I recently had a most unusual failure that appears to be due to aging parts on our cars. Recently, I took my stock '91 NSX out for a drive and run some simple errands. After I completed one of my errands, I returned to the car, started it, the SRS light stayed on. I let the car idle down and then turned the car off and restarted it hoping it would reset the SRS computer. No such luck. I continued with the remainder of my tasks for the day and upon returning home, researched the matter here on Prime. Much of what I read was to check the fuses. Well, low & behold, fuse #1, the one with the yellow cover was blown. I promptly replaced it thinking my issues would be resolved. Unfortunately, it didn't resolve the matter, in fact after a few more blown fuses I realized that I had a serious problem.
I then began the painful process of checking for shorts and did indeed find that there was a short between power line of the SRS and ground. Since there had been no alteration of my cars wiring, I couldn't figure out what may have caused such a short. Also, the car (fortunately) has never been in a collision so the sensors couldn't have been damaged from any trauma. I also had a factory steering wheel and airbag so I didn't think they would be the issue.
While researching prime, I found a great write up on the removal of the SRS computer, so I decided that was the last component that I needed to evaluate. Initially, I didn't intend to remove the computer, rather simply remove the connector from the computer to see if the module may be the culprit in causing the short. Sure enough, if the SRS was removed, the fuse wouldn't blow; however, if the computer was connected, the fuse popped. Thus, I proceeded to remove the SRS module. The write up by Madbox was perfect. The one thing that I would emphasize is that the Torx bolts holding the unit to the body are coated with locktite and are pretty hard to remove.
After removing the computer, I decided to pop open the module and see what might be amok. To my amazement, it was the same issue that has riddled my CCU & amps...failed capacitors! You could visibly see the leakage from the capacitors. Since I am not that adept at the replacement of the capacitors, I went ahead and purchased an entire new module. One note was that unlike the original post by Madbox, my unit was not exposed to any moisture leaking from the A/C unit.
After receiving the new module, I installed the unit and everything operated as it should. I re-assembled the dash and went back to enjoying my beloved NSX.
I simply wanted to share this experience with others should they run into a similar problem. Seeing that this is a similar problem that is affecting our CCU's & Amps, I fear that we'll see more of such similar problems as our cars age.
I then began the painful process of checking for shorts and did indeed find that there was a short between power line of the SRS and ground. Since there had been no alteration of my cars wiring, I couldn't figure out what may have caused such a short. Also, the car (fortunately) has never been in a collision so the sensors couldn't have been damaged from any trauma. I also had a factory steering wheel and airbag so I didn't think they would be the issue.
While researching prime, I found a great write up on the removal of the SRS computer, so I decided that was the last component that I needed to evaluate. Initially, I didn't intend to remove the computer, rather simply remove the connector from the computer to see if the module may be the culprit in causing the short. Sure enough, if the SRS was removed, the fuse wouldn't blow; however, if the computer was connected, the fuse popped. Thus, I proceeded to remove the SRS module. The write up by Madbox was perfect. The one thing that I would emphasize is that the Torx bolts holding the unit to the body are coated with locktite and are pretty hard to remove.
After removing the computer, I decided to pop open the module and see what might be amok. To my amazement, it was the same issue that has riddled my CCU & amps...failed capacitors! You could visibly see the leakage from the capacitors. Since I am not that adept at the replacement of the capacitors, I went ahead and purchased an entire new module. One note was that unlike the original post by Madbox, my unit was not exposed to any moisture leaking from the A/C unit.
After receiving the new module, I installed the unit and everything operated as it should. I re-assembled the dash and went back to enjoying my beloved NSX.
I simply wanted to share this experience with others should they run into a similar problem. Seeing that this is a similar problem that is affecting our CCU's & Amps, I fear that we'll see more of such similar problems as our cars age.
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I'm waiting until the car gets pissed itself (until the dash has to come out)...
