Airbag error code 3-5

[dndsam]

Airbag error code flashes 3-5 then goes on solid. Gauges freeze up then eventually resets when it is ready. Airbag light stays on until vehicle ignition is turned off for a period of time. Seems to happen only when the headlights/fog lights are on in automatic mode.

Any ideas? Maybe too much info?

 

[BrooklynBay]

According to this link: http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/airBag/airBag95.html, it says: 35 Passenger Side Air Bag Circuit Low Resistance or Shorted.

 

[dndsam]

Any ideas on where to begin?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Disconnect the battery cables, wait 10 minutes, then check the sensor on the passenger's side for a short. Sometimes cleaning the connector under the seat might help with a lot of these problems.

 

[dndsam]

Do you have to take the dash apart to check for the sensor? Thank you for the code as well as your insight!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Do you have a repair manual? I'm not sure if it's located inside of the kick panel, pillar, engine compartment or another location on this model. It could be in any of these locations.

 

[dndsam]

I will check it out. Thanks again.

 

[dndsam]

Disconnected the battery and disconnected/reconnected the plug to the airbag and sensor under the seat. Still throwing the 35 code. It happened tonight when I was in the car by myself. Usually it does it when someone else is in the front passenger seat. The one thing that is consistent is, when it happens, it is at night when the headlights/foglights are on and the accessory lights are lit on the dash etc.

I may have to break down and take her into the shop. Any other suggestions? I have heard maybe the battery could cause this? Sounds out there since I have good voltage and no starting issues with the vehicle.

 

[dndsam]

Broke down and took it to the dealership. Turned out the airbag control module was dead. $650 later, it is supposed to be fixed. Time will tell.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Thanks for the update!

 

[dndsam]

One week later back to the dealership. Same issues, less loose change in my pocket. Turns out it the fault is a 5-3 error after watching it closely to see how it finishes before it goes solid on the airbag light.

Other issues that occur when the airbag faults and the gauges freeze up, the headlights do not flash, nor does the horn beep when you lock the door with the remote. First push of the button locks the door and the lights are supposed to flash, but do not. When you push the button a second time, the doors lock, but no sound or flash of the lights. The rear hatch does pop open when the button is pushed either while the fault is occurring. Once the system resets itself whenever it is freaking ready, then all works fine.

Grrrrrrrr. More to come, maybe if I do not trade the SOB off!

 

[dndsam]

Ford has been banging their head against the dash on this one. They "think" they have it figured out, but want to confirm with their techs and are awaiting a call back. They have linked it to the instrument cluster being bad since so many of the controls run through it. Makes sense to me being all the wacky stuff going on, but we shall see.

The dealership is even making it right with the full replacement of the instrument cluster, installed at no cost since since I already spent $675 on replacing parts that were ok.

I did some calling around to various other dealerships to make sure they are being honest and this is what I found out:

Instrument Cluster, $420-$480, depending on dealership
Installation - $200
Countless hours troubleshooting - Priceless at $99/hour.

I think I am going to fair out OK, if this is the root cause of the problem.