Airbag Code 53. No stereo or instrumentl cluster working

[nasty_north]

After parking my car at the gym this fine winter i returned and my air bag warning came on with code 53. The stereo and gauge / instrument cluster do not work aswell. i purchased the car a month ago used. it has been in accidents and has a replaced tranny.

from what i have read it means Air Bag circuit shorted to ground. please help me solve this without the stealership!

my first guess is the front seats. i wiggled both the connectors under both seats but no luck. I have heard about people cutting the air bag wires under the seat and solder them together to bypass. What fuses should i check? (fuse#19=10amp?) should i butcher or disable the airbag system? i dont care for it and can live without it! please help


Airbag Codes
AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR FAULT CODE PRIORITY TABLE
Priority Code Component/Fault Description
Highest -- No Air Bag Lamp - Inoperative Lamp Circuit or No Ignition Voltage to Diagnostic Monitor
| -- Continuous Air Bag Lamp - Diagnostic Monitor Disconnected / inoperative
| 12 Low Battery Voltage
| 13 Air Bag Circuit or Crash Sensor Circuit - Shorted to Ground
| 21 Safing Sensor - Not Mounted on Vehicle Properly
| 22 Safing Sensor Output Circuit - Shorted to Battery Voltage
| 23 Safing Sensor Input Feed/Return Circuit Open
| 24 Open in Circuit 944B or Low Resistance in Crash Sensor(s)
| 32 Driver Side Air Bag/Safing Sensor Circuit - High Resistance or Open
| 33 Pin 7 Not Grounded at Diagnostic Monitor
| 34 Driver Side Air Bag/Safing Sensor Circuit - Low Resistance or Shorted
| 35 Low Resistance Across Pins 8 and 9 at Diagnostic Monitor
| 41 Crash Sensor Circuit - High Resistance or Open
| 44 RH Crash Sensor - Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
| 45 Center Radiator Crash Sensor - Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
| 46 LH Crash Sensor - Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
| 51 Diagnostic Monitor Internal Thermal Fuse-Blown and Short to Ground No Longer Exists
| 52 Backup Power Supply - Voltage Boost Fault
| 53 Internal Diagnostic Monitor Fault
Lowest -- Rapid Continuous Flashing of Air Bag Lamp - All Crash Sensors Disconnected

DTC Description

12 Low Battery Voltage
13 Air Bag Circuit Shorted to Ground
14 Front Air Bag Sensor and Bracket Circuit Shorted to Ground
15 Driver Air Bag Circuit Shorted to Ground
15 Driver Air Bag Circuit Shorted to Battery or Ignition
16 Passenger Air Bag Circuit Shorted to Ground
16 Passenger Air Bag Circuit Shorted to Battery or Ignition
19 Crash Data Memory Full
21 Bracket Ground Resistance High
21 Rear Air Bag Sensor and Bracket Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly

22 Rear Air Bag Sensor and Bracket Output Circuit Shorted to
Battery Voltage
23 Rear Air Bag Sensor and Bracket Circuit Input Feed/Return
Circuit Open
24 Rear Air Bag Sensor and Bracket Output Feed/Return Circuit Open

24 RCM is Faulted
25 Passenger Air Bag Deactivation (PAD) Switch Fault
27 Passenger Air Bag Deactivation (PAD) Warning Lamp Inoperative
27 Passenger Air Bag Deactivation (PAD) Warning Lamp Short to
Battery
29 Incorrect Vehicle Identification Code
32 Driver Air Bag Circuit Resistance High
33 Passenger Air Bag Circuit Resistance High
34 Driver Air Bag Circuit Resistance Low
35 Passenger Air Bag Circuit Resistance Low
41 RH Front Air Bag Sensor and Bracket Feed/Return Circuit Open
42 LH Front Air Bag Sensor and Bracket Feed/Return Circuit Open
44 RH Front Air Bag Sensor and Bracket Not Mounted to Vehicle
Properly
45 LH Front Air Bag Sensor and Bracket Not Mounted to Vehicle
Properly
51 Air Bag Diagnostic Monitor Internal Thermal Fuse - Fuse Blown
Due to Intermittent Short to Ground
52 Backup Power Supply - Voltage Boost Fault
53 Front Air Bag Sensor and Bracket Circuits Resistance to Ground
or Air Bag Diagnostic Monitor Fault
- Rapid Continuous Flashing of Air Bag Indicator (No Fault Code) All
Primary
Air Bag Sensors Disconnected

this thread looks like it might help me
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=232917

 

[nasty_north]

i wish i knew where to download a 03 repair manual. i have been searching for days!

 

[nasty_north]

ahh this chart contradicts the others i have found. it is for a 2000.
crash sensors?

12=Low Battery Voltage
13=Air Bag Circuit Shorted to Ground
14=Primary Crash Sensor Circuit Shorted to Ground
21=Safing Sensor Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
22=Safing Sensor Output Shorted to Battery Voltage
23=Safing Sensor Circuit 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=RH Primary Crash Sensor Feed/Return Circuit Open
42=LH Primary Crash Sensor Feed/Return Circuit Open
44=RH Primary Crash Sensor Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
45=LH Primary Crash Sensor Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
51=Air Bag Diagnostic Monitor Internal Thermal Fuse. Fuse Blown Due to Intermittent Short to Ground
52=Backup Power Supply Voltage Boost Fault
53=Primary Crash Sensor Circuits Resistance to Ground or Air Bag Diagnostic Fault



UPDATE: the problem has went away after some more seat connection jiggling and fuse pulling. i cant wait for next time!. j\k