[Shotimes] Airbag light

[Kevin & Cheryl Airth]

Dave:
 If the light is flashing this would indicate a different problem than what
you posted? If the light is on continuous then the problem points to the
Diagnostic Monitor as you posted?

 If the light flashes all the time it means the primary crash sensors are
disconnected or have a bad grounds. If the airbag light is not working you
will get audible beeps instead. The car has 2 of these sensors. They are
located in the engine compartment. The center radiator area has one, it's
under the plastic cover on top of the radiator. Remove this to get good
access. The other one is on the firewall/cowl in the center, remove the
plastic cowl cover (If you car has one) to see it better. Look for green
colored bolt heads holding a small rectangular black box to the sheet metal.
Check that these are connected and not rusty. That is the ONLY thing that
will cause the airbag light to flash all the time. The sensor may be bad too
but this is pretty rare. They don't seem to give much trouble?

If the light is on all the time without flashing, then it could be several
things. The internal thermal fuse is not replaceable and the diagnostic
monitor needs to be replaced. Before you do that a couple of other things
can cause the continuous air bag light.
 First get to the monitor (box). It's on the passenger side of the dash and
on my 93 is made of blue plastic so it's different than anything else. Lower
the glove box all the way past it's stops and look up and to the right. This
blue plastic box should be visible. Make and break the plug connections
going into this box several times. Any bad connection/corrosion will light
the air bag light continuous. Reconnect everything and then test it by
turning on the key. The airbag light should come on for 6 seconds and then
go out if everything "proves" out.

 Next remove the plug from the box and leave it unhooked. Then remove the
grey plastic locking wedge from the grey plug. This plug is up inside the
plug itself. Turn on the key. If the light is still on then you have a short
 in the wiring between the light and the monitor box.

Before reconnecting the plugs, check  the shorting bar. This plug has an
internal shorting bar that must have wire 4 and 5 shorted together.

 Finally the thermal fuse has been replaced but I don't have the information
on this. Search the SHO Forum and see if they have anything. Someone on this
list has replaced them and found where to buy them but I don't know where.
The diagnostic box is used on all Taurus with airbags and it's the same
whether the car has just the drivers side airbag or both sides. So it should
be easy to find used.
 This is for my 93 but I don't think your 91 has any differences?
.
..
.



> Fellow SHOtimers,
>
> I picked up a 91 about three weeks ago (to replace the 94) with an
> irritating issue. The air bag light is blinking constantly. According to
> the website, this is what it is indicating:
>
>  10 Diagnostic Monitor Internal Thermal Fuse - Open Due to
> Intermittent Short to Ground
>
> So what does this mean exactly? Is this something I can fix, or is this
> a dealer only thing?
>
>
> Thanks!
>
>
> Dave Garber