the arm extender motor & simply disconnect.
* I covered & secure the cable & female plug with plastic & electrical tape to protect them from moisture & rattling
** put everything back in reverse (take this time to do a good cleaning under those seats back there... I also removed (super easy) the center console & cleaned all of that too.

A very very easy job.

Take Care, Kieran-

Kieran1 · #12 03-06-2009, 05:48 PM

Simply reach your hand back just above the floor to grab the seat belt ... no real need for the seat belt presenter.[/quote]

I agree 100%. I will replace the extender so that it does work, but I will probably also still leave it disconnected. I am fine without it...

deanyel · #13 03-06-2009, 07:08 PM

This is one of those personality indicators - some people can't imagine not fixing it and using it, and others can't wait to get rid of it. I'm in the latter group - one of the most worthless, fragile, and expensive gimmicks in the history of the automobile.