Ok all, I'm new here, but am trying to fix the airbag system in a 2002 F150 that I purchased as a rebuilt wrecked truck. Airbags had never been replaced in the truck, and now I'm selling it and have replaced the airbags. But when I did so, we found out that the "control module" was bad (it was giving error code 19). I went and bought a BRAND NEW module from a local ford dealer, and replaced it. Now I'm getting ERROR CODE 21. Can someone tell me what this error code means? I've looked online forever and can't find the code meaning. I'm assuming I may play this cat and mouse game for days until I get all the problems with the SRS system worked out I dont know what all might be wrong with it, theres no telling what the guy did NOT fix when he rebuilt it that I couldn't tell until now that I have replaced the airbags. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again!!!!!!!

Oh, and btw, I have someone who already has a check in hand to buy my truck, I'm trying to get these fixed ASAP if someone can help me quickly!! Thanks

 

hmmmm i don't about air bags, but try using the search feature,and try wording it differant way's,.Hope fully raceguy or torque1st will step in and at least point you in the right direction. there's not much that can't be found here for an answer...

 

A light flash code 21 means high RCM (restraint control module) ground resistance.
Do you just have the module plugged in and not bolted down?

High resistance between the RCM housing ground and pin ground can be caused by:

incorrect seating of the RCM retaining bolts.
incorrect tightening torque of the RCM retaining bolts.
high resistance on RCM logic ground circuit 649 (BK/OG).
an RCM internal concern.

 

tenstar,

I did a "google search". Hope this points you in the right direction:

Air Bag Fault Code Table
AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR FAULT CODE PRIORITY TABLE
Priority Code Component/Fault Description
Highest -- No Air Bag Lamp - Inoperative Lamp Circuit or No Ignition Voltage to Diagnostic Monitor
| -- Continuous Air Bag Lamp - Diagnostic Monitor Disconnected or Inoperative
| 12 Low Battery Voltage
| 13 Air Bag Circuit or Crash Sensor Circuit - Shorted to Ground
| 21 Safing Sensor - Not Mounted on Vehicle Properly
| 22 Safing Sensor Output Circuit - Shorted to Battery Voltage
| 23 Safing Sensor Input Feed/Return Circuit Open
| 24 Open in Circuit 944B or Low Resistance in Crash Sensor(s)
| 32 Driver Side Air Bag/Safing Sensor Circuit - High Resistance or Open
| 33 Pin 7 Not Grounded at Diagnostic Monitor
| 34 Driver Side Air Bag/Safing Sensor Circuit - Low Resistance or Shorted
| 35 Low Resistance Across Pins 8 and 9 at Diagnostic Monitor
| 41 Crash Sensor Circuit - High Resistance or Open
| 44 RH Crash Sensor - Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
| 45 Center Radiator Crash Sensor - Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
| 46 LH Crash Sensor - Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
| 51 Diagnostic Monitor Internal Thermal Fuse - Blown and Short to Ground No Longer Exists
| 52 Backup Power Supply - Voltage Boost Fault
| 53 Internal Diagnostic Monitor Fault
Lowest -- Rapid Continuous Flashing of Air Bag Lamp - All Crash Sensors Disconnected

Good Luck,

Bill

 

hi Racer!

thanks for the help, that was the reason I was getting Code 21. I had put the bolts in, but not tightened them up all the way, in case I had to take the RCM back out. But....now that I tightened them up, I'm getting a CODE 46. Can you tell me what that would be? Every time I fix one error, I get another one. I gotta get this all working ASAP

Would it be possible for you to email me with the list of codes or something? Just curious. Any help though would be greatly appreciated! Thanks much!!!!

 

The list that Bill posted just above this shows the 46 as the LH crash sensor not mounted properly. Did you just hang it in place too?

 

no, I'm not even sure if the sensors are there and/or functional. Like I said, this truck was supposedly rebuilt correctly and finished except for having the airbags themself installed. Now it seems as if maybe most of the SRS system is not functional or fixed correctly. I'm not really a mechanic nor do I know a lot about this stuff. I own the truck, and am trying to sell it, but have to get the airbags and SRS system working correctly before the guy will buy it of course. Is the above list for an F150? I thought that was the same list I had seen for a Ford Taurus? Because that list doesn't show a lot of the codes I have heard of (including Code 19 for a bad RMC)?

 

I just called my local ford dealer and they said Code 46 was "high resistance on the driver's side pretensioner". Is that something that just has to be replaced? It seems that I'm going to have to replace every single part in the SRS system. I've already replaced both airbags and the control module. Now it looks as if I'm going to have to replace both pretensioners and both sensors more than likely.

Can someone tell me if you have to replace the whole seat-belt retractor unit to fix the pretensioner? And also, when the vehicle is wrecked and the airbags are deployed, do you always have to replace the pretensioners?

 

Just some food for thought, you should make sure that you disclose in writing that this vehical has a salvage title and that the air bags have been deployed and replaced,unless you have this truck looked at by ford and they deem & certife the air bag system , that you not be held liable for them not functioning properly. in other words cover your self, in case of a lawsuit. put it in writing....

 

Tenstar you're right. The code 46 is for the driver's pretensioner.
I bet that once you have that one replaced you'll find that the passenger's side is shot too. When the air bags deploy so should both pretensioners.

 

yep. replaced driver's side, and then got Code 47. Just got back from going to buy the passenger side Fixing to install it, and hopefully no more codes!!! I have now replaced the control module, both airbags, and both seat belt assemblies w/ pretensioners. The clock spring should be fine because everything else works fine in the steering wheel, and also the code for that would have shown before the others. I'm just praying this is the last thing wrong!!!!!!!!

 

ok, replaced both seat belt assemblies, and everything is "A-OK" now Thank goodness, finally!! After replacing both airbags, both seat belt assemblies (w/ pretensioners) and the controle module, there wasn't much left to change LOL.

Thanks for the tips and help guys!!!

 

Good to hear that got it solved