Malfunctioning occupant detection sensor

TitanKing · 10-19-2005, 11:31 PM

Just picked up a new 2006 on 10/8. The only thing wrong with it that I have found is that the occupant detection sensor (on the front passenger seat of course) does not work 90% of the time. At least the light on my dash doesn`t come on. Who else has had this problem, and what was your experience in getting it fixed.

1bigtexastitan · 10-20-2005, 01:59 AM

Can you elaborate? If I am not mistaken, the orange light will go off if there is someone in the passenger seat weighing more than 40 lbs. If not, it will stay lit and the airbag will not deploy. Hope this helps.

galaxycrew · 10-20-2005, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1bigtexastitan

Can you elaborate? If I am not mistaken, the orange light will go off if there is someone in the passenger seat weighing more than 40 lbs. If not, it will stay lit and the airbag will not deploy. Hope this helps.

ditto..........

buzzkillwill · 10-20-2005, 04:41 AM

I believe the weight is 60 lbs. for the airbag to be 'active'. Otherwise, the light will stay on/lit, if less than 60 lbs. is in the seat.

If you're having a problem, as some have had in the past, take it back to the dealer and have them check it. Some were having problems with the connection for the sensor, others had to have the seat replaced.

SickWhip · 10-20-2005, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzkillwill

I believe the weight is 60 lbs. for the airbag to be 'active'. Otherwise, the light will stay on/lit, if less than 60 lbs. is in the seat.

If you're having a problem, as some have had in the past, take it back to the dealer and have them check it. Some were having problems with the connection for the sensor, others had to have the seat replaced.

I took mine in for this reason on tuesday and the reply was.... (tech) "I called Nissan and they said that nothing is wrong with it. Nissan says that its not just a certain weight that turns it off, its mass. If a person of small mass sits in the seat, the airbag will not deploy. If the airbag goes off and someone doesn't have enough mass, they could get hurt." I didn't like this awnser at all and don't know what to do about it. I also told them that the reception owas bad on the new radio that they installed and they said that everything was connected right and the stations I had problems with where too far away. They are about 25-30 miles away (Columbus, GA). What do you guys think I should do?

baseballfanz · 10-20-2005, 07:33 AM

Another word if your a$$ is to small you don't get full protection.

SickWhip · 10-20-2005, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baseballfanz

Another word if your a$$ is to small you don't get full protection.

Seriously...That is just stupid! What do you guys think I should do?

buzzkillwill · 10-20-2005, 08:03 AM

Well...

There should be some writtne explanation on how the sensor actually works. Have them show you in the manual, and I mean the in-depth manual actually how it works.

As for not having enough 'mass' for the seat...I disagree. I had my 9 year old son, who is built like a bag of hammers sit in it to see what it would do. At about 4'5, he barely weights sixty pounds. A few times the light went on, and a few times it didn't. And he is by far the skinniest sixty pound kid there can be-and he has no 'a$$ mass'. I would ask for further explanation, or check with another dealer, if there's one nearby.

If there isn't one nearby, call one and ask them their opinon of it.

TitanKing · 10-20-2005, 09:26 AM

I know that the light only comes on when there is not enough weight in the seat. My light doesn`t come on when the seat is empty. I know how the sensor is supposed to work. My question is if anybody has had their occupant detection sensor malfunction and what experience they had in getting it fixed. Thankyou for your experiences buzzkillwill and sickwhip. I have a 9 year old son who is maybe 80 lbs. Part of the selling point for me buying the truck is that when working correctly the front passenger airbag will not deploy if there is a weight of less than 100-120 lbs according to the manual. This way my son could "sit up front with his dad".

buzzkillwill · 10-20-2005, 09:36 AM

TitanKing,

Check out some of these threads below. I remember people in the past having issues, but I don't remember the final outcome.

I did a search using airbag. You could try other word combos under the search feature if you'd like, but that's the best I got for ya'.

Good luck!

http://www.titantalk.com/forums/sho...ht=airbag+lemon
http://www.titantalk.com/forums/sho...ht=airbag+lemon
[important] Airbag issues - weight confirmed

BLKingTitan · 10-20-2005, 10:32 AM

I'm pretty sure that I remember reading something about the 2006's that said the light was different from the previous two years. In that, it does not illuminate if the seat is empty or occupied by a child. If there is an adult in the seat it will light to show the bag is active. Does anyone else recall reading that? I know that there have been problems in the 04's and some 05's. Just me thinking aloud. TitanKing did say he just got an 06.

SickWhip · 10-20-2005, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SickWhip

I took mine in for this reason on tuesday and the reply was.... (tech) "I called Nissan and they said that nothing is wrong with it. Nissan says that its not just a certain weight that turns it off, its mass. If a person of small mass sits in the seat, the airbag will not deploy. If the airbag goes off and someone doesn't have enough mass, they could get hurt." I didn't like this awnser at all and don't know what to do about it. I also told them that the reception owas bad on the new radio that they installed and they said that everything was connected right and the stations I had problems with where too far away. They are about 25-30 miles away (Columbus, GA). What do you guys think I should do?

I contacted my service dept. today after reading this:
[important] Airbag issues - weight confirmed
and he asked that my wife come in and site in one of the new titans and see if she light goes off in it. And if so, then he would order me a new seat. What do you guys think about that?

keane · 10-21-2005, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLKingTitan

I'm pretty sure that I remember reading something about the 2006's that said the light was different from the previous two years. In that, it does not illuminate if the seat is empty or occupied by a child. If there is an adult in the seat it will light to show the bag is active. Does anyone else recall reading that? I know that there have been problems in the 04's and some 05's. Just me thinking aloud. TitanKing did say he just got an 06.

BINGO!!! The 2006 light acts differently than the 2004 and 2005. All those past threads that dealt with problems with the 2004 Airbag sensor are not relevant.

phlydude · 10-21-2005, 09:17 AM

Coreect, the 2006 models don't illuminate unless there is someone in the seat that the system doesn't feel is capable of handling of airbag deployment safely.
It's like my old Accord with side airbags. The light stayed off no matter what unless I had something on the seat that shifted weight to the side. Once a re-adjustment of the items on the seat was made, the light went out.

TitanKing · 10-21-2005, 09:22 AM

Thankyou for everyones help in this matter. The light does not come on when the seat is empty. But the light is still not coming on when my 80 lb son sits in the seat. So it is partially working. But not when my most precious cargo is riding in the seat. So I`ve made an appt for Tuesday and I`ll see what they come up with. Thanks again everyone.