95 f150, the air bag light flashes for a few seconds, then goes off for a seconds, then repeats. i've already replaced the clockspring cause i knew it was bad (horn was going off on it's own). is there a way that i can find out if it's the airbag itself or the control box under the dash??? or some other possibility. it's kind of annoying and i want to know my airbag is going to work when i need it.

 

the flashing is a code.

write it down and pm me and i will look it up in the service manual.

 

is it a single digit code or am i looking for 2 numbers??

 

manual says that light should go on for six seconds, if it fails to light or continues to flash or remains on or if a series of 5 beeps is heard , the system requires service.

try this: under the hood raise the rubber in front of radiator, you will see to air bag modules/senders. remove these and clean the ground surface and rebolt them up.

this has worked for me in the past on ford air bag vehicles.

 

the code that is flashing is 51. or 5 and 1. and repeats. the sensors not having a solid mount to radiator support could be the problem?? i know one is lose, but hadn't thought much about it. i'm going to go outside and see if i can't tighten the bolts and see what happens.

 

if the ground is bad than they trigger the fault.

clean the connection on both and than tighten them down.

 

A 51 is:
Air Bag Diagnostic Monitor Internal Thermal Fuse - Fuse Blown Due to Intermittent Short to Ground.

 

so i need to fix the bad ground and find a blown fuse?? i've checked all the fuses under the dash and they were good. any idea where i can find this blown fuse??

 

The fuse is inside the Module.
It is not a bad ground, it is a short to ground that made the Thermal Fuse go bad.
Here is a diagram.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g9...iagram1995.gif

 

i beg to differ, subford.

a loose sensor does not have a good ground and that is where he should start.

diagrams do not show everything.

twice i had a ford that had these sensors loose and both times tightening then up fixed the problem.

 

What was your code?
I bet it was 53.

 

so this fuse is inside the control box under the dash?? can this be repaired or will i have to buy a new controller??

 

Here is what the book says:


Air Bag Diagnostic Monitor Internal Thermal Fuse -- Fuse Blown Due to Intermittent Short to Ground (Diagnostic Trouble Code 51)


Normal Operation

NOTE:
The air bag diagnostic monitor contains an internal thermal fuse that is not serviceable. The thermal fuse is controlled by a computer inside the air bag diagnostic monitor. The computer will blow the thermal fuse whenever a short on the deployment circuits occurs. The thermal fuse does not blow because of excessive current flowing through it. DO NOT attempt to jumper out the thermal fuse with a circuit breaker or any other type of fuse.

NOTE:
DO NOT install a new air bag diagnostic monitor until the short has been located and corrected. If a short to ground has not been located and corrected, then the short to ground is intermittent and IS NOT PRESENT AT THIS TIME. Installing a new air bag diagnostic monitor with an intermittent short in the system will result in blown air bag diagnostic monitors and repeat repairs.

The air bag diagnostic monitor measures the voltages at the diagnostic monitor connector pins. When certain air bag deployment wires are shorted to ground (heavy lines illustrated in the schematic below), the system may become susceptible to unwanted deployment of the air bag(s). The air bag diagnostic monitor senses a short to ground on any of these circuits and helps prevent unwanted air bag deployment by blowing the diagnostic monitor thermal fuse. Blowing this fuse removes all power (battery and backup power) from the air bag deployment circuits. While the short to ground exists, the air bag diagnostic monitor will flash Code 13 or 14. If the short to ground is intermittent and temporarily corrects itself, the air bag diagnostic monitor will flash Code 51.

NOTE:
If the short to ground returns, the higher priority Code 13 or 14 will flash instead of 51.

If the air bag indicator is flashing Code 51 and a short to ground has not been serviced, this means that an intermittent short to ground exists in the supplemental air bag restraint system. The air bag diagnostic monitor should be replaced only after repairs to the intermittent short have been completed.

Some service tips for finding an intermittent short to ground are:

1. Consult OASIS (Restraint Systems Service Code 104000) for up-to-date diagnostics and descriptions of wiring concern locations for the vehicle (VIN number) you are working on. OASIS is updated daily using concern descriptions from engineering and Dealership Service sources.

2. Inspect wiring and harnesses in areas where they pass through or are located next to metal components (i.e., engine compartment bulkhead, body sheet metal, component mounting brackets, etc).


Code 51 After Air Bag Deployment

Occasionally, immediately after an air bag deploys, the internal wiring of the driver side air bag module may become shorted to the metal housings of the driver side air bag module. This internal short is detected by the air bag diagnostic monitor as short to ground in the air bag deployment wiring. Since the air bag diagnostic monitor is still operating immediately after most deployments, the air bag diagnostic monitor will detect the shorted wiring and will flash Code 13 and blow the internal thermal fuse. After the deployment, as the air bag cools off, the internal shorted wiring may correct itself, therefore the short to ground will no longer exist and the air bag diagnostic monitor will flash Code 51. If a vehicle with a deployed air bag is flashing Code 51, inspect and replace all the damaged areas of the vehicle with crushed wiring, sensors, etc. If no damage is found assume that the deployed air bag was the cause for the intermittent short and replace the air bag diagnostic monitor when the new driver side air bag module is installed.

NOTE:
Air bag diagnostic monitors can withstand several air bag deployments and do not need to be replaced after every deployment. Only replace the air bag diagnostic monitor if it is damaged.


Code 51 Sequence of Events

1. Short to ground occurs on one or more of the circuits shown in heavy lines in the schematic.

2. The air bag diagnostic monitor recognizes the shorted wiring and flashes out a diagnostic trouble Code 13 or 14 and sends a signal to the internal thermal fuse, causing it to blow.

3. The air bag diagnostic monitor will continue to flash Code 13 or 14 while the short to ground is present. If the short to ground goes away, a diagnostic trouble Code 51 appears.

4. The air bag diagnostic monitor only flashes a Code 51 when the thermal fuse is blown and the short to ground is not present. Do not replace the air bag diagnostic monitor until the short to ground has been located and serviced. Consult OASIS for shorted wiring information.

 

before you go through all that,

tighten the front sensors!

 

ok, i've fixed the mounts for the front sensors. there was no visible wire damage from the sensors to where they head into the cab. so now i will have to replace the control monitor to fix the code correct??