Blinking Air Bag Light
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You'll need to have that checked out, because ... a blinking air bag light is NOT a healthy sign. If you get into an accident the airbags might not deploy.. or even worse, they could go off at any minute!
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The Air Bag light in my 94 Taurus started blinking a few days ago. It blinks 1 time, has a long pause (3 or 4 seconds), blinks 1 time has a short pause (half a second or so), then blinks 1 time with a short pause. Then the cycle repeats. Light, long pause, light short pause, light short pause. Does this indicate an Air Bag code 12? or 21? Can I fix it without paying somebody $200 - $300? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Air bags? We don't need no stinking airbags! 
I highly doubt that any blinking light would mean the airbag would deploy on it's own. I'm almost positive that they have fail safes on the system that prevent deployment if something fails. That does mean that it won't deploy in an accident.
One of the shorter pauses should be longer than the others, but shorter than the really long pause (if that makes sense). The long pause (5 seconds) is the pause between cycles. The medium pause is the pause between digits in the code.
Since it's the airbag system, you should probably call around and get estimates for diagnosing the airbag system and reparing it. Depending on what is bad, you may want to have them replace it.
I highly doubt that any blinking light would mean the airbag would deploy on it's own. I'm almost positive that they have fail safes on the system that prevent deployment if something fails. That does mean that it won't deploy in an accident.
One of the shorter pauses should be longer than the others, but shorter than the really long pause (if that makes sense). The long pause (5 seconds) is the pause between cycles. The medium pause is the pause between digits in the code.
Since it's the airbag system, you should probably call around and get estimates for diagnosing the airbag system and reparing it. Depending on what is bad, you may want to have them replace it.
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4,705 Posts
Code 12 - Low battery voltage.
Have you ever had a dead or near dead battery in the recent past? If you have, then there's your answer. If not, then you may have an issue with your charging system or even more unlikely, a wiring fault somewhere in the Airbag power circuit.
Disconnect your battery for at least 45 minutes, and then reconnect it. This should clear any of the airbag DTC's. If the light comes on again, with the same code. then it may be a charging issue, and so on.
Good luck with that! :thumb:
Have you ever had a dead or near dead battery in the recent past? If you have, then there's your answer. If not, then you may have an issue with your charging system or even more unlikely, a wiring fault somewhere in the Airbag power circuit.
Disconnect your battery for at least 45 minutes, and then reconnect it. This should clear any of the airbag DTC's. If the light comes on again, with the same code. then it may be a charging issue, and so on.
Good luck with that! :thumb:
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Just to give creedence to this, my airbag light has been flashing in a pattern for as long as I can remember. Replaced the batter a couple of months ago but it came back. Took my car in to a shop and they said I had a bad alternator. I'm just too cheap to get it replaced so I have no way of knowing if the light will go away once it is. It's a possibility though. :thumb:
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My 94 GL wagon has a similar flashing light. 5 flashes, 4-5 times. Mechanic said it related to the steering wheel problem (sounds like a piece of paper is in the wheel area, you can hear it when turning). No way the bag will inflate, but it might need replacing eventually was his theory. It seems to come on every 3k miles, like a good idiot light I tend to ignore it.
My 1990 Taurus (3.0L, 207k km) did this for a while in December. It seemed I was getting all sorts of different codes, but then again, I didn't want to sit there counting blinks while driving down the highway. Before I had a chance to get it in to a garage, the blinking stopped on its own, and hasn't recurred since. Then again, this car has many intermittent electrical issues that usually crop up in damp or cold weather.
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