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98' ranger air bag light flashes and stays on. I think I know the issue. The keyed air bag off switch. When you turn it to the off position the off light does not come on. So I took it apart and the bulb is burned out. Would this cause the dash light to come on? Also the light is sodderd in........
Yes it will. Count the number of flashes before the light stays on. It is giving you a code number. Ford wants you to replace the entire switch but if you (or someone that you know) can solder, you can replace the bulb. I just went through that same issue with my Dad's F-150.
We took the switch to a radio repair shop. The guy there had a bulb and soldered it in for us. It wasnt quite the right style but it did the trick. He charged us $4.00 and that included the price of the bulb.
Radio shack carries some 12 volt bulbs with leads you can solder in place to replace it. As long as you have a soldering iron and solder should be an easy repair.
Ford
--Prior to 2005, most models utilized Flash Codes --the airbag light would flash a 2 digit code repeatedly before remaining lit continuously. (There are some Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models that DO NOT use flash codes at all). The airbag codes can be read by counting the flashes on the dash light (flash, flash, pause, flash, = a code 21 on the fault code chart). The system would clear itself once the fault was corrected. Subsequent to 2005, most models require a scan tool to read the codes, configure the controller and/or clear the light.
Scanners capable of reading and resetting codes: Maxdiag, Autel, OTC, Launch