Airbag light blinks on 95 Aspire

[Britstiva]

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to fix this problem?

It blinks 5 times then pauses a second and blinks 1 more time. Pauses and restarts the sequence.

I have had the airbag unit off the steering wheel in the past and had fixed a loose wire before. So I investigated it, assuming it was the same problem. I even checked the connection twice. So I know that is not the problem.

Any other suggestions? Besides removing the bulb.... LOL I actually do want my airbags to work in case of a wreck.

[ericsmith32]

The codes are over on fa.com. I'd say with the age of the Aspire and being Gen 1 airbags you'd be just a safe without them. If they even work. Granted it depends on the severity of the wreck.

[91blufestiva]

Does your horn work?

[iceracerdude]

Here's the list, compliments of the guys at the Aspire forum, Maybe this should be made a sticky here as well:


Once you count the flashes.. for example 41 you'll have 4 flashes pause and 1 flash pause - etc - look it up in the chart. I CAN NOT state this enough be VERY careful working around air bags. If they go off in your face let's just say you won't look like Megan Fox afterwards.


12=Low Battery Voltage
13=Air Bag Circuit Shorted to Ground
14=Primary Crash Sensor Circuit Shorted to Ground
21=Safing Sensor Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
22=Safing Sensor Output Shorted to Battery Voltage
23=Safing Sensor Circuit Input Feed/Return Circuit Open
24=Safing Sensor Output Feed/Return Circuit Open
32=Driver Side Air Bag Circuit High Resistance or Open
33=Passenger Side Air Bag Circuit High Resistance or Open
34=Driver Side Air Bag Circuit Low Resistance or Shorted
35=Passenger Side Air Bag Circuit Low Resistance or Shorted
41=RH Primary Crash Sensor Feed/Return Circuit Open
42=LH Primary Crash Sensor Feed/Return Circuit Open
44=RH Primary Crash Sensor Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
45=LH Primary Crash Sensor Not Mounted to Vehicle Properly
51=Air Bag Diagnostic Monitor Internal Thermal FuseFuse Blown Due to Intermittent Short to Ground
52=Backup Power SupplyVoltage Boost Fault
53=Primary Crash Sensor Circuits Resistance to Ground or Air Bag Diagnostic Fault


Once that thermo fuse is blown, the "diagnostic monitor" can only be repaired by a certified vendor legally, you can find them online.
The alternative is you try and pick one up "online" from someone/somewhere you don't know (risky), or pick one up used at a pick-n-pull.
That being said, I may have a spare laying around I can sell you. Mine are disconnected in my aspire.

[Britstiva]

Thanks for the info guys! I didn't even look over there b/c I didn't think the site was as active for responses.

But I did see the posting after eric sent me over there... So it looks like I'm going to need to replace the thermo fuse or find a replacement.

Bluefestiva, the horn is working and that's what lead me to the loose wire before. So that's why I took the airbag off to inspect it this time.

Iceracerdude, let me know if you find that part. If you're interested in selling it, just send me a PM. I've never even heard of the thermo fuse. I'm going to have to look into where it is.

In the meantime, I'm going to pull out the bulb and get the car inspected before my tag runs out. LOL

Thanks for posting!!!

[htchbck]

I believe thermo fuse is inside the control module. Oh, and just FYI if you pull the bulb, the cluster will probably beep for five minutes everytime you crank the car. My buddy's aspire beeped when he bought it, and finally I pulled the cluster apart to find out why. Someone had pulled the bulb. Put a new one in and it stopped beeping, but the light was flashing a 32. Pulled the bag and replugged it, and no more problems

[Britstiva]

So should I just unplug the airbag in the steering wheel or will I have to unplug both the steering wheel and passenger side too?

[htchbck]

Sorry, may not have been clear what I meant... once the bulb was in and the beeping stopped it was blinking a code 32 which usually means driver side bag unplugged. I pulled the wheel and it was unplugged, so I plugged it back in and that fixed it. I don't think that will fix it in your case, just letting you know that if you pull out that bulb it may beep a lot (and the inspection guy may or may not know what that means lol)

[iceracerdude]

NO! 51 is blown thermo fuse, not an unplugged connector. It's in the airbag control module and not replaceable by people you've recently met at a party.
That's by design. Just like the check engine light, oil pressure light, alternator light, and airbag light are supposed to light temporarly on start up to indicate those systems are functioning. But the inspectors probably don't know to look for that huh.
I'll look for my spare modules tonight and get back to you.

My head unit said blink 182 on it the other day, but the car seems to be running great!

[Britstiva]

HA! I've got a plan... I think I'm going to spray paint the bulb black for inspection! LOL

That way no beeping... LOL

But for real, I'm gonna take out the bulb first and see if it beeps. If it doesn't, then I will get it inspected asap. LOL If it does beep, I may be using some spray paint or electrical tape around the bulb.

[Nerd Racing]

I think the warning means that your car is unhappy and needs to be sold to me ASAP!

[Britstiva]

Oh yeah? Everything has a price... what'cha give me for it?! LOL PSYCHE!

[TominMO]

HA! I've got a plan... I think I'm going to spray paint the bulb black for inspection! LOL

That way no beeping... LOL

But for real, I'm gonna take out the bulb first and see if it beeps. If it doesn't, then I will get it inspected asap. LOL If it does beep, I may be using some spray paint or electrical tape around the bulb.

I've gone thru this when my Aspire was invoved in a head-on with an 85-year-old guy who crossed the center line and hit me. Eight weeks after I got the car, which was an almost-pristine white '95 SE. Man I hate old people!*

If you take the bulb out it will beep, and the beeper is hard to get to behind the upper center of the dash. Long story short, I painted the bulb black and even then had to cover it with aluminum foil to keep it from showing in daylight. Its flashes can be seen very faintly at night. Just had it inspected, and the guy didn't notice that the airbag light didn't come on at startup. Whew!

* Sarcastic comments are discouraged.