Mercedes Benz SL500 R129 - How to turn off SRS Airbag light

2000 Mercedes Benz SL500 r129
On late r129 models, the vehicle comes with a child seat safety feature to prevent passenger airbag to deploy when you secure a child seat in the passenger seat. The seat sensor becomes faulty as the car ages and a pita to replace. A seat emulator will trick the system to clear SRS fault but the airbag will deploy in all circumstances. Do not secure a child seat into the passenger side when using the seat emulator.

[@michaelweaver5771]

Thanks for your post, l haven't been able to find an emulator that says it is for a R129, mostly they say they are for later models. How universal is the one you have? Or should I look for one that is more specific to the R129?

[@g0tw33dy]

The emulator fits several models and it may not say it’s for R129. They just have different plugs/adapter.
For the easiest plug and play, you have to make sure the plug is exactly the same as the one in your car. The W163 and W210 have the same plug but compare it with the one with your car and online to make sure before buying it.

[@michaelweaver5771]

@@g0tw33dy thanks Mike.

[@edwardrivera206]

Thank you

[@alonzocalvillo6702]

I don't know if that will solve my problem.I took the airbag and steering wheel to paint it and now SRS light stays on.I already tried disconnecting the battery and no luck.Some idiot even asked if I had plugged the connector.I know it has to be something so simple because all Idid was disconnect the plug.

[@g0tw33dy]

You may also try hooking the car up to the computer and run a scan. You may have to clear it through that method.
So far this is still working for me and light does not come back on.

[@alonzocalvillo6702]

@@g0tw33dy thanks, I will try that and let you know if it worked.

[@g0tw33dy]

@@alonzocalvillo6702 you have to hook it up through the port on the engine bay. The obdii method won’t tell you much.

[@jameshum2137]

Link to the emulator?

[@g0tw33dy]

I got it off eBay and here’s the seller:
www.ebay.com/itm/Passenger-Seat-Occupancy-Mat-Emulator-For-Mercedes-C-W202-CLK-SLK-Sensor-Airbag-/263922064091?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286
Be sure to follow the instruction included in the package as you need to flip some switches within the emulator for the r129. Other than flipping some switches within the emulator, it’s a direct plug and play.

[@thesheikh]

Hey @@g0tw33dy ! The link doesn’t say it fits an r129 and I asked the seller he said it doesn’t fit. Is that the correct link? Thanks!

[@g0tw33dy]

@@thesheikh Hi Mahmoud, the link doesn’t say it’ll fit but if you make sure the plug/harness (yellow plug) looks like yours, it will fit. For mine, it was exactly as pictured.
Regardless, after you get it, you have to flip a couple of switches to be sure it will work with the r129.

[@thesheikh]

@@g0tw33dy do you remember which switches? Also, how did you know it was your passenger seat setting off the SRS light?

[@g0tw33dy]

@@thesheikh I don’t remembered the exact setting for the switch but it’s on the instruction that came with the emulator. I used the setting for the W210/W163 since it was using the same system and the same era of cars.
It could be many reasons setting off the SRS light but one of the most common one is the passenger seat. The sensor in the seat goes bad as the car ages and it’s a pain and costly to remove the seat to get into the sensor.
If your airbags appears to be working, it is most likely your passenger seat setting off the light.