Crash Sensors for Airbag

[sperold]

I have been looking at the flashing light on my dash for 5 years now. I have the front bumper off my 90 and I see the little black boxes, one on each side and there is something in the middle, but it doesn't look like the other two. Do I have it right?
One of the black boxes is rotted so bad it looks pathetic, but the other one is so clean, you can almost see the part number. If I change the rotted one, does that solve my flashing light issue?
That air bag scares me anyways as it was the first year, and I am sure they got it wrong (with the propellant). Can I fool the system, somehow, and eliminate that crusty crash sensor? Any ideas on where you get these things, if I have to use them? Any chance they are interchangeable with something else?
If I get a used one, is there a test to see if it works?
Oh, and good news, my 95 now has the blinking light as well.
I welcome all advice, and any help would be appreciated.

 

[jmpSHO]

Count the flashes and post the code.

 

[hawkeye18]

yeah seriously, there are so many things it could be... and odds are not good that it's the crash sensor. I've never seen a crash sensor code that was actually a bad crash sensor (it's always been the wiring). Odds are good your air bag computer ate it... but definitely count the codes. And post them.

 

[Ishodu]

The light will flash fast then pause then flash fast again. Count the number of flashes then when it pauses again count that number. Example
(flash)(flash)(flash)(flash)pause(flash)(flash)(flash) This would equal a code of "43"
Once you get that code it will pin point the issue.

 

[sperold]

Thanks everyone, the car is at the body shop and I will count the flashes on Tuesday and let you know. It never occurred to me that the # of flashes meant anything beyond "you have air bag issues". Silly me. I do remember it flashes a great number of times in each sequence, and that is really annoying.... even behind the black tape that has been there for 5 years.

 

[sperold]

My 90 has the following: 6 flashes, a pause, 6 flashes, a pause, 6 flashes (pause never gets longer to signify start of new string)....... so I guess my code is 6.
My 95 has the following: 4 flashes, a pause, 2 flashes, then a long pause, and starts over again with, 4 flashes, a pause, 2 flashes........ so I guess my code is 42.
Any help appreciated.

 

[Ishodu]

http://www.shotimes.com/php-bin/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=119

You can try cleaning the connections and ground path to body. I have a code 42 when I subject the car to high G forces and I know its a broken wire in the main harness. I know the area it is in but it will be a disaster to cut the nest open there I may run a new wire to the controller to fix it. This is a common issue with the Taurus. The 6 might very well be the same issue.

 

[beaudeen]

Sperold...seems we have the same problems with our cars...the info I received from members here a few years back..
http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=58869

Never did get it fixed though...first I pulled the ABS bulb in the gage cluster..well that resulted in the light not showing but then the glove box ABS control started beeping which was much more annoying..so i disconnected the connector to the control box..totally disabling the system and the beeping...i'll follow this thread to see if you can get your problem rectified...best of luck to ya...!!!