My new (to me) RX8 has airbag light on. The seller told me that the light has been on since he got the car with 16,000 miles on it back in 2006 and the dealer diagnosed it as a problem with the passenger air bag. The code is 2 blinks then 1 blink. If I am reading the code right (https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/rx8-air-bag-warning-light-codes-164676/) this code is for "Passenger-side air bag module (inflator No.1) circuit resistance high" which would confirm the dealer diagnosis.

I looked at the airbag following this DIY: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-replace-passenger-side-airbag-cover-thats-splitting-%24150-201523/ and found that somebody has obviously been in there before. The glove box strut is broken and the airbag is unplugged...that may be the problem...:D

My stupid question is this: If I disconnect the battery and try to plug the airbag back in what are the chances it will blow up in my face? It seems very odd to me that the airbag would just be unplugged like that for no reason.

Thanks.

 

I just looked at it a little more and I won't be plugging it in any time soon...the yellow wrapped harness that runs from the plug behind the glovebox to the airbag charges is missing. Is this an integral part of the airbag module, or can I just order this harness and plug it in? If so, my original question still stands... Here is a picture of the harness from Rocketman1976's thread:

 

I'm pretty sure, but not positive, that the wiring harness comes with the airbag. Whether or not you can get it separately, would be a question for your local Mazda parts department.

Pretty much the only way that airbag is going to deploy, is if the airbag module itself is defective. And it's not going to happen with the battery disconnected.

The mystery of why someone chose to remove the wiring harness is concerning. You have to start to wonder if the airbag module was replaced with one from a wrecking yard, due to the previous one activating from a crash.

 

Thanks. The local mazda dealer can not seem to find this part in the parts catalog, and all of the used airbags I have seen come bare without the harness. I have posted a wanted ad in the parts section and contacted a few people parting out their cars to see if I can get it used.

Carfax shows that this car was stolen before the previous owner got it. I wonder if they stole the airbag out of it, or if they started to, but only got the wire out.