Hi all,

I have searched the forums to try to find an answer but no luck so far.

I have a Ford Focus 1.8 TDCI on a 52 plate. The airbag warning light on the dashboard is lit and I can't figure out what the problem is. When the light first came on I had recently changed the height of the driver's seat belt with the adjuster in the door pillar. I managed to get the light to go out again after wiggling the adjuster several times, but now it has come back on again and I can't get it to go out no matter how much I wiggle the adjuster.

I might be barking up the wrong tree, so I wanted to ask if there is any wiring in the door pillar that relates to the seatbelt warning system. I don't want to start removing things unless there is a good chance that I'm looking in the right place.

Any help would be appreciated.

when the drivers seat is adjusted a lot it is common for the airbag wiring connection plugs under the seat to work loose, so check all the plugs under the seat to see if they are a tight fit.

Like mintalkin says try the connector under the seat happened to me last week and all I had done previous was slide the seat back so had a feelin I had disturbed the connector bit of a fiddle around with ignition off .then trie it out and light went out and has stayed out .

I have had chance to have a look at the connections under the seats and they seem secure.

Had another look at the warning light. When the ignition is switched on the warning light flashes 4 times, then a slight pause and it then flashes another two times. This is repeated several times before the light comes on and stays on.

Is this some kind of code indicating what might be at fault?

There are only two wires to the connectors under the front seats. Drivers side wires are black and green with red tracer, passengers side the wires are black and green with blue tracer. Anyone know what these are for?

Not sure on that the next thing I would look at is taking the side pillar off where the adjuster is and see if the is as you suspect a connector there possible for the side curtains if fitted .

No luck there, I managed to remove the cover from the side pillar and there is no wiring around that area.

Must have been a coincidence that the light went on after adjusting the belt.

Have you tried the connector under the passenger seat does sound like a loose connection some where the other one to try is the seat belt pre tensioner connection .

I have checked the passenger seat connector. I'll check the pre-tensioner connections as suggested.

I have had a chance to have another look at this but I am struggling to locate the wiring to the seatbelt pre-tensioner.

Is this via the main connector under the front of the seat or somewhere else?

The pretensioner should be wired directly under the inertia reel on the seatbelt.

Sent using Ford OC mobile app

air bag light is giving you a code 42 which relates to crash sensors

you will need the full code from the ecu to give a more accurate description and specific code.

would advise having the code cleared as a good chance it wont come back on.

also be very wary of fiddling about with the crash sensors and wiring as that could trigger the air bags....make sure you disconnect battery and leave for 10 mins before touching any wiring in that area....

Thanks wase16II,

Earlier this evening I found a site that relates to airbag flash codes and it suggested what you have just confirmed.

I have a MaxiScan MS309 which works on my son's '02 Clio, but it doesn't work on my '02 Focus. This seems to be because the diesels weren't OBD II compliant until 2004 if my information is correct.

I assume I will need to have a garage or auto electrician have a look at it.

ideally you want to get the full code first..

but if you can locate the crash sensors, it might be worth to just disconnect, check for any corrosion/damage on connectors and wiring then reconnect..

the usual fault in crash sensors tends to be water/corrosion on front sensor, which from memory you will find on drivers side chassis rail (not 100% sure, but sure you will find confirmation on www) but maybe also worth checking the drivers side sensor which should be located either in the door or mounted on/around the inner sill/B post...just follow the yellow wiring insulation as thats the air bag system and you'll find it.

i know you checked the drivers seat connector, but if you havent already done it, pull connection apart and refit.

dont forget to make sure key is out of ignition and disconnect battery before playing with the wiring.

only 2 ways of extinguishing light, either find/cure the problem, or erase it with diag machine

Well, I had a chance to have a look at the front crash sensor and cleaned up the connections, unfortunately this didn't solve the problem so I bit the bullet and took the car to a local auto electrician. As suspected, the crash sensor was identified as the fault and replaced. £150 lighter but at least the fault has been sorted out, MOT now booked and keeping my fingers crossed that there are no more costly problems.

Thanks to everyone who offered advice.