Air Bag Flashing Code

[sperold]

90 SHO: My airbag light goes 6 blinks, stops and goes 6 blinks again.... on forever.
Should this be counted as continuous, since there are no codes that start with 6 blinks?

 

[TimboSHO]

On a Gen 1, there are only 6 airbag codes. 1 blink, 2 blinks, etc.... You have a code 6. I don't have the descriptions anywhere close, but I'm sure someone knows what they mean. I know #6 is the most general of all the codes, which is why I never tracked it down on my 91.

 

[dohcsable]

I got tired of the 92 doing it, so I removed the lightbulb......


the one time I've met an airbag, it actually did more damage than it prevented, so I'll take my chances

 

[the bone]

Just take it to the dealer and have it fixed. How much could it be? It's better than having the air bag go off in you're face when you least expect it.
The air bag system is nothing to play with.

 

[Ishodu]

Code Component Fault/Description
2 All Primary Crash Sensors Disconnected.
3 Air Bag Deployment Circuit - Low Battery Voltage or Low Backup Power Supply Voltage
4 Safing Sensor - Diagnostic Circuit Open or Low Primary Crash Sensor Resistance
5 Air Bag Circuit or Crash Sensor Circuit - Shorted to Ground
6 Driver-Side Air Bag Circuit - Open or High Resistance
7 Passenger-Side Air Bag Circuit - Open or High Resistance
8 Primary Crash Sensor - Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
9 Primary Crash Sensor Circuit - Open or High Resistance
10 Diagnostic Monitor Internal Thermal Fuse - Open Due to Intermittent Short to Ground

 

[Ishodu]

You may have a bad sensor or more likely a corroded or broken wire between the sensor and the air bag computer.

 

[TimboSHO]

Code Component Fault/Description
2 All Primary Crash Sensors Disconnected.
3 Air Bag Deployment Circuit - Low Battery Voltage or Low Backup Power Supply Voltage
4 Safing Sensor - Diagnostic Circuit Open or Low Primary Crash Sensor Resistance
5 Air Bag Circuit or Crash Sensor Circuit - Shorted to Ground
6 Driver-Side Air Bag Circuit - Open or High Resistance
7 Passenger-Side Air Bag Circuit - Open or High Resistance
8 Primary Crash Sensor - Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
9 Primary Crash Sensor Circuit - Open or High Resistance
10 Diagnostic Monitor Internal Thermal Fuse - Open Due to Intermittent Short to Ground

I stand corrected. That will teach me to rely on information I sort of remember from years ago :headbang:

 

[JBG3]

Awesome info in this thread! additional question. I have light blinking in succession 5 times, giving me this based on above- 5 Air Bag Circuit or Crash Sensor Circuit - Shorted to Ground. then it waits a few seconds and flashes only once, then a few seconds more and the 5 times again.

What does the single flash mean?

 

[JBG3]

Just take it to the dealer and have it fixed. How much could it be? It's better than having the air bag go off in you're face when you least expect it.
The air bag system is nothing to play with.

My understanding is that if there are any faults in any airbag circuitry, it won't go off. Everything has to be perfect for it to actually go off, so a blinking light means no airbag, not that it might blow.

 

[Ishodu]

Awesome info in this thread! additional question. I have light blinking in succession 5 times, giving me this based on above- 5 Air Bag Circuit or Crash Sensor Circuit - Shorted to Ground. then it waits a few seconds and flashes only once, then a few seconds more and the 5 times again.

What does the single flash mean?

The codes listed above are for gen 1 gen 2 codes use 2 digit codes.
If you have a short 2 ground you may find that you have 2 issues. You may find after fixing it you will have a code 10. Then you will have to change the air bag module because the fuse inside it will be blown.

 

[Ishodu]

Just for reference these are the gen 2 codes
Code Component Fault/Description
12 Low Battery Voltage
13 Air Bag Circuit - Shorted to Ground
14 Primary Crash Sensor - Shorted to Ground
21 Safing Sensor - Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
22 Safing Sensor Output Circuit - Shorted to Battery Voltage
23 Safing Sensor Input Feed/Return Circuit - Open
24 Safing Sensor Output Feed/Return Circuit - Open
32 Driver-Side Air Bag Circuit - High Resistance or Open
33 Passenger-Side Air Bag Circuit - High Resistance or Open
34 Driver-Side Air Bag Circuit - Low Resistance or Shorted
35 Passenger-Side Air Bag Circuit - Low Resistance or Shorted
41 Primary Crash Sensor #1 Feed/Return Circuit - Open
42 Primary Crash Sensor #2 Feed/Return Circuit - Open
44 Primary Crash Sensor #1 - Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
45 Primary Crash Sensor #2 - Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
51 Diagnostic Monitor Internal Thermal Fuse - Open Due to Intermittent Short to Ground
52 Backup Power Supply - Voltage Boost Fault
53 Primary Crash Sensor Circuits - Resistance to Ground, or Internal Diagnostic Monitor Fault
Rapid Continuous Flashing of AIR BAG Readiness Lamp - All Primary Crash Sensors Disconnected

 

[JBG3]

The codes listed above are for gen 1 gen 2 codes use 2 digit codes.
If you have a short 2 ground you may find that you have 2 issues. You may find after fixing it you will have a code 10. Then you will have to change the air bag module because the fuse inside it will be blown.

oh ok! So maybe its telling me a code 51 instead. 51 Diagnostic Monitor Internal Thermal Fuse - Open Due to Intermittent Short to Ground

 

[Ishodu]

Yes then you have a short to ground that caused it or a freak failure. But the module needs to be replaced.

 

[JBG3]

Yes then you have a short to ground that caused it or a freak failure. But the module needs to be replaced.

Was just searching on car-part .com. That is an expensive component it turns out. I may just pull the bulb, vs buy another module for hundreds of dollars. Ill check in some local yards.

 

[Ishodu]

A wtb on the classified or your local wrecking yard would likely be the best bet. I am not sure if there SHO specific either. I have 2 here that are blown I am going to try and fix them one of these days if I have the correct part on the circuit board.

 

[Ishodu]

More shotime info on air bags
If you plan to work on your airbag system, exercise extreme caution. Personal injury may result if you accidently deploy an air bag. The airbag system is live all of the time - it is not switched on and off by the key. There are also backup power supplies. The 1989 - 91 system will discharge in about 20 minutes after the battery is disconnected. The service manual says that it must be disconnected to safely work on the vehicle. The 1992+ system will discharge in about one minute after disconnecting the battery.

Never attach a self-powered test light to any part of an airbag system. If you want to work on the system, acquire and review a manual that covers servicing of the system. Examples are the Air Bag System Diagnosis training manual from Ford, as well as the shop manuals from Helm.

 

[sperold]

This post shows how to repair that Thermal Fuse with a Radio Shack part:
http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=110623&highlight=air+bag+module

 

[Ishodu]

Nice figured it could be done easy, just never got around to finding a replacement fuse. I was 99% sure I had found the fuse to replace on the board.

 

[sperold]

No Problem, just part of the service.

 

[MikeVH]

'94ATX "24 code"

I see the code in your list, I get this once or twice a month, not very often. Where do I even look to fix?