I'm getting a airbag failure code on my '99 F350. From the code flashed by the airbag light (24) I have a Electronic Crash Sensor internal fault. Bonk.

'Never been in an accident or anytyhing.

Is this a notorious problem? The book says I need to replace the part (which happens to be the entire brains of the airbag system). How much are they and where can I get one? I suppose the Ford dealer will sell me one for an arm and a leg, but I wonder if anyone has found better pricing?

Thanks,

Medfry

 

Are you getting any other failures or indications. I'm having some problems with my '00 F250. The passenger airbag light doesn't illuminate when I first turn the key on and I'm getting some cycling chimes. 5 tones then a pause, repeats 4 times approx. every 20-30 minutes. My ABS light is on, my cruise control works intermittently, the remote entry works intermittently, and my heater fan continues to run after ignition switched to off and key removed. No clues yet. I've seen posts regarding most of these problems but not all at once.

 

Thanks for the reply, kmans. Come to think of it I have had trouble with my cruise and remote as well. But not very often. I'd say once a month or so, my remote won't work. Then it just starts working again. And only once in the year I've owned the truck has the cruise failed. Just kicked out while it was on. I simply re-set it and it worked from then on.

I don't know how these could be related but I'm becoming very interested.

As for your five chimes, I saw something about that in the book too. Here is the text from the manual for my '99:

The ECS monitors the SRS for possible faults. If a fault is detected while the ignition switch is in the RUN position, the ECS will illuminate the air bag indicator located in the instrument cluster (10849). When the ignition is cycled (turned off and then turned on), the air bag indicator will flash the two-digit lamp fault code (LFC). The air bag indicator will flash the LFC five times, then it will remain illuminated for the rest of the key cycle. The ECS will also communicate the current and historical DTCs through the data link connector (DLC), using the New Generation STAR (NGS) Tester. If the air bag indicator does not function, and the system detects a fault condition, the ECS will signal the GEM to activate an audible chime. The chime is a series of five sets of five tone bursts. If the chime or buzzer is heard, the SRS and the air bag indicator requires service.

I am getting a code via the airbag indicator lamp flashing. You've got a different problem based on the chime.

I'm not sure, but I sense that your problem is likely an electrical one, and I'd start looking for circuits that power the airbags, cruise, remote, etc and see if you can find any shared grounds or power circuits. My problem indicates that power is fine but there is a internal electronics failure in my ECS module. It reports through the computer properly, indicating it's got power.

I'll do some digging and try to post when I find something interesting.

Medfry

 

Went and pulled, inspected, and reconnected all the connectors to as many sensors I could find. Scanned the computer for fault codes, none. Got in the truck to go talk to the dealer and everything works. Not sure wether loose connector, loose wire/pin, or just bad connection. Dealer suggested keepeing around a tube of dielectric grease and applying some to any connectors I remove in the future. Corrosion and bad grounds most common electrical problem.

 

Glad to hear you're having some success with the ground/power plug issue. I thought about my situation more and re-read my latest post. Contrary to what I said before, my problem sounds very similar to yours. The symptoms are a bit different but the cause could very well be the same. I plan on doing the same thing you did. Maybe it'll fix my problems too.

Later.