Doh And Double Doh!

[noddydog]

Last night I left the drivers window down on my 99 1.8GS Avensis and it rained. This morning the inside of the door was wet and so was the carpet around the door opening and seat. Now today I had to go on a long journey and after about an hour and a half the airbag light started flashing on the dashboard. It kept flashing for the next hour until I reached my destination. When I arrived I turned off the ignition and then turned it back on. This time the light illuminated (as normal for start up) and then went out. I sat in the car for about two minutes and it stayed off. I've now come inside to write this.

So my questions are;

1) Is the open window and the damp floor likely to be the culprit (i.e. where are the sensors) or is it just a coincidence?

2) Does anything have to be 'reset' and does a dealer have to do this?

3) If this is not connected with the water/window, is this a common fault and what should I do next?

Any other advice gratefully received and thank you in advance for answering.

[Parva]

Last night I left the drivers window down on my 99 1.8GS Avensis and it rained. This morning the inside of the door was wet and so was the carpet around the door opening and seat. Now today I had to go on a long journey and after about an hour and a half the airbag light started flashing on the dashboard. It kept flashing for the next hour until I reached my destination. When I arrived I turned off the ignition and then turned it back on. This time the light illuminated (as normal for start up) and then went out. I sat in the car for about two minutes and it stayed off. I've now come inside to write this.

So my questions are;

1) Is the open window and the damp floor likely to be the culprit (i.e. where are the sensors) or is it just a coincidence?

2) Does anything have to be 'reset' and does a dealer have to do this?

3) If this is not connected with the water/window, is this a common fault and what should I do next?

Any other advice gratefully received and thank you in advance for answering.

'Usually', a flashing airbag light indicates a problem with the seat-belt pre-tensioners. Considering that the floor has been soaked it's feasible that the connector for the seat-belt pre-tensioner has been contaminated and therefore caused the problem you have described (the connectors are usually under the seat somewhere). Hopefully, the fact that the light now remains extinguished would suggest that the connector has dried out and all is well again.

[noddydog]

Thanks for your thoughts. I left an electric heater in the cabin for several hours this afternoon. The light was still off when I took the car out for a short jouney tonight. Let's hope that's the last of it.

[Penfold]

The side airbags are inside the plastic trim on the outer edge of the front seat cushions. Sounds like you might have flooded the wiring inside this panel.

Drying it out slowly should be OK.

[noddydog]

The side airbags are inside the plastic trim on the outer edge of the front seat cushions. Sounds like you might have flooded the wiring inside this panel.

Drying it out slowly should be OK.

Thanks, I think that's it since the light hasn't come on in the last couple of days. Hopefully I won't be leaving the window open again!