Just hi for now and a pic of my new 95 Aerostar. Has new rebuilt engine and lots of care....

I am in it about 1 week.

I had a red 95 a few yrs ago and happy to be back in the big high chair. There are a few issues I am trying to sort out that are code related. Check Engine; ABS & Airbag lights, with the soothing Airbag Alarm chime that does not shut off.

Hope to get to these during the upcoming week.

 

looks nice. 3 liter engine?

what engine codes do you have?

 

Yes a 3.0
I have not had time yet to check the codes... This is new to me and no scanner.
I was told on a 95 I can do that with a paper clip and the code chart.

I am all for having no check engine lights, but still in the AM I will be looking to clip that alarm wire so my warnings are not audible.

Thanks.

 

easier to go to a Autozone or Advance Auto parts where they will scan it free and give you the codes.

 

I know Advance can't scan my 87. What was the first year for OBDII? I thought the 97s were the only Aerostar with it.
BTW, the check engine light on my 97 3.0 has had a piece of black tape over it for 5 or 6 years. Still runs fine.

 

Advance is who advised me I can use a paperclip. 95 was the last year of old OBD1. They would read a 96 and newer .

Black tape anywhere on a car is disgusting. It melts and turns to sticky gooo.

Thanks though.

 

what about Autozone, NAPA, or O'Reilly's ? Maybe if you call your local autopart stores to find out if they have a scanner for OBD1. Someone must be able to scan it.

 

Years ago, I purchased an OBD l scanner from WalMart. Yea, the paper clip works great, but sometimes it looks more professional if you have a scanner when the customer is looking over your shoulder. The obd l scanners were proprietary. In other words, the Chrysler wouldn't interchange with the GM and the GM would interchange with the Ford. While the paper clip works great, I still see an obd l Ford scanner at Autozone's web site. Looks like it's an Actron CP9015 OBD 1 code scanner. Their web site shows it to be about $15.
BTW, OBD II was mandated by the 1996 year. So all (well, I think there are some exceptions, but they are rare) 1996 cars had to have an obd II setup. OBD l diagnostic hookups were all over the place, including under the hood, but MOST cars had the obd ll diagnostic hookup by the steering column, but again there are exceptions. IIRC, the 1996 Thunderbird has it by the knees of where a passenger sits. There are some cars that had it earlier, although it was somewhat of a beta system. The 1994 and 1995 Mustang V6 cars had an obd ll setup, yet the 1994 and 1995 Mustang V8 cars were still obd 1.
I would much rather troubleshoot an obd ll setup verses an obd l setup. My '93 Aerostar was shooting codes all over the place, but the cure had nothing to do with any of the codes that the paper clip thought was having problems.

 

I thought I could locate it from under the dash but anyone know how to access the Airbag ALARM ?

Seems to be above somewhere...

 

well I disabled the air bag system and then removed (yes removed) the air bag from the steering wheels after I installed an Expedition steering wheel with lighted cruise control switches. A lot nicer at night.

sorry but I do not trust air bags. I come from the 1960's where there was none of this nonsense in cars. If it's not the darned Check Engine light, it's the ABS light, or the Air Bag light, or the Air bag alarm. I got sick of it all.

if I recall correctly, there is a blue box with a wiring plug somewhere above the fuse box, driver's side, and that is the darned air bag alarm, but not 100% sure.

 

Congrats on the New Aero!

Just out of curiosity, does your horn and cruise work? If not, then that is what is causing you Air Bag issue (bad clock-spring.)

For your CEL, the O'Reilly's standard store scanner has OBD-I connectors for their scanner. As for what is causing it, without the info, it is hard to say without codes. Make sure you do both a KOER and KOEO along with a cylinder balance test.

The ABS light, that might pop up on the CEL scan, but you might want to check your brake fluid level/condition along with the sensor in the rear axle (make sure the wires are still in good condition/there.)

You need to post more pics of that Beautiful green bean machine!!

 

Cruise does not work but horn does.
We do not have any Oreily's anywhere near us ...
Brake fluid is correct and will check the connections on axle asap.....

* also will look for a blue box for the alarm...

Thanks. The big green truck is ok cosmetically but needs paint on roof and hood....overall it is in great shape for a 20 year old Florida truck...

AA...

 

The airbag alarm is somewhere behind the CEL trim. Not down by fuses..

 

Took apart dash cover enclosure of speedo cover above vents..Cannot find the alarm box.

I think it is buried behind steel. May end up at my mechanic to have him diagnose the airbag light....

 

above the fuse box, i.e., up from the fuse box, behind the dash, it could be covered in a foam sheet. pushed into a slot or metal bracket.