Passenger Seat Occupancy Sensor - 2002 Corvette C5 LS1

The passenger seat occupancy sensor in the 2002 Chevrolet Corvette C5 is a pressure-sensitive mat laminated within the seat cushion foam, detecting passenger presence to enable or suppress airbag deployment. Located beneath the upholstery, this component commonly triggers persistent 'Service Airbag' warnings when internal conductive traces fracture from years of seat flexing and ingress/egress stress. When sourcing from junkyards, target any 1997-2004 Corvette Coupe or Convertible, as Chevrolet utilized consistent seat frames across the entire C5 generation. Verify part numbers 15266947 or 19121014 molded into the sensor housing, and inspect the yellow two-pin connector for corrosion—early 1997-2000 production occasionally features slightly different harness routing than 2001-2004 models. Installation demands carefully removing the seat assembly and peeling back the cushion cover without tearing the foam substrate. Test resistance across the terminals with a multimeter before purchase; a functioning unit shows measurable resistance change when pressure is applied to the mat surface. Avoid sensors with visible creasing, prior splice attempts, or damaged wiring, as airbag circuits require factory-intact continuity for safety system reliability.