Air bag light is flashing, then on.

[RangerPilot]

'98 Explorer XLT, 4 door, driver and passenger air bags.

Let me preface this by saying last night I was putting driving lights on my grille guard and messed with what I thought was a plastic piece in place of a stock sensor for maybe the 4WD or something. It looked JUST like an oil pressure switch, except the whole thing was cast out of plastic. I messed with it a bit then left it alone except for running a wire next to it. It was located on the driver's side of the header panel, about halfway up the A/C condenser. I also tapped into a grey/orange wire that was supposed to be power for the high beams (but wasn't apparently).

This evening I started the truck, air bag light came on normal when I turned the key to run. After the truck starts, the light goes off, then flashes once, then twice in succession. It repeated this cycle I believe five times before going out after the double-flash, then illuminating constantly until the truck is turned off.

Did I mess with something bad? Make a bone-headed mistake? Tap into a wire for the airbags or airbag light instead of the high beams?

Thanks for any assistance.

 

[bowtiehatr]

lfc 12 means somewhere there is a power problem to the module. check your fuses becasue i dont think you could have effected something.

 

[d-kuzmen]

'98 Explorer XLT, 4 door, driver and passenger air bags.

Let me preface this by saying last night I was putting driving lights on my grille guard and messed with what I thought was a plastic piece in place of a stock sensor for maybe the 4WD or something. It looked JUST like an oil pressure switch, except the whole thing was cast out of plastic. I messed with it a bit then left it alone except for running a wire next to it. It was located on the driver's side of the header panel, about halfway up the A/C condenser. I also tapped into a grey/orange wire that was supposed to be power for the high beams (but wasn't apparently).

This evening I started the truck, air bag light came on normal when I turned the key to run. After the truck starts, the light goes off, then flashes once, then twice in succession. It repeated this cycle I believe five times before going out after the double-flash, then illuminating constantly until the truck is turned off.

Did I mess with something bad? Make a bone-headed mistake? Tap into a wire for the airbags or airbag light instead of the high beams?

Thanks for any assistance.

Ok the 12 is for lost or low battery power to the module. Check the airbag system fuse power dist box fuse # 5 10amp, check battery voltage also must be over 9 volts engine running. The Pinpoint test has you hook a scan tool up and read the voltage pid in the module (something you won't be able to do at home)... As for that plastic sensor that should be the outside air temp sensor. The High beam wiring is LightGreen/Black stripe outside the cab, it's Grey/orange right out of the multifunction switch and runs to the fuse panel, heres something interesting, the airbag system uses a grey/orange also runs from the driver airbag through the clockspring down to the module, I don't know where you tried taping into the headlight system but I would just double check. Hope this helps alittle.

 

[RangerPilot]

That could explain why not only the grey/orange I tapped into didn't turn the lights on with the brights, but produced a power problem as well.

Checked the fuse...thought it was good. Turns out, I was wrong (it lists multiple #5s for the PDB), it was blown. Turned key to run, air bag light illuminated, flashed. Fuse did not blow again. Will test drive later (blocked in right now).

Dave, is light green/black the color for the high beams from the interior fuse box as well? Or just for the in-engine bay color? I think my wiring diagram is incorrect.

Thank you both for the help.

 

[RangerPilot]

Sorry for double replying, but I can't edit my previous post anymore.

I now believe I have a code 52 when the truck is running (five flashes, then two flashes, repeated until the light goes solid).

What is a code 52? I have looked on the internet but my knowledge of airbags is really...really lame.

Thanks.

 

[d-kuzmen]

That could explain why not only the grey/orange I tapped into didn't turn the lights on with the brights, but produced a power problem as well.

Checked the fuse...thought it was good. Turns out, I was wrong (it lists multiple #5s for the PDB), it was blown. Turned key to run, air bag light illuminated, flashed. Fuse did not blow again. Will test drive later (blocked in right now).

Dave, is light green/black the color for the high beams from the interior fuse box as well? Or just for the in-engine bay color? I think my wiring diagram is incorrect.

Thank you both for the help.

Correct the wire comes out of the interior fuse panel and then goes to the lights. Also code 52 is for no or low battery power to the airbag module, check that fuse again. If you haven't already remove the wire you attatched to the airbag system that may have something to do with it.

Some info:

NOTE: If a short to ground exists on any of the air bag module Circuits 607 (LB/O), 614 (GY/O), 615 (GY/W), or 616 (PK/BK), leading to a lamp fault code (LFC) 13 or 53 and a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) B1913; or, similarly, a short to ground exists on any of the air bag sensor circuits 617 (PK/O), 619 (PK/W), 624 (Y/W), or 625 (Y/LG), leading to an LFC 14 or 54 and DTC B1914, the air bag diagnostic monitor will activate an internal solid state switch at Pin C232-13 of the air bag diagnostic monitor. The activation of this switch shorts Circuit 937 (R/W) to ground, causing the power distribution box Mini Fuse 5 (10 A) to open, thus disarming the air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) and preventing inadvertent air bag deployment.

 

[RangerPilot]

Wire removed.

I found this:

CLEARING CODES (works for code 52)
1. Only intermittent codes and codes that diagnostic monitor recognizes as being repaired may be cleared from memory. To clear codes, cycle ignition OFF to ON. Observe AIR BAG warning light. AIR BAG warning light will illuminate for 4-8 seconds, and flash fault code.

(Comment) Loosely translated - If you dont have the problem fixed, this wont work. Code 52 should clear with this!

2. Locate air bag diagnostic 2-pin connector.

(Comment) This was a fun one. According to the air bag wiring diagram that I also got from Mitchell, the Airbag Diagnostic Connector is located "Right side of Instrument Panel". The only thing I found immediately to the right of the I/P (between the stereo and Instrument panel) was a black computer with 4 connectors which is NOT what I was looking for. I finally found a blog that mentioned the computer for the air bag computer was behind the right side kick panel. Sure enough....there it was. Attached to the side of the diagnostic computer was a two prong diagnostic connector.

3. Connect a jumper wire between diagnostic connector terminals. Leave jumper wire connected until diagnostic monitor tone sounds (about 5 seconds). Disconnect jumper wire. Fault code is cleared.

I looked ALL over the right side kick panel and cannot find any module with a "two prong diagnostic connector" ANYWHERE. Am I just totally missing this thing? There is a large, light blue module with maybe 30 wires coming out of it, but I don't see a two-prong diagnostic connector anywhere.

I'd like to find it so I can jump it so I can be done with it.

Thanks.

 

[d-kuzmen]

Wire removed.

I found this:



I looked ALL over the right side kick panel and cannot find any module with a "two prong diagnostic connector" ANYWHERE. Am I just totally missing this thing? There is a large, light blue module with maybe 30 wires coming out of it, but I don't see a two-prong diagnostic connector anywhere.

I'd like to find it so I can jump it so I can be done with it.

Thanks.

Not the way to do it, there is no connector like that, that I know of, you need to use the DLC under the dash with a scan tool, ususally when a airbag issue is fixed the light goes out and stays out instantly. You may try disconnecting the battery 5min. I would not trust that other procedure you have. I don't recomend jumping anything, all it takes is power to go where it doesn't belong and bang there goes the airbags.

 

[RangerPilot]

Yeah, I wasn't so keen on that idea myself.

I'll go have the codes pulled tomorrow, see if it's still giving anything.

I'll disconnect the battery tonight as well...maybe that'll do it.

Thanks again for the help.