B16E7

DTC B16E7 indicates the airbag control unit (SRS ECU) cannot establish normal communication with the Middle Rear Impact Sensor — Qin Plus

Safety System

DTC B16E7 indicates the airbag control unit (SRS ECU) cannot establish normal communication with the Middle Rear Impact Sensor.

This sensor typically mounts in the vehicle's central rear area (such as the rear panel, rear floor, or near the C-pillar) and monitors rear collision acceleration.

When the ECU detects an open sensor circuit, an internal sensor fault, or a communication interruption, it stores this fault code and illuminates the airbag warning light.

Consequently, during a rear-end collision, the airbag system may fail to correctly determine collision severity and deploy the rear airbags or seat belt pretensioners in time, severely compromising passive safety functions.

3
Cases Logged
5
Causes
  • 1Loose, disconnected, or poor contact at the center rear crash sensor wiring harness connector, commonly caused by vehicle wading, corrosion after water ingress, or an improperly seated connector following repairs.
  • 2Open or short circuit in the sensor power supply or signal line due to wiring harness aging, wear, crushing, or rodent gnawing.
  • 3Internal fault in the center rear collision sensor, such as a damaged accelerometer component, internal circuit fault, or water ingress due to seal failure.
  • 4After a rear-end collision, the sensor mounting bracket deformed, causing the sensor and wiring harness connector to disconnect, or the connector failed to seat correctly during accident repairs.
  • 5Internal communication port fault in the airbag control unit (SRS ECU) or loss of software calibration data (rare but possible).
  • 1
    Safety preparation: Disconnect the battery negative terminal and wait at least 90 seconds to fully discharge the SRS system capacitors and prevent accidental airbag deployment.
  • 2
    Fault confirmation: Use the BYD dedicated diagnostic tool (VDS2000/VDS2100) to read the fault code, verify B16E7 is a current fault (not a history fault), and record the freeze frame data.
  • 3
    Locate the sensor: Refer to the vehicle repair manual to locate the center rear crash sensor (usually located in the center of the rear panel or under the rear seats). Visually inspect the sensor exterior for damage and the mounting bracket for deformation.
  • 4
    Connector inspection: Verify the sensor wiring harness connector is fully seated and the locking tab is intact. Inspect the terminals for oxidation, backed-out pins, or corrosion. Clean or replace the connector if necessary.
  • 5
    Circuit measurement: Disconnect the SRS ECU and sensor connectors. Measure harness continuity (< 1 Ω). Measure signal wire insulation resistance to ground and to power supply (> 10 MΩ). Check reference voltage (9-13 V).
  • 6
    Sensor test: If wiring is normal, perform a substitution test using a known good center rear crash sensor, or measure sensor resistance (compare against the workshop manual standard, typically 2-5kΩ).
  • 7
    System reset: After repair, reconnect all components and the battery. Use the diagnostic tool to clear fault codes. Perform the 'SRS system self-check' and 'crash sensor calibration' procedures. Verify the warning light turns off and the system has no fault codes.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

BYD Qin rear collision sensor connector loose case

Vehicle: BYD Qin 2020. Symptom: SRS warning light on instrument cluster. DTC B16E7-00 (middle rear collision sensor disconnected). Diagnosis: Inspected the middle rear collision sensor in the center of the trunk. Found the wiring harness connector not fully locked; the plug pulled out easily. Owner reported the vehicle had previous bodywork and painting at a repair shop—likely the connector was not reconnected properly. Checked wiring continuity with a multimeter, results normal. Sensor resistance 2.8 kΩ, within spec. Fix: Reconnected the sensor plug and locked the tab securely. Cleared fault codes; system returned to normal.
Original source ↗
BYD DTC AI Analysis

BYD Song MAX Rear Impact Sensor Wiring Harness Open Circuit Case

Vehicle: BYD Song MAX 2019 Symptom: The SRS warning light illuminated suddenly after driving on rough roads. Diagnosis: Connected the scan tool and retrieved DTC B16E7. Inspected the center rear impact sensor and found the wiring harness chafed where it passes through the body sheet metal opening. The damaged insulation caused an intermittent open circuit in the signal wire. Measured the circuit and found the sensor power wire had unstable resistance when the wiring was moved. Repair: Cut out the damaged section of the wiring harness, soldered the connections and applied waterproof insulation. Rerouted the harness to avoid contact with sharp sheet metal edges, and fitted protective corrugated tubing. Fault resolved.
Original source ↗
BYD DTC AI Analysis

BYD Tang sensor failure following rear-end collision

Vehicle: 2021 BYD Tang. Symptom: The SRS warning light remained illuminated after rear-end collision repairs, with DTC B16E7 displayed. Diagnosis: Inspected the rear panel area and found the centre rear impact sensor had sustained shock damage in the accident. The mounting bracket was slightly deformed; although the sensor appeared externally intact, the internal accelerometer had failed. Measured sensor output signal voltage at 0 V (reference: 2.5 V) and infinite resistance across the sensor. Repair: Replaced the centre rear impact sensor with a new unit and corrected the mounting bracket to the standard position—sensor mounting angle perpendicular to the vehicle horizontal plane. Performed sensor calibration using a dedicated diagnostic tool and cleared the fault code.
Original source ↗
Data confidence: Official This information is for reference only. Always consult a qualified technician for diagnosis and repair. Do not attempt high-voltage system repairs yourself.