i just bought a 1999 eddie bauer explorer 4dr 4wd 4.0 v-6. the airbag light flashes what i assume to be a code "36" three times when i start each time, then the light stays on solid. (i assume three flashes, pause and six flashes is code 36)

1. is this a code light?, and if so,

2. what is code 36?

thanks in advance,
steven

 

Yes, that is the code for the SRS. I had pulled my air bag fuse a few months ago and made the mistake of starting my '97 Explorer with the fuse out. If I remember correctly, my code was a 52 which stood for "low battery feed or low battery voltage". Anyway, once I put the fuse back in, my airbag light did the same thing as yours. It would flash the code a few times, then would stay on. Well since I put the fuse back in, I knew there was nothing wrong with mine. What I did find out is once the SRS computer detects a problem, it will leave the light on until the computer completes 256 trouble-free system checks. It performs a system check each time you turn your key to on. The way I ended up clearing mine was by disconnecting my fuel inertia switch (to prevent my fuel pump from cycling each time I turned my key to on) and cycling my key from off to on 256 times. It took me about an hour but it cleared mine.

If there is something wrong with yours, this method will not clear it. A code 36 isn't listed under my '97 referrence so maybe it was a code that was added later. I have a subscription to www.alldata.com which is where I got the list of codes from for my '97. If you can find out what the 36 stands for, it will tell you which air-bag and what the problem is.

 

Thanks for the reply. I ended up just taking it in for warranty work. They replaced an airbag relay, and the passenger doorlock relay(unrelated problems). Back on the road again! Thanks, Steven.