Service
Automotive Division
Restraints

Technical Service Bulletin
No. TS 01 51816

May 18, 2016
REVISED August 24, 2016

DAMAGE TO FRONT SIDE AIRBAG HARNESS
Special Warranty Extension ZH
Affected Departments:

Management, Service, Parts, Warranty

Affected Models:

Certain 2005 - 2008 Forenza and Reno Vehicles (RQ)

Revision 8/24/2016: Procedure Clarification, DTC B1379 and Seat Height Adjuster provision added.
Special Policy Adjustment
This special coverage covers the condition described above for a period of 12 years or 150,000 miles (240,000 km),
whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service, regardless of ownership.
What is the problem?
On some model-year 2005 – 2008 Suzuki Forenza and Suzuki Reno vehicles there may be a condition where the
airbag readiness lamp may illuminates due to damage to the side airbag (SAB) wiring harness. Contact between
the airbag wire harness and the seat frame or the set recliner hinge could cause the airbag wire harness to become damaged, creating a possible short-circuit. If this occurs, the airbag readiness lamp may illuminate in the
instrument panel. If the airbag readiness lamp is ignored and the condition is not corrected, there is the potential
for the airbag to deploy within 3 seconds of an ignition cycle, or the side airbag could fail to deploy in a crash.
What is Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., going to do to solve this concern?
Suzuki Service Providers are to verify if Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) DTCs B1380, B1384 or B1379
are stored as Current or History. Depending on the DTC present, specific instructions are provided in this bulletin
to repair and prevent the DTC from reoccurring. In addition to inspecting for DTCs, the Suzuki Service Provider
Technician is to inspect the driver’s seat height adjuster assembly. If either front seat side airbag has deployed
without an accident, specific repair instructions are also provided in this bulletin.
Repair Procedure:
The repair procedure is divided into two repair scenarios:
1)

Repair for vehicles without an unintended deployment of the seat side airbag

2)

Vehicles with an unintended seat side airbag deployment

Refer to the flow charts on the next two pages for inspection, repair and processing assistance.
1 / 19

Forenza / Reno Seat Side Airbag No Deployment
Using the Tech 2, check the SRS for DTCs. Write
down all SRS DTCs either Current or History

Check the driver's seat height adjuster for damage.
Refer to Pg. 5 for instructions.
Is there damage to the seat height adjuster and/or B1380,
and/or B1379 and/or B1384 set Current or History?
YES

NO
Review any other non‐ZH Warranty Extension
airbag DTCs with the vehicle owner for repair
options.

Record radio pre‐set stations.

Disable the SRS System. Refer to the Suzuki Pit Stop Plus Service Repair Manual.
If the driver's seat height adjuster is broken, replace the height adjuster.
Refer to Pg. 8 for instructions.
If DTCs recorded in Step 1 are either B1380, B1384 or B1379, proceed to the
affected seat (B1379 & B1380 are driver's, B1384 is passenger)

Inspect the SAB harness for damage.
Refer to Pg. 6 for possible damage locations.
Perform the SAB harness repair.
Refer to Pg. 10 for instructions.
Perform the SAB harness re‐routing.
Refer to Pg. 15 for instructions.

Enable the SRS System.
Refer to Suzuki Pit Stop Plus.
Clear DTC B1380 and /or
B1379 and/or B1384.
Did DTCs clear?

NO

Record all SRS DTCs. Replace the SDM.
Refer to the Suzuki Pit Stop Plus
Service Repair Manual. After
installation, record any non‐ZH
Warranty Extension airbag DTCs.

YES

Re‐set the radio pre‐set stations.
Review any non‐ZH Warranty Extension
airbag DTCs with the vehicle owner for repair
options.

2 / 19

Repairs are completed.

Forenza / Reno Seat Side Airbag With Deployment
Record radio pre‐set stations.
Disable the SRS system. Refer to the Suzuki Pit
Stop Plus Service Repair Manual.
Is the vehicle a Forenza or a Reno?
Reno

Forenza

Check the driver's seat height adjuster for damage.
Refer to Pg. 5 for instructions.
Is there damage to the seat height adjuster?
YES
Replace the entire driver's seat
assembly. Refer to Suzuki Pit
Stop Plus Service Repair Manual
for instructions.

Replace all the seating surfaces in the
vehicle, front and rear.
Refer to Pg. 7 for special rear seat
center seat belt installation
instructions.

NO
Replace the driver's seatback
assembly. Refer to Suzuki Pit Stop
Plus Service Repair Manual for
instructions.

Perform the SAB harness re‐routing.
Refer to Pg. 15 for instructions.
Enable the SRS system. Refer to Suzuki Pit
Stop Plus Service Repair Manual.
Use the Tech 2 to clear any
SRS DTCs associated with
SAB deployment.
Did the DTCs Clear?

NO

YES
Re‐set the radio
pre‐set stations.

Record all SRS DTCs. Replace the SDM.
Refer to the Suzuki Pit Stop Plus
Service Repair Manual. After
installation, record any non‐ZH
Warranty Extension airbag DTCs.

Review any non‐ZH Warranty Extension
airbag DTCs with the vehicle owner for repair
options.

Repairs are complete.

3 / 19

Safety Notices:
WARNING
The sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) can maintain sufficient voltage to deploy the airbags and
pre-tensioners for 1 minute after the ignition is OFF and the fuse has been removed. If the airbags and
pre-tensioners are not disconnected, do not begin service until 1 minute has passed after disconnecting
power to SDM. If the airbags are disconnected, service can be done immediately without waiting for a
1-minute time period to expire. Failure to temporarily disable the supplemental inflatable restraints (SIR)
during service can result in unexpected deployment, personal injury and unnecessary SIR repairs.
WARNING
During service procedure, be very careful when handling the SDM. Never strike or jar the SDM. Never
power the SIR when the SDM is not rigidly attached to the vehicle. All SDM mounting bolts must be carefully tightened and the arrow on the SDM must be point toward the front of the vehicle to ensure proper operation of the SIR. The SDM could be activated if it is powered when it is not rigidly attached to the vehicle,
resulting in unexpected deployment and possible injury.
Special Notes and Information:
NOTE 1
DTC B1380 is for a driver’s seat side airbag harness short to ground.
DTC B1384 is for a passenger’s seat side airbag harness short to ground.
DTC B1379 is for a driver’s seat side airbag harness low resistance.
NOTE 2
Refer to the flow chart Seat Side Airbag With Deployed on page 3. If either front seat side airbag has deployed
without impact, refer to Seat Fabric Color Identification on page 16 and refer to the SAB Harness Routing on
page 15 for repair direction.
NOTE 3
Some vehicle repairs requiring new rear seats will require special seat belt installation. Refer to instructions
provided on page 7.
NOTE 4
If the seat height adjuster is not damaged and/or DTC B1380, B1379 or B1384 is not stored, no additional
action for this warranty extension is required. If there are other SRS DTCs, review the repair options with the
vehicle owner.
Service Procedure:
Procedure #1 — For vehicles without a seat side Airbag deployment – proceed below with step 1.
Procedure #2 — For vehicles with a seat side airbag deployment – go to page 6, Procedure #2.
1)

Using a scan tool, check for supplemental restraint system (SRS) for diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs).
Write down all the SRS DTCs regardless if Current or History.

2)

Check the driver’s side seat height adjuster for damage. Refer to Seat Height Adjuster Inspection on
page 5. If the seat height adjuster is damaged and/or DTCs B1379, B1380 or B1384 are stored, proceed
to step 3. If no seat height adjuster damage or DTC B1379, B1380 or B1384 refer to NOTE 4 above.

4 / 19

Seat Height Adjuster Inspection:

3)

Record the customer’s radio pre-set stations for reprogramming later.

4)

Disable the SIR system. Refer to Disabling the Supplemental Inflatable Restraints (SIR) in Suzuki Pit
Stop PLUS Service Repair Manual.

5)

If the driver’s seat adjuster is damaged, replace the seat height adjuster. Refer to Seat Height Adjuster
Replacement Procedure on page 8 and Front Bucket Seat Removal and Installation in the Suzuki Pit
Stop PLUS Service Repair Manual. Inspect the SAB harness for damage — refer to SAB Harness Damage
Inspection on pages 5-6.

6)

If SRS DTCs B1380, B1379 or B1384 were recorded in step 2, proceed to the SAB Harness Damage
Inspection on pages 6.

5 / 19

SAB Harness Inspection:
Damage from a failed Seat
Height Adjuster
Damage to the SAB harness may
be as severe as pictured or there
may be only minor scuffing of the
SAB harness yellow insulation
covering.

Damage from the Seat
Recliner Hinge

7)

Repair the SAB harness damage. See Front Seat Wiring Harness Repair Procedure on page 10.

8)

Reinstall the seat in the vehicle. Refer to Front Bucket Seat Removal and Installation in the Suzuki Pit
Stop PLUS Service Repair Manual.

9)

Route the SAB harness per the instruction below. See SAB Harness Routing on page 15.

10) Enable the SIR system. Refer to Enabling the Supplemental Inflatable Restrains (SIR) in the Suzuki
Pit Stop PLUS Service Repair Manual.
11) Using the scan tool, clear DTCs B1380, B1384 or B1379. If the DTCs cannot be cleared, replace the
sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) with a new one. Refer to Sensing and Diagnostic Module
(SDM) in the Suzuki Pit Stop PLUS Service Repair Manual.
12) Re-set the radio preset stations recorded in step 3 above.
13) Repairs are complete for this warranty extension.
Procedure #2 – For vehicles with a seat side airbag unintended deployment.
1)

Forenza and Reno: Record the customers pre-set radio stations.

2)

Forenza and Reno: Disable the supplemental restraint system (SRS). Refer to Disabling the Supplemental
Inflatable Restraint (SIR) in the Suzuki Pit Stop Plus Service Repair Manual.

3)

Forenza and Reno: Determine if the vehicle is a Forenza or Reno. For Reno vehicles, proceed to step 4.
For Forenza vehicles, proceed to step 6.

4)

Reno Only: If the driver’s seat side airbag is deployed, check the driver’s side seat height adjuster for damage.
Refer to Seat Height Adjuster Inspection on page 5 above. If the seat height adjuster is damaged, replace
the complete driver’s seat assembly. If the seat height adjuster is not damaged, proceed to step 5.
6 / 19

5)

Reno Only: Replace the seatback for the driver’s or passenger seat that has the deployed airbag. Refer
to Front Seatback Removal and Installation in the Suzuki Pit Stop Plus Service Repair Manual. To be
certain the seat fabric on the replacement seatback matches the seat fabric for the other seat in the car,
see Seat Fabric Color Identification on page 16 below. Once this step is completed, skip to step 8.

6)

Forenza Only: With a driver or passenger seat side airbag deployment, all the seats in the vehicle will require
replacement. The various seat fabric colors and patterns used in the Forenza are no longer available — only
the Split Gray fabric is available for this repair. Refer to the Seat Fabric Color Identification on page 16 for
confirmation of seat fabric. To replace all the seats in the car, refer to the Suzuki Pit Stop Plus Service Repair
Manual for installation procedures.

7)

Forenza Only: Seat belt installation for the Forenza rear seat, center seat belt occupant, will require the
following special installation process. Refer to the picture and text below.
Forenza Only: On the replacement rear seat, the
center passenger seat belt extends from the
center of the seatback. When the seat back is
installed, pull the seat belt out of the seat back
approximately 203 - 254mm (8 - 10 in) and cut the
seat belt webbing. Allow the remaining seat belt to
retract into the seat. All the original installed seat
belts will be reused.

8)

Forenza and Reno: Route the SAB per the instruction. See SAB Harness Routing on page 15.

9)

Forenza and Reno: Enable the SIR system. Refer to Enabling the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
(SIR) in the Suzuki Pit Stop PLUS Service Repair Manual.

10) Forenza and Reno: Using the scan tool, clear DTCs B1380, B1384 or B1379 DTCs. If the DTCs cannot
be cleared, replace the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) with a new one. Refer to Sensing and
Diagnostic Module (SDM) in the Suzuki Pit Stop PLUS Service Repair Manual.
11) Forenza and Reno: Re-set the radio preset stations recorded in step 1 above.
12) Repairs are complete for this warranty extension.

7 / 19

Seat Height Adjuster Replacement Procedure
Removal & Installation Procedure
1)

Remove the seat height adjuster knobs by
removing the horseshoe Retaining Clip and
pulling on the knob.

2)

Remove the seat side trim.

3)

Remove the seatback recliner hinge bolts at the
height adjuster and remove the seatback.

8 / 19

4)

Remove the seat cushion mounting nuts.

5)

Remove the damaged seat height adjuster
assembly from the seat cushion.

6)

Install the new seat height adjuster assembly to
the seat cushion.

7)

Install the seat cushion mounting nuts and
tighten to 12 Nm (9 lbf-ft).

8)

Install the seatback onto the height
adjuster/seat cushion.

9)

Install the seatback recliner hinge bolts and
tighten to 45 Nm (33 lbf-ft).

10) Install the seat side trim to its original position.

9 / 19

11) Install the seat height adjustment knobs by
installing the horseshoe retaining clip on the
knobs and pushing the knobs into place.

Front Seat Wiring Harness Repair Procedure:
NOTE:
If the seat side airbag harness is damaged, the seat
side airbag is not deployed and the driver’s seat
vertical adjuster is broken, replace the seat height
adjuster assembly prior to repairing the SAB wiring
harness as outlined in this bulletin.
NOTE:
The following procedure shows the repair being
performed on driver’s seat. The passenger seat
repair is similar.
1)

Place the seat on a clean surface to perform the
wiring harness repair.

2)

Measure and record the length of the harness
between where the harness exits the seatback
(1) and the end of the connector (2).

3)

Release the seatback covering band by
separating the plastic retainer strips (1).

10 / 19

4)