Airbag light

[kernowman]

Morning everybody from a beautifully sunny Cornwall, although slightly colder than normal. Haven't used the Ex for a couple of weeks - started fine - airbag light went out as normal after several seconds. A minute or so later it started randomly flashing, sometimes with up to five or six seconds between each flash. Then it came on permanently. Does this now every time I start. Any of you guys out there any ideas what might be happening? Immobilisor light also comes on when driving on odd occasions (has done so for quite a time now), but that does not bother me.

 

[blueka]

the likely cause of the airbag flashing is the white plastic thing in the steering wheel that keeps a circuit for all your switches etc. these have a tendancy to fail.

you have to disconnect the battery, take the airbag off, take the steering wheel off, remove the old one, put a working one back on, then replace the wheel and bag.

I had this problem a few years ago.

Si

 

[BIGHVM]

Not sure- but I thought them had a battery in them also, as a back up device... Don't mess with it looking for a batt' till you are sure- its more of a hunch as they are s'posed to be ready for deploy even with the ignition off.

 

[blueka]

no, there's no battery, it's spring loaded to keep constant pressure on it. but the spring goes and the pressure falls off leaving no connection inside.

What you need to do, is make a note of the sequence of the airbag light flashes. this is a good indicator if the thing in the wheel is faulty.

Si

 

[kernowman]

Si, I think I need to get a life. What a way to spend a Saturday night, sitting in the Ex counting the flashes of the airbag light.

When I switch the ignition on, the airbag light goes out after about six seconds as normal. Then after five seconds it does one flash, then a three second pause followed by two flashes less than a second apart. Then after five seconds, this sequence repeats itself (one then two flashes). In all it does this sequence five times, then after a further five second pause, the light comes on permanently until the ignition is switched off. Switch the ignition on and the whole lot repeats itself. Makes me think it is not a connection problem - everything is so regular.

Just hope until I get it sorted that the airbag won't do something daft like inflating while I am driving.

 

[captainslow]

Have chatted with Rich already, but for info to anyone else............. my airbag warning light came on in exactly the same sequence as his. Have now put in for early MOT to see what is going to fail.
I think we have a blowing exhaust immediately fwd of the cat, the airbag warning light and a judder on the brakes just as you come to a halt at slow speed, though the ABS light does not come on.
Not MOT problem, but the air plenum blender door has stuck now too, so it is permanently hot in the cabin.
We bought this car in early 08, and had a new lpg system fitted at £2000. If the MOT fixes are too expensive we will have to try to sell it as is, or for spares and repairs. Anyone interested? It's generally a good runner, with the grey leather interior and no leaks.
We will need another tow car quickly for my wife to commute in as her work is way off the bus routes.

 

[kernowman]

Mark, don't get too down about it, mate. Although you appear to have some problems at the moment, I do not think they are too major. Unfortunately, the guys who are going to diagnose my airbag light while looking at the fuel system problem are so busy at the moment, it is going to be a few days before they come up with any answers. I was last in the queue before Christmas, so everybody else has had to come first.
Certainly would have a serious think about getting rid of the Ex, particularly as you have a good lpg conversion. Think you would lose more in the long run trying to sell it as it is. I know for sure you would miss it. Good luck - as soon as I get any further info re the airbag, I will let you know. Some of the other guys can hopefully help you out with the braking and heater problems.
Richard

 

[4WDlifeform]

Hey guys... I got the same problem with the airbag light... If anyone gets around to it before i do, please post what all you did to fix it!

I should also mention that my horn and cruise control quit working aswell. I think these problems are different from the air bag? The air bag light started flashing recently, and my horn and cruise have been out for a few months now. About that plastic thing mentioned above... I think ill look for that when i get to fixing the cruise and horn. Any tips on how to get the steering wheel and column apart?? It doent look like its going to be easy...

 

[captainslow]

Airbglight & horn & cruise u/s

My gut reaction is that your problems are more likely to stem from the "white plastic ring thing" in the steering wheel assembly,described by Blueka, as the horn and cruise are also not working. Time to buy a Haynes or Clymer manual prhaps, but make sure you disconnect the car's battery befor working on the airbag and steering wheel. The Haynes manual does give warnings about this.
By the way, I've just checked ad my horn is still working. Don't know about the cruise, but it was OK last week.
Weird how all these airbag faults are coming out of the woodwork.
Hopefully Richard or I will be able to report more on the airbag light in the next ten days.

 

[4WDlifeform]

where can i get one of those manuals? i hear alot about them... Thanks for the tips!!

 

[captainslow]

Maitenance Manuals

The Clymer manuals are like our Haynes manuals, but often only available from the USA. Try Google search.
The Haynes manual that my mate Mike has is for Explorers from 1991 to 2000. The ISBN number is 1 56392 390 4 and may be available by quoting this number from your local county library or any good bookshop like WH Smith or Waterstones. He bought his from Halfords, and the part number was 36024, Halfords code 999888. This info from his receipt/order form. Not sure of price, but I would guess about £25. You could also try Amazon. Good luck.

 

[2c0728]

3,7,3,7,3,7,3,7, constant

That is my code for the airbag light on my dash. It happened after i changed the battery. Any clue?

 

[Velocity4x4]

i wonder if my cruise control problem is also this plastic thing as my indicator stalk tends to play up when indicating right mind you my horn is fine as is my airbag light

 

[4WDlifeform]

I see that the blinking sequence indicates the problem... How do we de-code these blinks? Is there someplace or something to look them up?

 

[blueka]

It happened to me ages ago, and i'm sure i wrote a thread on it, do a search for flashing airbag light and see what you dig up

Si

 

[Sparkey]

Possible air bag fix??

Hi Guys,
I had the air bag light about 8 months ago.

I fixed it with a tel call to brother in law who is a Merc mechanic!!

Look under your seat from the rear passenger foot well locate the
plug on left hand side, give the yellow wire a "waggle" (dead tech term!!)
firming it into the plug.

This fixes mine for around a month (depending on how often daughter has been in the back) then I do the same again. Mine works under drivers seat but as the airbags go to the passanger seat give those ago too.

Might not fix everyones problem but give it ago!

Rgds

Sparkey