Greetings all-

3 time Caravan owner here..

I have a 2019 Caravan SXT and recently purchased a manual (non-power) driver's seat from salvage, I got tired of waiting to wait for it to slowly go forward then back to flip the 2nd row Stow n Go seat. Was able to successfully install the seat and plug the connectors underneath. Now the seat is much more comfortable, my knee no longer rests against the front dashboard, also the cloth is also more comfortable. Only problem is that shortly after while driving both the Air Bag and Seat Belt lights came on. Checked the connectors and they are both snug.

What do I do now? Any ideas why the car is not recognizing the airbag and seatbelt?

 

You will need a scanner capable of reading SRS codes to determine the cause.

 

BCM) is not recognizing the absence of the power seat system and is throwing errors. Since the original seat had occupancy sensors built into the power mechanism, it might not be able to properly detect the seat with those connectors unplugged, causing the airbag light to activate due to a perceived fault in the system. Additionally, the connectors for the seat belt pretensioner or any sensors along the wiring harness might be loose or improperly connected, which would affect the system's ability to confirm that everything is secure and functional. Lastly, it's worth checking the vehicle's ground connections, as a poor ground can sometimes create false error signals.

I highly recommend running a complete system scan with a tool like youcanic, which will help you read fault codes not just from the airbag system but from all related control modules in your Caravan. This scanner provides a comprehensive overview, allowing you to locate the exact source of the codes and preventing you from chasing down unrelated issues. I’ve been using youcanic more often because it allows me to access detailed module information and functional tests, something like a simple Actron CP9175 would miss since it only focuses on engine faults. Have you considered inspecting the seat belt wiring and connectors again? Sometimes, the smallest oversight can lead to those warning lights.

 

Thank you for your reply👍

I put the original seat back in the vehicle and the dash light for the airbag went right off after the initial system scan while the fob was in the second position before start and the airbag light went off and did not come back on. Then I put the seatbelt on and that light also immediately went off and did not come back on either. Been driving it today and neither has come back on. This rules out the possibility of it being vehicle-side related.

My first though was basically the same as your initial suggestion that the absence of the power seat system is causing errors. I did notice the difference between the connectors, the old seat has 2 additional wires I assume are for the motor for the power seat.

Is there a way that I could have the computer reprogrammed for the manual seat? Any other workarounds in mind?

​​​​​​The old seat is just that, - old, and the panel on the side with the controls is hanging off. Manual replacement (cloth) seat from salvage is in near perfect condition and is so much more comfortable, and I really like that I don't have to wait holding the seat forward button to flip the 2nd row Stow n Go seat/s.

​​By the way, for the sake of mention, the replacement seat is also from a 19 Caravan with the SE trim level. Mine is a 19 SXT.

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