Nissan Repair: 1996 Infiniti J30 air bag light, 1996 infiniti j30, passenger side airbag

Question
Should I be concerned that the air bag light is going on and off continually in the dash? Thanks in advance for an answer

Answer
Stewart,

A flashing light is an indication of a problem in the airbag circuit.  Due to liability issues only the dealer or speciality shops will touch airbags and related systems.  I would go to Nissan and pay the $100 diagnostic fee to get a printed readout of what the computer is reading.  The airbag system has its own computer system, independent of the cars ECM.  This system is determining there is a fault within your system.  The system is much like the old token ring computer network of yester-year.  When the car is turned on the airbag computer polls all the systems and they report back that they are working and there is connection.  Since yours is a 1996 the battery backup could be dead or even an airbag or sensor is failing.  The only way to know for sure is to get the codes read.  Like I said, only a dealer or a speciality shop, like a body shop would have the reader.  Also, there is nothing wrong with driving the car but the airbags will not work since the computer has reported an error.  Here is where it gets worse.  You have insurance?  Yes.  And, if you get in a wreck and the passenger side airbag fails to deploy and the insurance company finds out your airbags were inoperative; you are liable.  It is worth getting it repaired.