90 SHO Air-Bag Flashing 9

[sperold]

Primary Crash Sensor Circuit open or High Resistance is the listing for a 9 flash situation.

Figuring that it was a harness issue, I unplugged the 2 connectors on the module under the dash and the crash sensor at the front of the car.
Did the continuity test on the harness and found that all 4 wires were continuous.
So now what do I do?
Which component is a better bet to swap, the module or the sensor?

Took some part numbers: F0DB-14B006-AE for the sensor, and F0014B056AA or "with foam" F1DF14B0056AA for the dash module. The dash module had a build date of Nov 1992 which suggests it is not the original.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[rubydist]

I would replace the front crash sensor first. I have one or two in my collection if you cannot find one locally.

 

[sperold]

My 95 had a 3 wire connector on the crash sensor, this 90 has a 4 wire connector and the mounting plate is full width all along its length.
PM me with your price and shipping to 13669. If there is anything else that will help, let me know. Do you think the 92 / 93 module is OK? This light has been on all the time I have owned the 90, so I can't say it worked in the past.
Thanks

 

[luigisho]

Some of those crash sensors also are the same across Ford platforms. When I replaced one or 2 on my '90 about a decade ago I got them off a Lincoln

 

[rubydist]

pm sent.

 

[sperold]

Need advice - my efforts have failed.
As noted, the first thing I did was run a test on the wires between my front crash sensor and the Air Bag Module, and all 4 wires were OK. I went from the pins on the crash sensor connector to the connector at the module on the surface where it plugs onto the module.
Second thing I did was replace the Air Bag Module behind the glove box door; no change.
Final thing I did today was replace the front crash sensor (a new one); no change.
I still have my 9 flashes on the Air Bag light, over and over and over.

Any help / advice would be appreciated.

 

[luigisho]

After faulty sensor, too much corrosion on the sensor grounds, and module I would look at the clockspring. I've only had to tackle this once in 15yrs and mine was an easy sensor replacement so not much time spent on this. Do you have a schematic of the system components? I'm looking for one to reference

Correction: I did have beeping from the airbag module last year and replaced the clockspring (actually had to have a local elec specialist repair the original after having their ham ****** techs install 2 used replacements incorrectly). Solved it.

 

[sperold]

The flash codes are so specific; I thought things like the clockspring would be handled by the deployment circuit (3 flashes).
If every thing is a possibility, then the diagnosis is going to be difficult.

 

[luigisho]

http://www.answers.com/Q/1990_ford_crown_Victoria_airbag_light_blinking_9_times

http://www.justanswer.com/ford/3fotb-having-issue-1990-ford-taurus-getting-code.html#re.v/149/

This was the such a small run before going to the 2 digit code vehicles. If you can find the same fault in double digit codes there may be more searchable info available. I hate chasing electrical. If it was me I would eliminate the good stuff obviously and look at other components. I would look for a good clockspring at a good price and try it. However, the person sending it has to secure it properly during removal and reinstall. That's just me. Do you have the diagnostic procedure from a ford manual for code 9?

 

[sperold]

Here is some additional information in case this thread is used in the future.
This is for the crash sensor wiring on a 90 SHO and it describes the wiring of the sensor, remember, you have to reverse the left / right when you look at the harness connector.
When looking at the sensor with that connector tab on the top, the top row of 2 has W/O on the left, and Grey /O on the right. The bottom row of 2 has Purple/Light Blue on the left, and Pink/W on the right.
The 90 is even different from the 91 (but it is still 4 pin) and 92 and up has the 3 active pins set-up.

 

[sperold]

Well, here is one for the books!
Despite the diagnostic system having a 7 flash code exclusively for the passenger side crash sensor, it turned out my 9 flash code was caused by the passenger side crash sensor.

I happended to have the side crash sensors (thanks SV&HOdan), so after reading post #9 from luigisho, I decided to exhaust all my options.

I hooked 3 wires to my battery ground cable and ran them to each crash sensor (left, right, center). The left and right sensors were the new ones and they were just sitting in the engine compartment.
Then I reconnected the battery and sat in the passenger seat and turned the key to on; while closing my eyes and being as far as I could, in the passenger side seat.

Unbelievably, the 9 flash code did not appear.

Then I removed the ground wires, one by one, to determine which sensor was the villan.

As I got more daring as I proceeded, I did not unhook the battery and wait during the time I was unplugging the sensors and trying new sensors, then reinstalling the plug to the sensor that was OK. So that is my finding on that topic to help anyone troubleshooting this wildly unpredictable air bag system.

Just to round out the information, those side crash sensor numbers are:
left side F0DB-14B005-AE
right side F0DB-14B004-AE

My problem now is - I have no idea how to mount the new sensor as I am not even sure where the original one is located - exactly. Generally it is behind the rad support panel but up in the fender nose area on the side you cannot see or reach.
Any advice is appreciated.

Hope this helps, and I am glad it is over.
This light has been on all the time I have owned the car (2004), and this was my first SHO.

 

[cali+Mocasho+]

I would replace the front crash sensor first. I have one or two in my collection if you cannot find one locally.

how much?

 

[sperold]

Just to keep you informed.

My 90 is my winter car, and winter just recently closed-in, in my zone.
Started using it and the flashing air bag light is back. Remember, I am the guy with the external ground wires to all my sensors, so I tightened all my grounds.

No change right away. Being super cold, left it at that.

As time went by, the airbag light started to behave on some start ups and then on others, the light came back on.

If I am noodling around town in the daylight, I can start and stop all day long and never see a flashing light.
When I am on a 2 hour trip after dark, that start up usually has the light coming on.

I think it has a mind of its own.