Vehicle is a 2004 Suburban K1500 which has never had an airbag deployment.

I was sitting with engine idling after a fuel stop and when the last passenger hopped back in the front passenger seat and I began to pull out of the parking lot I noticed the SRS light flashing and then staying illuminated. When I got home I used my BlueDriver scan tool to pull codes and there were a handful. I cleared all codes, and then put weight in seats and opened and closed seatbelts a few times and re-read the SRS codes. I now have a single persistent code of B0053.

BlueDriver describes that code as "Second Row Left Seatbelt Sensor" which does not seem like it would have anything to do with the SRS system since this does not have any rear airbags I know of. Other places seem to say the B0053 code is an airbag deployment command which can only be from an accident or will be found with other faults.

Based on other threads I have done a quick visual inspection of the various connectors for the 2 front seats with nothing blatantly obvious wrong. I feel silly pulling front seats to look deeper into the wiring if the error code says 2nd row left but it was the right front passenger seat that was in play when the fault appeared.

Any advice from the crowd here on where best to start looking?

Thanks!

--Jeff

 

b0053 is a latched ie permanent code set in the sdm/ air bag module. if a deployment didn't occur; the module thinks a deployment occurred. the only fix is sdm replacment. the code cannot be cleared.

 

Thank you tech2. That sounds like I got lucky I didnt have a random airbag deployment while idling at the gas station!

I'll swap out the SDM and hope I'm done.

Thanks again.

 

the system is designed to need 2 inputs for deployment to occur...a frame mounted impact sensor and a safeing sensor in the module...this prevents false deployment.

 

That makes sense. I have found a company (MyAirbags.com) that claims to be able to reset this code. Given that I don't have any other SRS codes active other than the latched B00053 code, does it seem reasonable that if they reset that code and I resinstall the SDM that I may be good to go?

 

Sorry to bug you with another question! It looks like a replacement SDM with the correct part number can be pretty easily obtained from the used part market. There are some general statements that 'sometimes' this will require getting a Chevy dealer to properly code the module for my vehicle's VIN number. How can I tell if that will be required for my vehicle (2004 suburban k1500)? Is that something a dealer is likely to balk at doing(coding a customer-supplied, used part of unknown origin)?

Thanks for your expertise in this area!!

 

if the seller does not have your vin to complete the programming...it will need to be programmed by the dealer.

 

Thanks, I've not been able to find a vendor that will program your VIN for you so this seems like a dealer only (or repair shop with the appropriate test equip) repair.

 

After confirming I would have to replace the module, and that I would likely have to have a dealer program it, I did some more digging and found a mobile diagnostics group that had the gear to reset the code. They advised me to install the replacement module, and confirm there was only one airbag code (B1001 needs configuration, or something close to that) and then they could flash it with my VIN. They are fairly easy to find and not terribly expensive ($50 -$75). I ordered one that matched my part number exactly (15172709), and what arrived was a 15130607. Shipper error, supposedly that second number is a drop in replacement. I re-ordered the correct part, installed it and interestingly enough ALL codes are cleared and the airbag light is clear even without a VIN flash.

As a side note, for grins while I was waiting for the replacement part, I installed the 607 unit and pulled the codes. Sure enough it had only one code (B1001) and I suspect that part would have worked if it had been properly flashed for my vehicle. I suspect the Vin number flash has less to do with your specific VIN and more to do with sub model details encoded in the vin needed to properly configure the airbag controller but thats just a hunch.

Thank you tech2! your information was invaluable in getting this resolved!

--Jeff