Body, generic

B00A1 Occupant Position System

Check engine lightUsually off
EmissionsNot relevant
Drive cycleNot required
Limp modeNo

B00A1 covers the occupant position system, which watches where a person sits rather than how heavy they are, so that an airbag can be held back when someone is too close to it. FMVSS 208 accepts this as dynamic automatic suppression (DASS): the bag must be switched off before the occupant's head, neck or upper body reach a zone beside the cover that the maker defines. No carmaker publishes B00A1 itself. Honda's OPDS shows the idea: sensors in the passenger backrest report height and lean, the side airbag is switched off while a Side Airbag Off lamp is lit, and the system needs initialising after seat-back parts or the unit are changed. Patents describe other ways, such as ultrasonic beams from the headliner or a sensor at the airbag door. A fault lights the airbag lamp.

Likely causes

System not initialised after seat cover, seat-back sensor or control unit replacement
Damaged seat harness or loose plug under the seat
Faulty position sensor or position control unit
Damp seat, accessory seat covers or objects disturbing the sensors

Symptoms

  • Airbag warning lamp on
  • Airbag off indicator stays on although the occupant sits upright
  • Safety note: airbag system; disconnect seat and sensor plugs only de-energised; after a sensor or unit change initialise/calibrate the system, specialist workshop only

Repair estimate

DifficultyShop_onlyWorkshop job
Parts and labour€80–1,000
Time0.5–3 h

Typical range across vehicles; the real cost depends on what the testing finds.

Parts involved

occupant position modulesrs seat wiringsrs control module

Related codes

B00A0B00B7B00C7

References: law.cornell.edu, rts.i-car.com, honda.ca, patents.google.com.