How to fix Nissan dashboard air bag light. Nissan airbag light on for no reason. After scanning airbag module SRS trouble codes found out that passenger seat occupancy sensor is causing the issue and keeping air bag light coming on. I thought not a big deal, we just take more advanced scanner tool, reset and calibrate passenger seat weight sensor. There is a function for that. I know that vehicle never been in the crash and a simple sensor calibration procedure will fix the problem.

Nissan Passenger Seat Occupant Classification System Control Unit Replacement

Most recommendations and offered solutions I found were simply inspect the occupant classification sensor under the seat cushion, possible loose connectors or spilled liquids.
Using Autel scan tool and Snap-On vehicle scanner I was not able to erase airbag fault codes B00A0-00 Occupant Sensor Unit [abnormal voltage] nor perform occupancy sensor calibration. It was getting very frustrating, because we already had a family friend waiting to buy this 2013 Nissan Altima and the only problem with this car was this stubborn red airbag light on instrument cluster.

After replacing both passenger seat occupancy sensors with OEM part number 98853-3JA0A and still not able to clear SRS system trouble codes and calibrate passenger seat occupancy sensor, I went searching internet forums again.

Nissan Passenger Air Bag Status Light ON

After finding this Nissan repair bulletin (recall but not recall) publication DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored And OCS zero point reset cannot be performed, it all made sense. I was swapping parts and buying new parts for no reason. Its all manufacturers fault and they know about this exact problem that is haunting many Nissan and Infiniti vehicle owners.

APPLIED VEHICLES: 2013-2018 Altima (L33), 2019-2020 Altima (L34), 2017-2020 Armada (Y62), 2009-2014 cube® (Z12), 2011-2017 Juke (F15), 2018-2019 Kicks (P15), 2011-2017 LEAF (ZE0), 2018-2019 LEAF (ZE1), 2016-2020 Maxima (A36), 2014-2019 Micra (K13), 2015-2020 Murano (Z52), 2016 Murano Hybrid (Z52), 2013-2019 NV200 (M20), 2013-2020 Pathfinder (R52), 2014 Pathfinder Hybrid (R52), 2011-2017 Quest (E52), 2014-2020 Rogue (T32), 2015-2019 Rogue Hybrid (T32H), 2017-2019 Rogue Sport (J11), 2013-2019 Sentra (B17), 2014-2017 & 2019 Taxi (M20T), 2016-2019 Titan (A61), 2016-2019 Titan XD (A61), 2012-2019 Versa Sedan (N17), 2020 Versa Sedan (N18), 2014-2019 Versa Note (E12)

Basically to repair airbag fault dealer service techs need to rewrite / re-flash software in a OCS control unit, a little ECU under the passenger seat (Passenger Discriminating Sensor – Nissan (98856-6CB0A). Your local Nissan service department has a complete step by step Technical Service Bulletin https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2016/RCRIT-16V244-8239.pdf (Classification: RS19-004 Reference: NTB19-071 Date: September 12, 2019 ) how to fix this and how to use REQUIRED SPECIAL TOOL: OCS Reprogramming Cable J-51594 and Software.

Air Bag Warning Light Code B00A0-00

To fix this nonsensical airbag light without visit to the dealership I decided to get a different OCS control unit from another vehicle with idea that that car did not had the same issue and the control unit in donor car did not need to be reprogrammed. Since I already replaced both weight sensors under the rail of the seat and still was not able to erase DTS codes and recalibrate the seat – this was the only part that was remaining the same.

Living Southern California we are still lucky to have salvage yards and junkyards near by. I checked with a several self serve auto wrecker junkyard where San Diego Towing Companies take older vehicles to be sold for parts, donated or recycled. Luckily for me there were several Nissan Altima model of the same year available for parts. After a nice afternoon stroll thru a dusty salvage yard in Chula Vista, CA I managed to scavenge 3 identical OCS control units with same type of connection as mine (newer vehicles used connector plug of slightly different shape). After reading online that many people had the same problem in many different cars, you can imagine I was very frustrated, so I had to be 300% sure that the control unit will fix this, so instead of one I purchased 3 of them.

After plugging in OCS control unit from a different vehicle from a junkyard, the airbag light fixed it self after restarting the vehicle several times. I did connect scanner tool to make sure I can erase the code and re-calibrate zero point occupancy sensor and now all procedures were working properly. Airbag trouble code was erased successfully and calibration was complete.

Total cost of repair $241 ($98) for two seat weight sensors 98853-3JA0A  (wasted) and ($143) three used OCS control units (one used and other two wasted).