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      07-18-2018, 07:47 AM   #1
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Seat got wet....seat occupancy sensor error

Left my windows down a couple inches and experienced an unexpected rain storm. My passenger seat got pretty wet and now I'm getting fault code #930AC9 and a warning on my dash regarding a passenger seat airbag system malfunction. Ran a diagnostic via the Carly app and got the following description:

ODS system: seat occupancy mat passenger module for ODS system sends error #13 / ODS System: seat occupancy mat passenger sends CIS internal electronic fault (external comparator).

Any thoughts on how to correct this? Is this something that may correct itself after it drys out? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Ultimately trying to avoid a trip to the dealer.
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      07-18-2018, 07:53 AM   #2
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According to my CA this is the leading cause for replacing the mat. Ask me how I know
Unfortunately will not be covered by warrnary as it was damaged not malfunctioning.
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      07-18-2018, 07:55 AM   #3
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You get that warning when the seat wiring has been unplugged. Water in the connector could have shorted something out, giving the same result. A good diagnostic tool, like the Foxwell NT510, can tell you if the fault still exists and if it's OK can clear the code. I can't say if Carly has that capability. It won't clear by itself.
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      07-18-2018, 08:05 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billfitz View Post
You get that warning when the seat wiring has been unplugged. Water in the connector could have shorted something out, giving the same result. A good diagnostic tool, like the Foxwell NT510, can tell you if the fault still exists and if it's OK can clear the code. I can't say if Carly has that capability. It won't clear by itself.
I used the fault clearing diagnostic tool on the Carly app. I selected "clear all codes" including the one for the seat occupancy sensor. However, when I restarted the car the warning immediately came back.

What are my options to correct this? I guess the obvious one would be to replace the sensor mat but was wondering if there are any other things that can be done. Can I unplug the connector and attempt to dry it out?? Also, I saw that there are bypass modules that you could buy online.
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      07-18-2018, 09:25 AM   #5
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Did some more research and found an emulator bypass module on ebay in the event the seat occupancy mat has failed. This bypass will tell the car that the seat is continuously occupied and will allow me to clear the fault code. Hopefully, I can dry out the connector and fix the problem but if not, this emulator will solve the problem.

Here's the link to the emulator on ebay in case anyone is interested:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Seat-Occupa...sid=m570.l1313
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      07-18-2018, 10:02 AM   #6
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That doesn't actually fix the problem, though I guess you could just make sure anyone who sits there weighs more than 45 pounds. Otherwise the airbag will always go off and could injure or kill a small child in an accident. Or just don't get in an accident.
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      07-18-2018, 10:10 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by bimmer456 View Post
That doesn't actually fix the problem, though I guess you could just make sure anyone who sits there weighs more than 45 pounds. Otherwise the airbag will always go off and could injure or kill a small child in an accident. Or just don't get me bro an accident.
I hear ya about it not being an actual fix but rather a work around and my 8 yr old daughter will never ride in the front seat until she can do so legally. I believe in PA the child has to be in the back seat in a booster until they are over 80lbs. Thanks for the input and I will do my best to not crash and burn
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      07-18-2018, 02:50 PM   #8
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It never ceases to amaze me how far some people will go to risk their safety as well as others.
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      07-18-2018, 03:07 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IK6SPEED View Post
It never ceases to amaze me how far some people will go to risk their safety as well as others.
My safety is not compromised and I would never allow a child to ride in the front seat regardless. So I'm trying to understand your comment and how a passenger's safety would be at risk by having the airbag continually active?

I see you regularly on the forum and you have some good insight but I think you missed the mark on that last comment. If you have some input that's relevant to the repair besides running to the dealer then feel free to share.
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      07-18-2018, 03:15 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by murphius1118 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by IK6SPEED View Post
It never ceases to amaze me how far some people will go to risk their safety as well as others.
My safety is not compromised and I would never allow a child to ride in the front seat regardless. So I'm trying to understand your comment and how a passenger's safety would be at risk by having the airbag continually active?

I see you regularly on the forum and you have some good insight but I think you missed the mark on that last comment. If you have some input that's relevant to the repair besides running to the dealer then feel free to share.
Good to know your view is so myopic.
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      07-18-2018, 03:31 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IK6SPEED View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by murphius1118 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by IK6SPEED View Post
It never ceases to amaze me how far some people will go to risk their safety as well as others.
My safety is not compromised and I would never allow a child to ride in the front seat regardless. So I'm trying to understand your comment and how a passenger's safety would be at risk by having the airbag continually active?

I see you regularly on the forum and you have some good insight but I think you missed the mark on that last comment. If you have some input that's relevant to the repair besides running to the dealer then feel free to share.
Good to know your view is so myopic.
Good to know you have nothing of value to add to this thread except your condescending comments.
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      07-18-2018, 03:39 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by murphius1118 View Post
Good to know you have nothing of value to add to this thread except your condescending comments.
....And the sane point of view.

I hope your family members never find out the hard way.
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      07-18-2018, 04:02 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by IK6SPEED View Post
....And the sane point of view.

I hope your family members never find out the hard way.
Thank you for your insight and genuine concern for my family. Now if we can move on to some actual constructive commentary...I'm all ears.
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      07-20-2018, 01:20 PM   #14
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UPDATE....I was able to gain access and dry out the seat foam by unclipping the passenger seat upholstery from the rear, shoving a small desk fan under seat and set the fan to high for more than 8 hours. I removed the fan, waited an additional two days, ran a diagnostic via Carly app, cleared the seat occupancy mat sensor fault and it appears that worked!! No more fault warnings. So I just had to allow the seat and electronics to completely dry and problem solved.
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      12-19-2019, 06:14 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by murphius1118 View Post
UPDATE....I was able to gain access and dry out the seat foam by unclipping the passenger seat upholstery from the rear, shoving a small desk fan under seat and set the fan to high for more than 8 hours. I removed the fan, waited an additional two days, ran a diagnostic via Carly app, cleared the seat occupancy mat sensor fault and it appears that worked!! No more fault warnings. So I just had to allow the seat and electronics to completely dry and problem solved.
my wife is on the same situation that you were, she spilled some coffee on the seat and the warning is now there all the time, could you please let us know how did you unclipped the upholstery from the rear in the passenger seat? thank you so much in advance.
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      02-03-2020, 07:28 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjcedeno View Post
my wife is on the same situation that you were, she spilled some coffee on the seat and the warning is now there all the time, could you please let us know how did you unclipped the upholstery from the rear in the passenger seat? thank you so much in advance.
Bump, same issue, seems the new style keys will set off anything if kept in a pocket without a case, including opening all of the windows and sunroof during a (Thankfully) light rain. Got the car dry easily except some moisture clearly got into the passenger seat on my GF's F32. I can't readily identify the entry point, nor how I can get the cushion and innards dry by unclipping anything remotely obvious.

Any help much appreciated!
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      02-04-2020, 09:26 AM   #17
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Nice fix. Happy ending.
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      09-22-2022, 09:52 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by murphius1118 View Post
Did some more research and found an emulator bypass module on ebay in the event the seat occupancy mat has failed. This bypass will tell the car that the seat is continuously occupied and will allow me to clear the fault code. Hopefully, I can dry out the connector and fix the problem but if not, this emulator will solve the problem.

Here's the link to the emulator on ebay in case anyone is interested:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Seat-Occupa...sid=m570.l1313
Hi! How are you? I have the same problem on my 2018 bmw f30, what year and bmw model you repair with this Emulator? Thanks.
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      09-22-2022, 10:00 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by murphius1118 View Post
UPDATE....I was able to gain access and dry out the seat foam by unclipping the passenger seat upholstery from the rear, shoving a small desk fan under seat and set the fan to high for more than 8 hours. I removed the fan, waited an additional two days, ran a diagnostic via Carly app, cleared the seat occupancy mat sensor fault and it appears that worked!! No more fault warnings. So I just had to allow the seat and electronics to completely dry and problem solved.
Can you let us know how you unclip the leather on the seat? Thanks.
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      09-24-2022, 09:36 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Benkev View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by murphius1118 View Post
UPDATE....I was able to gain access and dry out the seat foam by unclipping the passenger seat upholstery from the rear, shoving a small desk fan under seat and set the fan to high for more than 8 hours. I removed the fan, waited an additional two days, ran a diagnostic via Carly app, cleared the seat occupancy mat sensor fault and it appears that worked!! No more fault warnings. So I just had to allow the seat and electronics to completely dry and problem solved.
Can you let us know how you unclip the leather on the seat? Thanks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Benkev View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by murphius1118 View Post
UPDATE....I was able to gain access and dry out the seat foam by unclipping the passenger seat upholstery from the rear, shoving a small desk fan under seat and set the fan to high for more than 8 hours. I removed the fan, waited an additional two days, ran a diagnostic via Carly app, cleared the seat occupancy mat sensor fault and it appears that worked!! No more fault warnings. So I just had to allow the seat and electronics to completely dry and problem solved.
Can you let us know how you unclip the leather on the seat? Thanks.
If you raise the seat all the way up, there will be 2 D shaped clips attached to the seat on metal hooks. Just remove them. Pretty straight forward.
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      12-24-2022, 07:32 AM   #21
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My windows opened the other day in a rain storm because of our crap key fobs. Same error. I'll be trying to clear it tomorrow by getting into the seat and drying it out. I'll try to take some pictures.

The real bugger is it went from 50 and raining the night before last to 11 degrees now. So I can't finish drying the car until I can get it inside a heated garage.
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