2006 Forenza airbag SRS light information | scan tool | clear error codes
BACKGROUND:
a few weeks ago i installed a new stereo (wife wanted bluetooth) in our 2006 forenza. i wasn't thinking and i turned on the ignition to test the stereo when i still had the center bezel removed (which has a light that says if the passenger airbag is active or not). and as you probably know if you have any part of the airbag system unplugged with the ignition turned on it will turn on the airbag light.. that light will stay on until the error code is cleared from the SRS ECU (airbag computer)
BAD INFORMATION:
google search and several postings on this forum lead me to believe that the error code could be cleared by disconnecting battery. some stuff said a few seconds, some said a few hours. i tried several times. even once leaving it disconnected overnight. i even tried shorting the + and - connectors to totally drain any power still in the cars systems. nothing worked.
***note*** this may be because forenza/reno are actually rebadged daewoo/gm product, and dont behave like other suzuki models.. maybe the codes are stored in non-volatile memory.. i don't know.
SCANNER TOOLS (that didn't work):
i had been wanting one of those cheap Chinese universal scanner tools that are bringing the professional level tools to the home mechanic level price.. this was the incentive to try one.
1. autel maxicheck pro - i did a good bit of research, it is supposed to support tons of vehicles including systems like ABS, SRS, TPMS, oil light, even electric parking brake. under the section for SRS (airbag) it lists suzuki as supported
it cost about $300 on amazon. i really liked the tool. (well i really liked it after it was updated, which took several hours) i was impressed with all the systems i was able to access, and how quick it was... but... it would error when trying to access SRS or ABS. something about communication error with the SRS ECU. (probably due to forenza not being a real suzuki, but instead a GM-daewoo product)
i love amazon, took 30 seconds to process the return, printed off a shipping label (i have amazon prime.. not not sure if the free return shipping is feature of prime, or if its for everyone???) UPS came the next day to pick it up. so i was out nothing out of pocket
2. Launch Creader VIII (Launch Crp 129) - $230 on amazon.. very similar results to the Autel. thank you amazon, another quick return.
**at this point im like whats going on???
i did some research on official suzuki factory scan tools (thinking it would be way out of my budget) and surprise surprise i see that the suzuki SDT scan tool actually lists in its documentation that it doesn't support the forenza, reno, and verona (at this point im thinking that might explain why the Launch and Autel tools didn't work on the airbag ECU. they probably work on the same models as the SDT) at one point it claims that the SDT excludes forenza/reno, verona.. and then later it says: forenza/reno, verona in GST mode only.
i asked about GST mode here http://www.suzuki-forums.com/suzuki-forenza-reno-forum/161881-whats-gst-mode-forenza.html
also as was mentioned in the link above and something i noticed in suzuki SDT documentation was that the GM Tech2 + Suzuki card is the dealer recommended tool for those 3 models, and not suzuki's own tool (weird i know)
SCANNER TOOLS (that DID work):
GM Tech2 with suzuki card - $270 aliexpress. SUCCESS!! This did the trick. i was able to quickly and easily connect to the SRS and view, and then clear the error code. at which point the airbag light flashed a couple times and went out, and stayed out!! WooHoo!!!
** note ** the tech2 is actually a chinese clone, but functionally identical to the original. plus total cost was under $300 instead of a couple thousand)
included with it was one card. (obviously i selected the suzuki) im thinking i might buy the GM English 32.002 1991-2013 card. since i have several family members with vehicles in that range (it is only about $20 for the card)
Hopefully this will help someone else. my experience is only with the 2006 Forenza. ive no idea how much of this info applies to other models and/or years.
BACKGROUND:
a few weeks ago i installed a new stereo (wife wanted bluetooth) in our 2006 forenza. i wasn't thinking and i turned on the ignition to test the stereo when i still had the center bezel removed (which has a light that says if the passenger airbag is active or not). and as you probably know if you have any part of the airbag system unplugged with the ignition turned on it will turn on the airbag light.. that light will stay on until the error code is cleared from the SRS ECU (airbag computer)
BAD INFORMATION:
google search and several postings on this forum lead me to believe that the error code could be cleared by disconnecting battery. some stuff said a few seconds, some said a few hours. i tried several times. even once leaving it disconnected overnight. i even tried shorting the + and - connectors to totally drain any power still in the cars systems. nothing worked.
***note*** this may be because forenza/reno are actually rebadged daewoo/gm product, and dont behave like other suzuki models.. maybe the codes are stored in non-volatile memory.. i don't know.
SCANNER TOOLS (that didn't work):
i had been wanting one of those cheap Chinese universal scanner tools that are bringing the professional level tools to the home mechanic level price.. this was the incentive to try one.
1. autel maxicheck pro - i did a good bit of research, it is supposed to support tons of vehicles including systems like ABS, SRS, TPMS, oil light, even electric parking brake. under the section for SRS (airbag) it lists suzuki as supported
it cost about $300 on amazon. i really liked the tool. (well i really liked it after it was updated, which took several hours) i was impressed with all the systems i was able to access, and how quick it was... but... it would error when trying to access SRS or ABS. something about communication error with the SRS ECU. (probably due to forenza not being a real suzuki, but instead a GM-daewoo product)
i love amazon, took 30 seconds to process the return, printed off a shipping label (i have amazon prime.. not not sure if the free return shipping is feature of prime, or if its for everyone???) UPS came the next day to pick it up. so i was out nothing out of pocket
2. Launch Creader VIII (Launch Crp 129) - $230 on amazon.. very similar results to the Autel. thank you amazon, another quick return.
**at this point im like whats going on???
i did some research on official suzuki factory scan tools (thinking it would be way out of my budget) and surprise surprise i see that the suzuki SDT scan tool actually lists in its documentation that it doesn't support the forenza, reno, and verona (at this point im thinking that might explain why the Launch and Autel tools didn't work on the airbag ECU. they probably work on the same models as the SDT) at one point it claims that the SDT excludes forenza/reno, verona.. and then later it says: forenza/reno, verona in GST mode only.
i asked about GST mode here http://www.suzuki-forums.com/suzuki-forenza-reno-forum/161881-whats-gst-mode-forenza.html
also as was mentioned in the link above and something i noticed in suzuki SDT documentation was that the GM Tech2 + Suzuki card is the dealer recommended tool for those 3 models, and not suzuki's own tool (weird i know)
SCANNER TOOLS (that DID work):
GM Tech2 with suzuki card - $270 aliexpress. SUCCESS!! This did the trick. i was able to quickly and easily connect to the SRS and view, and then clear the error code. at which point the airbag light flashed a couple times and went out, and stayed out!! WooHoo!!!
** note ** the tech2 is actually a chinese clone, but functionally identical to the original. plus total cost was under $300 instead of a couple thousand)
included with it was one card. (obviously i selected the suzuki) im thinking i might buy the GM English 32.002 1991-2013 card. since i have several family members with vehicles in that range (it is only about $20 for the card)
Hopefully this will help someone else. my experience is only with the 2006 Forenza. ive no idea how much of this info applies to other models and/or years.