my husband changed the battery in my 2002 KIA SPORTAGE. Turned out not to be the problem. It was the alternator. Changed the alternator and the next day the airbag light came on. Took it to Folsom Lake KIA to have it reset. and they said the air bag could not be reset that the whole chip was bad and it would cost $900 to replace it. How coincidental is that? My friend was saying he actually changed the battery and the alternator in his Lexus and the air bag light came on. Is the battery and the alternator related to the airbag? And do you think the airbag chip really went bad?

There is really no relationship between changing the battery and an air bag fault. The air bag circuit is not powered with the key off so the battery change couldn't effect it.




78 Corvette Pace Car For Sale-18k mi orig-Florida

As HT mentioned the systems are unrelated but there is a lot of complex electronic systems on cars these days and certain precautions have to be taken when working on electrical systems or other systems can be damaged. Computers (modules) are especially prone to voltage spikes & surges...(yours has 5 or 6 that I can think of now just off the top of my head)

I don't know what happened during your installation but one of the worst things I've seen, is for someone to take off the battery cable while the engine is running to "test" the alternator. Your car has a surge suppressor of sorts, it's the battery if it's taken out of the system then all modules are unprotected. I've seen guys try a "hot swap" & accidently ground the power feed wire...That will do it to. Or sometimes modules just go out... with electronics it happens...


I'm not sure what you meant with the "How coincidental is that?" comment.... You took the vehicle in with the air bag light on & the price sounds about right for a new ADU.