[jlbishop]

My smart cars air bag light is on the dealer replace both seat belts. Light is still on, taking car back monday. They want a $1000 for more work, there is no codes and they don't know what's wrong. I'm trying to sell it I just put $3000 into the car. I love the little convertible it only has 53,000 miles, but I'm losing my garage, What to do without code?
The car is at Mercedes of Naples in florida

 

[vadsoom]

What code reader are they using? Many generic code readers can’t read the Smart’s fault codes. It takes a Mercedes Star Diagnostic to read them. I would think a Mercedes dealer would use a Star straight away, but stranger things have happened.

 

[jlbishop]

Star at mercedes dealer in naples fl

 

[jmartinsmart]

Still... it sounds to me like they applied power to the vehicle (turned the key on) while they had the seats out, putting in the new seat belts.
This was a very common reason for the air bag light on the 451... just ask anyone who's stereo install guy powered up their ignition to see if their new under seat subwoofer worked, "before putting it all back together." Simple fix... reset the computer, but it does take a STAR system to connect.

Just my $.02.
Jim

 

[vadsoom]

I think Jim’s scenario is plausible. Of any part of the supplemental restraint system is faulty or disconnected, the airbag light will illuminate. Even leaving the passenger airbag light disconnected will throw a fault code.

I hate to say it, but it sounds like the dealer is trying to milk money from you.

 

[jlbishop]

Still... it sounds to me like they applied power to the vehicle (turned the key on) while they had the seats out, putting in the new seat belts.
This was a very common reason for the air bag light on the 451... just ask anyone who's stereo install guy powered up their ignition to see if their new under seat subwoofer worked, "before putting it all back together." Simple fix... reset the computer, but it does take a STAR system to connect.

Just my $.02.
Jim

I ask if they disconnected the battery they said yes, I don't believe it. There are no codes to reset I also have a isoft for the codes.
I picking the car up today.

 

[jlbishop]

They just told me they reset the computer.

 

[jmartinsmart]

There ya go. You called their bluff, problem solved.

Jim

Edit: Maybe I misunderstood, I assumed resetting it solved your problem. Are they still telling you you need $1,000 of work done?

 

[jlbishop]

There telling me I need a controller for $1000

 

[vadsoom]

I would fight that one. You took the car in and it came out worse than when it went in. They broke something while it was there. It’s on their time and dime to fix it.

If they had the seats out, there is a very real possibility that they failed to connect something or broke a connector, or pushed/bent a pin. It’s their job to remedy what they broke.

They should make it right. If it were me, I might be having a conversation with my attorney.

 

[jmartinsmart]

They have disconnected the red wire on the seat belt pretensioners... without disconnecting the battery, and the ignition was turned on while this was being done. They are tied into the airbag system, and it will trigger the light. Even if they didn't remove the seats entirely... you can bet they pulled these red wires during the seatbelt swap. This is their problem, not yours, in my opinion.

I'm wondering however... why did you have the seatbelts replaced?

Jim

[For the record, Evilution's website covers this in detail. Some of the good info is a behind a subscription/donation... but WELL worth it.]

 

[Jo e Lefors]

I would fight that one. You took the car in and it came out worse than when it went in. They broke something while it was there. It’s on their time and dime to fix it.

If they had the seats out, there is a very real possibility that they failed to connect something or broke a connector, or pushed/bent a pin. It’s their job to remedy what they broke.

They should make it right. If it were me, I might be having a conversation with my attorney.

It's on the owner to prove at the dealership broke something. Very difficult to do. When I had my Toyota Yaris, I had the Takata airbags replaced. When the Toyota mechanics remove the dash and replaced it they broke driver side cup holder. It would never retract and stay closed. I couldn't prove it wasn't that way when I brought the car in.
It was on me to prove that the dealership broke it. I'm certainly not going to get a lawyer for something like. I don't think that most people would. The repair is less than what lawyer would charge.
Proving fault.
Almost an impossible position to be in.
Good luck

 

[jmartinsmart]

It's on the owner to prove at the dealership broke something. Very difficult to do. When I had my Toyota Yaris, I had the Takata airbags replaced. When the Toyota mechanics remove the dash and replaced it they broke driver side cup holder. It would never retract and stay closed. I couldn't prove it wasn't that way when I brought the car in.
It was on me to prove that the dealership broke it. I'm certainly not going to get a lawyer for something like. I don't think that most people would. The repair is less than what lawyer would charge.
Proving fault.
Almost an impossible position to be in.
Good luck

While I agree that an attorney is a bit of overkill, the question remains, was the air bag light on before the owner brought the vehicle in for the seat belt swap?
If the light was on... any reputable dealership or repair shop would make note of that with the customer before even touching a vehicle for any type of repair.
Problem is on the vehicle owner.
If the light wasn't on before the work, and there is no record of it being on... then the vehicle should be returned in the same condition.
Problem is on the shop.
Just telling the guy he needs to spend another $1000, and also stating, per the OP, "they don't know what's wrong," is not what I would expect from a Mercedes service department.

I've been managing a towing company for over 20 years, and if I had a dollar for every customer that said, "well it worked before you towed it..." I would retire wealthy.
I fully understand, proving fault, but there must be more to this particular story, surely.
Just sayin'

Jim

[In re-reading the OP's original post, he states, "light is still on," which now makes me believe that the light may have been on before they replaced the seatbelts... which doesn't look good for him. But he still hasn't said why the seatbelts were replaced to begin with. Need more info here.]

 

[vadsoom]

I just feel really bad for jlbishop. I have a MB Star. If I were closer, I would go and try and fix it myself.

 

[Jo e Lefors]

While I agree that an attorney is a bit of overkill, the question remains, was the air bag light on before the owner brought the vehicle in for the seat belt swap?
If the light was on... any reputable dealership or repair shop would make note of that with the customer before even touching a vehicle for any type of repair.
Problem is on the vehicle owner.
If the light wasn't on before the work, and there is no record of it being on... then the vehicle should be returned in the same condition.
Problem is on the shop.
Just telling the guy he needs to spend another $1000, and also stating, per the OP, "they don't know what's wrong," is not what I would expect from a Mercedes service department.

I've been managing a towing company for over 20 years, and if I had a dollar for every customer that said, "well it worked before you towed it..." I would retire wealthy.
I fully understand, proving fault, but there must be more to this particular story, surely.
Just sayin'

Jim

[In re-reading the OP's original post, he states, "light is still on," which now makes me believe that the light may have been on before they replaced the seatbelts... which doesn't look good for him. But he still hasn't said why the seatbelts were replaced to begin with. Need more info here.]

There's always two sides to every story the tow truck drivers story and the customer story. Luckily tow truck drivers document everything with pictures before they touch the car
Unless it's documented somewhere, it comes down to he said she said.
That won't fly even in small claims court.

 

[jlbishop]

They have disconnected the red wire on the seat belt pretensioners... without disconnecting the battery, and the ignition was turned on while this was being done. They are tied into the airbag system, and it will trigger the light. Even if they didn't remove the seats entirely... you can bet they pulled these red wires during the seatbelt swap. This is their problem, not yours, in my opinion.

I'm wondering however... why did you have the seatbelts replaced?

Jim

[For the record, Evilution's website covers this in detail. Some of the good info is a behind a subscription/donation... but WELL worth it.]

I had a HP seat belt receiver plug in a person at a car wash didn't know what it was and plugged it in backwards. The air bag light went on. When I bought the car the airbag light was on and they replaced the seat belt problem solved.

 

[jlbishop]

Picked the car up Saturday drove home one and a half hours no problem airbag light still on. Dealer started with wanting to replace stuff first with 1000.00 controller and go from there. No codes and only 2 dealers on west coast of florida. Now I have to try to sell with airbag light on!

 

[Jo e Lefors]

Sadly you own a car where there is
less than 12 authorized Mercedes-Benz/smart dealer service centers in all of the United States. Additionally a few members have found some mechanics for whatever reason just don't want to bother working on a smart car.
Personally I wouldn't waste time looking at a car with an airbag light on. Fearing it becoming giant can of worms.
On the flipside.
Now is a great time for selling a used car.
You could get lucky, someone may still want it but they may want that $1000 or more off the asking price so that they can have it properly repaired.
Good luck

 

[smark]

$1,000 your safety, or life?

 

[jlbishop]

$1000.00 is the start they don't know what the car needs, so there going to replace parts till they find the right one. They told me there is only one other place that work on smart cars.