airbag light blinking

[1990LTD]

It's been blinking sometimes. It'll do it after startup and sometimes while driving. I know it's supposed to come on when you start and then turn off if everything is working correctly, but what does the flashing mean? It's been exceptionally cold lately if that matters.

[79lincolnlover]

IIRC: There's a sensor attached to the steering wheel's clock-spring (not visible unless removed) which will cause the light to blink eventually. My CV does this too but the previous owner put electrical tape over the light to help them ignore the flashing...

[gadget73]

Count the blinks. The number of flashes is the error code.

Code Component Fault/Description
2 All Primary Crash Sensors Disconnected.
3 Air Bag Deployment Circuit - Low Battery Voltage or Low Backup Power Supply Voltage
4 Safing Sensor - Diagnostic Circuit Open or Low Primary Crash Sensor Resistance
5 Air Bag Circuit or Crash Sensor Circuit - Shorted to Ground
6 Driver-Side Air Bag Circuit - Open or High Resistance
7 Passenger-Side Air Bag Circuit - Open or High Resistance
8 Primary Crash Sensor - Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
9 Primary Crash Sensor Circuit - Open or High Resistance
10 Diagnostic Monitor Internal Thermal Fuse - Open Due to Intermittent Short to Ground

[1990LTD]

wow, thanks

[1990LTD]

it flashes 6, 7 or 8 times, didn't quite catch it.

[farmboy]

my car does the same thing and its a 90 grand marquis i have asked around but noone can really give me a straight answer. i mean i was afraid it was gonna go off on me one day but so far nothing has happened except the blinking light

[1990LTD]

Mine hasn't acted up in a while. Is it possible that the cold fucks with the sensors?

[andymac0035]

Well you know it's not code #7............

[gadget73]

Just count the codes. It won't deploy if there is a fault. There is also a proofing sensor so it requires 2 of them to close before it will even try to explode in your face. Theres a whole section in the shop manuals about how to diagnose the exact problem depending on what code you get.

[1990LTD]

how easy is it to get the shop manual?

[pantera77]

I've had a code 8 since I bought my car. I've tried removing and cleaning where the sensor mounts, but to no avail. But a piece of electrical tape seemed to fix everything

[gadget73]

Shop manuals often show up on ebay.

[91grandmarquis]

How would someone go about fixing a code 6. My car codes on occasion but not all the time, probably once a month so I havent had a chance to count the blinks till now.

[gadget73]

first response is gonna be to tell you to get a shop manual, just because the procedure is long, and I don't know the specifics of the Vic airbag system, though I can summarize based on the Mark VII system

basically thats an intermittant in the air bag circuit. Its either the bomb itself, the clockspring, the wiring between the clockspring and the airbag module, or maybe the module flaked out. There is a series of tests, basically involving jumpering things out, that rules out each piece step by step. The intermittant code 6 is a real pain to diagnose. I have that on the Mark VII and I have yet to figure it out. I've replaced the bomb and the clockspring with no results. I think my module is whacked but I haven't gotten a replacement to try it.

[91grandmarquis]

To be honest if it isnt going to blow up in my face then Ill probably just leave it until it starts doing it a lot, strange thing is it usually only does it if I start the car and go before the light stops its initial blinking on start.... Thats why It hasn't done it in a while as its winter and I let my car warm up.