Chevrolet Prizm airbag control unit repair⁽¹⁾

What should be considered with Chevrolet Prizm airbag control units?

The airbag control unit of the Chevrolet Prizm evaluates the crash sensors, triggers the airbags and reports faults via the airbag warning light. After an accident it stores crash data and locks itself. A defective control unit should therefore be checked and repaired by a specialist workshop.

The control unit is a safety-relevant component. It controls the front airbags for driver and front passenger and the side airbags, provided the vehicle is equipped with them. In an emergency, the seat belt tensioners are also triggered by the control unit. Work on the airbag system should therefore not be carried out by yourself.

Airbag24 repairs your own control unit that you send in. The workshop checks the unit, repairs it and deletes the crash data, where crash data has been stored.

Which Chevrolet Prizm generations are there?

The shop lists one series for the Chevrolet Prizm: the E110, built from 1998 to 2002. All information on production period, part numbers and fault codes refers to this series.

• E110 (1998–2002): the series of the Chevrolet Prizm recorded in the shop

Whether a vehicle belongs to this series can be checked using the model year and the vehicle identification number (VIN). If in doubt, contact us before sending in the unit.

How do I identify my Chevrolet Prizm airbag control unit?

The part number on the control unit determines the exact version. It should be checked together with the model year and the vehicle identification number (VIN) before the unit is sent in.

The shop lists the following part numbers for the E110 series. Model year and equipment must also be taken into account. The list makes no claim to be complete; Denso is given as the supplier:

• 89170-02050 (Denso)
• 89170-02051 (Denso)
• 89170-02140 (Denso)

Fault codes also help with classification. The shop lists, among others, B1000 (internal performance fault of the control unit), B1001 (configuration fault relative to the body control unit) and B0012 (driver's steering wheel airbag ignition circuit stage 1 faulty). A fault code alone does not prove a defect; it indicates a finding that must be checked.

Which airbag equipment does the Chevrolet Prizm have?

On the Chevrolet Prizm E110, front airbags for driver and front passenger are standard equipment. Side airbags were only available at extra cost.

Which airbags are fitted in a specific vehicle depends on the model year and equipment level. This can be reliably clarified using the vehicle's equipment list or the owner's manual.

The control unit coordinates the deployment of all fitted airbags and the seat belt tensioners. If the airbag warning light is on, a check by a specialist workshop is necessary, because the light indicates a fault in the system. The route to repair: have the fault memory read, disconnect the battery and remove the control unit. Then create a repair order online and send the unit in. Processing usually takes 3–4 working days: testing, repairing and checking. The repaired control unit comes back with all vehicle data and is ready for use immediately after reinstallation — coding or programming is not necessary.