Why a Supplemental Restraint System Light on Your Dashboard Demands Your Attention

The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) is an important safety features built into many late model cars that helps to reduce injuries in the event of a crash. The SRS is a passive system that needs no driver involvement to activate and will react immediately to any accident and deploy a series of safety measures at the first sign of a crash. This system is controlled by the cars computer, and when there is an error with any of the parts that make up this system, the SRS light on the dashboard will be lit to alert the driver.

What Does the Supplemental Restraint System Light Mean?

When the car is first started, the computer that controls the electronics in the vehicle does a check of all the systems it monitors. If it finds a fault with any of the parts included in the SRS it will light this indicator on the dashboard. There can be a wide variety of parts used in the SRS depending on the year and model of car. These parts typically include dashboard airbags, side curtain airbags, seat weight sensors, impact sensors, and relays that trigger a tightening of the seat belts in an emergency. Each of these parts needs to be completely functional before the car is driven for this light to be off. If any of them is failing, the light will be lit and the car should be taken to the auto repair shop as soon as possible.

Should a Car Be Driven with the This Light Lit?

While this is up to the driver, the car is definitely less safe with the SRS not working. This additional safeguard against injury during a crash cannot protect the vehicles occupants if the SRS light is lit. You can try resetting the seat belts and starting the car again to see if this fixes the problem. If not, the car should be taken to an auto repair center to have the issue resolved as soon as possible. This may be an easy repair and can keep your vehicle as safe as possible on the roads.

What Components Can Cause the Light to Come On?

There is no universal standard for an SRS and the parts used can vary dramatically between vehicles. Typically this system is designed to be a passive system that stays dormant most of the time and then springs into action to protect the passengers in the event of a crash. The parts that are normally controlled by this system include the dashboard airbags. These are deployed for any crash on the front of the car. Some vehicles also have side airbags and these can trigger when a side impact occurs. Most cars SRS will also cinch up the seat belts a little tighter when a crash occurs to restrict the movement of the passengers.

Can This Light Be Reset by the Driver?

While the process for resetting the light varies between cars, simply turning off the light will not fix the problem that caused it to illuminate. An experienced mechanic can quickly isolate the faulty component in the vehicle and replace it. This should reset the light and return the car to its original condition. In some cases you can fix the problem yourself by making sure all of the seat belts have fully retracted into their initial position. Pull them out as far as they can go and guide them back in to make sure there are no snags. Once you have done this for all of the belts in the car, try starting the car again to see if you’ve fixed the problem.

How Can You Tell What Parts Are Causing the Problem?

The only way to repair this type of issue is by taking the vehicle to a qualified auto repair center and having them read the OBD codes from the car. These codes will tell the technician which parts have failed and allow them to replace them as needed. These codes are very detailed and may even provide a history of how long a particular part has been failing. Once these parts are replaced, this same tool allows them to reset these codes to turn the SRS light off on your dashboard. In some cases these codes may point to more than one failing component since these systems are so tightly coupled. A good repair technician will systematically replace these parts individually and monitor the vehicle for any hint of the problem returning.

A Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) in your vehicle makes it much safer and protects you and your family in the event of a crash. While you hope to never have to use this system, making sure it’s working correctly is an important precaution. If the SRS light comes on in your car you should visit a qualified auto repair center as soon as possible to have the problem corrected. This will ensure the SRS is ready in the event of a crash to protect your passengers.