I have a '05 Cabrio with the "new" Passenger Airbag OFF display between the buttons for the roof and windows.

I don't quite understand the explaination in the owner's manual. When I start the car, it flashes "OFF" then stays unlit. I thought it was to stay on?

Then one day I put my briefcase and a small toolkit in the passenger seat, and halfway home I noticed it was lit up "OFF". The seat belt was not plugged in. So the insufficent weight triggered it to stay lit?

My question is this:

What causes it to stay lit with "OFF"?

 

The airbag light is not supposed to stay "ON" under any normal circumstances Let me explain: (Note: MINI has been fitting active airbags on all new '05 MINIs built since January 2005).

The system uses "Reverse logic", in other words when you first start the car, the seat cushion mounted sensors 'detect' whether a front seat passenger is seated or not. If no one is occupying the front seat, the headliner airbag light is supposed to stay on (Or flash) for a few seconds and then go out. Then, the computer automatically shuts off the passenger airbag.

If someone seats in the front passenger seat (With the engine running), the "airbag off" light will momentarily flash/stay on. This means the computer has detected a passenger and it is taking body weight readings to determine optimal air bag deployment force rates. Then the light goes out but the computer enables the airbag in the passenger side.

It is a bit confusing the way the system works, but at any rate, the light is not supposed to stay on at all. If it does, then you have a problem requiring a dealer visit to diagnose.

Placing objects on the seat may confuse the sensors, thus triggering the light to stay on. Also avoid placing seat covers on MINIs equipped with active airbags as these may cause the sensor to malfunction and possibly turn off the airbag even if the seat is been occupied.

Some GM vehicles with similar active airbag technology use the "Airbag off" light but in those cars/trucks so equipped, if no one is occupying the front passenger seat, the "Airbag off" light remains solid on until someone seats. It is annoying to have this light on all the time because GM usually places the warning light in the headliner or in the rearview mirror display.

BMW decided not to have it on even if no one is riding up front.

Hope this helps.

 

I think the only time the airbag "OFF" light is supposed to remain lit is if something under 60 lbs (or whatever the cut off weight is based on the size/age of a child in the front seat) is on the seat and the seatbelt is plugged in.

This way if you do have a smaller child in the front seat, or a dog, etc, it shows that the airbag is indeed off.

Based on the toolbox experience, however, it could be determined that the airbag is turned off with the sub 60lb passenger whether or not the seatbelt is fastened - just to be safe I guess.