Honda SRS Light – [Symptoms, Cause, And Fixes!]

The SRS light indicates a problem with your airbag system. It might be caused by a weak or dead battery. You might also have a blown fuse or a damaged wiring harness. These problems need to be fixed accordingly to turn the SRS light off. But sometimes, a simple reset might do the trick.

Amongst an ocean of information regarding SRS light, it’s not unusual to get confused. 

So do you want to know about the Honda SRS light?

Now let’s get into the details –

What is SRS Light?

SRS stands for Supplemental Restraint System. And SRS light is the warning light for this system. The light will come on when there is a problem with your airbags system. This includes your airbags, steering wheel, computer, or driver’s seat.

Why Is My Honda SRS Light On?

Your honda SRS light can be on for several reasons. These include a weak/dead battery, problems in the wiring harness, problems in the components of the SRS module, defective airbags, etc.

However, the SRS light has been quite a common issue for many Honda cars released between 2001 and 2015. As a result, Honda had to announce recalls for 22.6 million inflators in about 12.9 million vehicles. This recall was due to the defective Takata airbags Honda used in their cars.

So, first and foremost, we recommend you check if your car has defective airbags and is eligible for a free airbag system replacement.

You shouldn’t do it just for the free airbag system replacement, rather it’s to ensure your safety as defective airbags can be life-threatening.

If you have any of the following models, it’s worth checking the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) for a recall.

Honda Car Model	Model Year
Accord	2001-2012
Accord Crosstour	2010-2012
Civic	2001-2011
CR-V	2002-2011
CR-Z	2011-2015
Element	2003-2011
FCX Clarity	2010-2014
Fit	2007-2014
Insight	2010-2014
Odessey	2002-2004
Pilot	2003-2012
Ridgeline	2006-2014

To verify if your car is issued for recall, visit: www.recalls.honda.com or call 888-234-2138.

Source: nhtsa.gov

To find the VIN of your car, look at the lower left of your car’s windshield or at your car’s registration card.

But what if your car isn’t eligible for the recall and your SRS light is on? Let’s find out how you can resolve the issue yourself.

Honda SRS Light Issues and Fix

As we’ve discussed earlier, the SRS light can be on for several reasons. Thus, the solution will vary with the reasons as well.

Note that these fixes don’t reveal the underlying issues that might be causing the SRS light to stay on. If these methods don’t solve the issue, we recommend you to consult your car dealership center or a servicing shop.

So, let’s get started with the DIY fixes that you can perform on your own.

Reason 1: Baseless SRS Light Issue

The SRS light usually comes on for specific reasons. However, sometimes it can come on without any reason and a simple SRS reset can fix the issue.

Solution: Reset the SRS Light

To reset the SRS light in the easiest way, follow the steps below:

Step 1: First, take off the dash panel under the steering wheel. It has two clips on both sides of the panel. Rotate it clockwise gently. This will allow the panel to be removed.

Step 2: From the wires and connectors exposed, locate the MES (Memory Erase Signal) connector. It’s located in the fuse box, a little behind the wirings. It’s a two-hole hold plug usually yellow in color. The cables connected to it are usually green and black.

Step 3: Then, bend a metal paper clip to a “U” shape. Plug it into the connector to short it and keep it there. It’ll work as a jumper cable.

Step 4: Now, turn on the ignition but don’t start the car. Pull the clip out when the SRS light turns off and replug it when the SRS light turns on.

Repeat the process again.

By doing so, you’ll see the SRS light flash twice. It indicates that the reset has been completed successfully. Note that the dash panel or fuse box location could be different if your Honda car’s model isn’t between 1990-  2010 models. In that case, consult your car’s manual.

If the reset doesn’t solve the issue, move on to the next section.

Reason 2: Low or Dead 12 Volt Battery

The SRS module and its components operate electronically and a weak or dead 12-volt battery cannot supply the required electricity to those components. As a result, the SRS light might come on.

Solution: Recharge or Replace the 12 Volt Battery

Whether the battery needs recharging or replacement depends on the condition of the battery. We can verify that using a multimeter. So, how to test car battery voltage using a multimeter?

Here, we’ve provided a guide for you:

Step 1: Keep your headlights on for about two minutes before the testing process. This will eliminate the battery’s surface charge and ensure a proper reading.

Step 2: Now, take your multimeter and turn on its voltmeter feature. Then adjust the dial to 20V. Generally, keeping it within 15V-20V is recommended. 

Step 3: After the headlight is off, you can connect the multimeter to your battery. Connect the red wire of the multimeter to the positive terminal. Then, connect the black wire to the negative terminal. 

This will show the battery voltage on the multimeter screen. Now, let’s analyze the battery condition according to the voltage reading:

Voltage	Battery Condition	Action Needed
12.4 Volts or above	Healthy	No action needed
10.6- 11.9 Volts	Needs recharge	Recharge battery
10.5 Volts or below	Dead	Replace battery

As the table suggests, there are two courses of action if the voltage is under 12V. You need to recharge the battery if the reading is between 10.6-11.9 volts.

So, how to charge a car battery?

We’ve prepared a guide on how to charge the battery. But, before charging it, these prerequisites must be ensured:

• In some car models, the battery might have to be removed from the car for charging. Make sure which one is right for you. 
• Make sure all the electronic components of your car are turned off.
• While removing the terminal cables, disconnect the negative one first. Then the positive cable.
• Make sure the battery terminals are clean. If they are not, clean the terminals.
• Ensure the charger is turned off before connecting.

Now, let’s see how you can start the charging process:

Step 1: Get a 12 volt car battery charger and hook the cables of the charger to the battery terminals. Here, attach the positive wire with the positive terminal. In the same way, attach the negative terminal with the negative wire.

Step 2: Now, turn your charger on and set it to 2 amp. You may set the amp higher than 2 amp to make the charging faster. However, fast charging can reduce the longevity of your car battery.

Step 3: If your charger has timer setting, set a time. This will ensure that you don’t overcharge your battery. For that you should know how much time it takes to charge a car battery.

Step 4: After the charging is done, turn your charger off. Then you can romove the charger connections from the battery.

So, that was about charging the drained battery. However, if the battery shows voltage below 10.5 volts, your battery needs a replacement.

Reason 3: Blown Fuse

It doesn’t matter how good your car’s 12-volt battery is, a blown fuse won’t let the electricity flow. So, if any of the SRS module component’s fuse is blown, the SRS light will come on.

Solution: Replace the Blown Fuse

There’s no option but to replace it if you have a blown fuse. So, how to replace the SRS fuse?

Here, we’ve provided a guide for you:

Step 1: First, you have to locate where the fuse for your SRS module is located. Unlike the other fuses, they are normally placed below the steering wheel or lower passenger side. It’ll be covered with a panel. Unscrew it with a wrench to access the fuse box.

Step 2: It might be that there are some wires in front of the fusebox. Slide them to the side gently. You should use a flashlight to see everything clearly.There are a lot of fuses there. They have a number associated with them on their right side.

Step 3: Locate the fuse for your SRS module. If you have the owner’s manual, consult it to locate the proper fuse, or you can check inside the fuse panel cover, which has a diagram for the fuses. You can grab onto the fuse using a plier and pull to remove it. Take a new fuse of the same amp and insert in in the previous place. Now reattach everything.

With that your fuse should be working perfectly. Although, you have to reset your SRS after that. Also, before starting the whole process, don’t forget to disconnect the battery.

Reason 4: Unplugged or Damaged Wiring Harness

Electricity in your car’s components flow through wires. Hence, if any wire that’s connected to the SRS module’s component is unplugged or damaged, the SRS light will come on.

Solution: Plug or Fix the Wiring Harness

Inspect for minor damages to your SRS wiring system. If it’s something minor, tape it using electrical tape. This should fix the problem and protect the wire from further damage.

If none of it seems to be damaged then you might have a plug problem. There are plugs relating to your SRS system under the seats and along the fuse box too. You can identify it from its yellow color. If it seems to be loose, unplug and plug it in again properly.

If these solutions don’t work for you then it’s best to contact a mechanic for professional help. Also, you can only fix a wiring problem to the main harness. But any pigtail wires attached to the sensors shouldn’t be messed with.

Can You Drive with Honda SRS Light On?- Consequences

You’ll be able to drive with Honda SRS light on. But, of course, it has a high risk. In a time of the accident, it’s highly possible that your airbags won’t deploy. Thus, you’ll be prone to fatal injuries.

But of course, a faulty seat belt pre-tensioner may also be causing the SRS light. The rest might be working just fine. In that case, even though the SRS light is on, the airbags will deploy. 

But regardless, it’s too great of a risk to take. If your airbags don’t deploy, there are high chances of fatal injury in an accident. 

During the impact, you’ll be forced forward. Colliding with the steering wheel or car body, you might suffer fractures in your face. Even some other parts of your body. In many cases, a serious accident might lead to permanent scarring or organ damage. 

In any case, you should seek medical assistance immediately. It’s always good to put on a first aid kit.

Although what happens if your airbags don’t deploy but no srs light warning was shown? In that case, you can take legal action against the liable party, mainly the manufacturer. You might also be eligible for compensation.

Summary:

Driving with an SRS light on may cause serious injuries if an accident were to occur.

Honda SRS light Repair Cost

Fixing your SRS module won’t come cheap but it isn’t too pricey. Especially if you consider the risks you’ll be able to avoid. Here we have provided a table for you:

Repair/ Replace	Cost
Examine Airbags	Approximately 600$
Air Module	$880-$920
Airbag Sensor	$370-$390
One Airbag	$1000-$1500
Labor Cost	$80-$200

When your SRS light is on and you can’t identify the problem, naturally you’ll call a mechanic. He’ll have to examine your whole SRS module to find out what’s wrong. Even if nothing major is wrong, you can expect about $600 expenditure. 

It might be that you have a faulty air module. Changing it should take about $880- $920. On the other hand, replacing your airbag sensor will cost about $370-$390.

If you have to change the airbags, it’ll cost even more. You’ll have to spend approximately $1000-$1500 per airbag. 

Although, all of these are just the equipment price. The estimated labor cost to get them installed would be about $80-$200.It depends on what service you’re getting. 

Taxes and other fees are not included in this range and fluctuate according to the model.

How to Reset Honda SRS Light After an Accident?

Let’s say you were unfortunate enough to face an accident and your airbags deployed. So, you need to reset it to get it fixed again. Here we’ve provided a guide on how to reset your srs light after the accident:

• First you need to scan your car using a scanner. It has to be able to access your SRS module. So, connect the scanner to your car. From the scanner, select your vehicle specifications. Then, from its control unit, select the SRS to see the error codes.

• Next, read the trouble codes of your SRS. There are various airbag trouble codes, each for an individual problem. You just have to fix yours. (2)

• The next thing you have to do is clear the crash data from the SRS module. Scanners can only erase soft codes but the hardcodes have to be removed differently. You won’t be able to do it yourself. 

• So, you have to send it to a service that deletes the hardcodes for you. You can either go to the mechanic or remove the SRS module yourself. Removing it is a slightly different process for the different Honda models.

• Regardless, if you choose to do it yourself, you’ll need some tools. They are:

1. Trim removal tools. 
2. 10 mm wrench
3. Flathead screwdriver
4. T30 Torx wrench( Low Profile)

• Using these tools, remove the various parts necessary to access the module. Use the trim removal tools to pull out the panels. You can use the T30 Torx wrench instead of flathead screwdrivers to access the tricky bolts. 

• Before disconnecting the module, be sure to disconnect your negative battery terminal. Do it with the 10mm wrench. Then, wait at least three minutes.

• Send the SRS module for clearing the crash data. After deletion, you can just reinstall it back. Then recalibrate the SWS (Seat Weight Sensor) and reset the SRS module like we previously showed. 

With these, the whole resetting process is complete, and you’re ready to go. 

FAQs

Bottom Line!!

It’s time to hear your thoughts now.

Did we answer your questions about the Honda SRS light?

Let’s give you one last tip for coming this far. To keep the SRS module working perfectly, don’t let your battery drain too low. 

We sure hope you enjoyed this article on Honda SRS light.