Airbag light flashes & stays on
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Northeast
Airbag light flashes & stays on
I have a 2004 250 SD. Supercab.Took out the bench and replaced with captains or buckets, whatever you want to call them. Perfect fit. The new seats have their own seat belts built in to them. The old ones, were mounted to the floor and roof. Now the air bag light blinks for a fairly long time, then stays on! What? OK, So, what do I NOT know about this project? I did have to make the wires longer in order to reconnect the plugs. Not a problem, I am an electrician. Trouble shooting is ok, when you know where to start. Any help out there? Thanks.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
I had/have a similar problem with an '03 E250----almost identical after-effect when extending the original electrical harness leading to the seat belt tensioning devices.
If the typical crimp-type terminals were used I'd replace those with soldered connections and suitable shrink tubing. While the crimp terminals are very handy without very careful attention to making them up or the proper tooling they can be problematic on circuits that might be impedance-sensitive.
Before doing any of this work though completely disconnect the battery negative terminal and wait at least 15 minutes before proceeding. This disables the SRS and prevents an accidental triggering of the air bags.
HTH
If the typical crimp-type terminals were used I'd replace those with soldered connections and suitable shrink tubing. While the crimp terminals are very handy without very careful attention to making them up or the proper tooling they can be problematic on circuits that might be impedance-sensitive.
Before doing any of this work though completely disconnect the battery negative terminal and wait at least 15 minutes before proceeding. This disables the SRS and prevents an accidental triggering of the air bags.
HTH
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From: Virginia
I did some searching on the web, the flashing light is trying to give you a code. If you figure out the code, that might help you find the problem. Here's one example I found, plus there are some you-tube videos on it too that I didn't watch.
Airbag Light Codes for Fords | eHow
Airbag Light Codes for Fords | eHow
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: St Louis
What was the donor vehicle? Most likely, the belt system on the donor vehicle was different that the system on your SD resulting in a mis-wiring of one or more of the circuits (pre-tensioners, belt clicked, etc).
The SRS should be flashing two-digit fault codes. Watch and count so you can get that code(s). Once those codes are in hand they MUST be lucked up in the CORRECT list which would be found in the 0 Super Duty WSM. There are some variations in the codes from year to year and model to model, so don't put much faith in any listing found on the internet unless it's specific to your particular vehicle.
The SRS should be flashing two-digit fault codes. Watch and count so you can get that code(s). Once those codes are in hand they MUST be lucked up in the CORRECT list which would be found in the 0 Super Duty WSM. There are some variations in the codes from year to year and model to model, so don't put much faith in any listing found on the internet unless it's specific to your particular vehicle.
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Cross-Country
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From: Northeast
What was the donor vehicle? Most likely, the belt system on the donor vehicle was different that the system on your SD resulting in a mis-wiring of one or more of the circuits (pre-tensioners, belt clicked, etc).
The SRS should be flashing two-digit fault codes. Watch and count so you can get that code(s). Once those codes are in hand they MUST be lucked up in the CORRECT list which would be found in the 0 Super Duty WSM. There are some variations in the codes from year to year and model to model, so don't put much faith in any listing found on the internet unless it's specific to your particular vehicle.
The SRS should be flashing two-digit fault codes. Watch and count so you can get that code(s). Once those codes are in hand they MUST be lucked up in the CORRECT list which would be found in the 0 Super Duty WSM. There are some variations in the codes from year to year and model to model, so don't put much faith in any listing found on the internet unless it's specific to your particular vehicle.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2014
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From: Saskatchewan Canada
Now that you are going to read the codes, I'll predict you will find a fault with the pretensioners. Part of the airbag system and part of the original seats. Not something you can easily defeat, bypass, or transfer to the new seats.
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I see code 46 is something to do with the pretensioner. Do you suppose, the seat could have come from a crashed truck? If so, Am I going to have to buy a new one?
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
If this proves to be an issue with the pre-tensioning device you will have to replace the one showing the fault. Naturally they're not cheap and as I don't know enough about compatibility across the different years I personally would just bite the bullet and buy new.
Because that's a fairly important part of the SRS going the cheap route--if one even exists---I'd recommend against.
Because that's a fairly important part of the SRS going the cheap route--if one even exists---I'd recommend against.
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From: Virginia
I really didn't know what a "pre-tensioner" was, so I looked it up.
Seat belt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
If the seat you got was from a wrecked truck, possibly the assembly was activated and it's done? I know on my wife's Honda if the airbags deploy, besides getting new airbags you have to get a new airbag computer, after it deploys once it's done, you need a new one.
Seat belt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
If the seat you got was from a wrecked truck, possibly the assembly was activated and it's done? I know on my wife's Honda if the airbags deploy, besides getting new airbags you have to get a new airbag computer, after it deploys once it's done, you need a new one.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
The pre-tensioning device is similar to the air bag in that it is deployed, activated, engaged etc etc etc whenever the crash sensor says it should. Its simply a part of the lap belt seat connector, its purpose is to draw the lap belt tighter when the air bags are deployed---the idea being to keep a body firmly in the seat.
They can not be reused if ever deployed however if found or bought from a salvage yard there's no real way to know their history until being connected.
From a liability stand point it makes sense an insurance company or collision shop would want to change every part of the SRS, it might even be mandated by the manufacturer.
I believe the pretensioning devices in the new seats are not compatible with the SRS or ECM of the existing truck therefore the codes are triggered. Given the mounting arrangement and/or attachment points are different this is the first clue we're dealing with different generations of SRS.
It bears repeating working on or around ANY connection for the SRS without proper knowledge or at least disconnecting the battery and waiting a suitable time can trigger the dash and steering wheel air bags.
They can not be reused if ever deployed however if found or bought from a salvage yard there's no real way to know their history until being connected.
From a liability stand point it makes sense an insurance company or collision shop would want to change every part of the SRS, it might even be mandated by the manufacturer.
I believe the pretensioning devices in the new seats are not compatible with the SRS or ECM of the existing truck therefore the codes are triggered. Given the mounting arrangement and/or attachment points are different this is the first clue we're dealing with different generations of SRS.
It bears repeating working on or around ANY connection for the SRS without proper knowledge or at least disconnecting the battery and waiting a suitable time can trigger the dash and steering wheel air bags.
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