Airbag Reset Procedure

Another post for future reference. These new fangled cars have all these complex sensors and warning lights just waiting to make one's life safer, but potentially more of a hassle.

If you ever unplug the airbag harness on the 350Z seats while the car is on, the airbag light on the dashboard will start flashing. Once you have plugged the harness (or a 2.2 ohm 0.25W resistor) back in, a procedure must be performed to reset the airbag (SRS) system and make the airbag light stop flashing. I found instructions on the 350Z-tech forum and have modified them according to what worked for me.

The procedure consists of two parts:

1. Change the SRS system to Self-Diagnosis Mode.
2. Change the SRS system back to User Mode.

How to change to Self-Diagnosis Mode:

1. Turn the ignition switch from OFF to ON.
2. Within 1 second of the airbag warning lamp starting to flash, turn OFF the ignition switch.
3. Wait for more than 3 seconds.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 twice. (Perform 3 times in total)
5. Turn the ignition switch ON again and the dash should be in Self-Diagnosis Mode, signified by the airbag warning lamp flashing at a slower rate than it did in User Mode.
6. Turn the ignition switch OFF.

How to change to User Mode:

1. Turn the ignition switch from OFF to ON.
2. Within 1 second of the airbag warning lamp starting to flash, turn OFF the ignition switch.
3. Wait for more than 3 seconds.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 twice. (Perform 3 times in total)
5. Turn the ignition switch ON again and the dash should be in User Mode. After the initial checks, the airbag warning lamp should turn off and no longer flash.

Source: 350z-tech.com