air bag warning light flashing

[melb100]

Hi everyone

on my way back from visiting a friend today, the air bag warning light started flashing a sequence of 4 flashes-slight pause-2 flashes, it does this sequence I think five times then the light illuminates all the time, until i turn the ignition off. The sequence starts again though when I start the engine. Any ideas what has gone down sensor wise etc? The only work I have done recently is, taking the boot carpet out and giving it a clean and replacing back this morning,  the air bag light has come on since then this afternoon, so it might have something to do with this, or just a coincidence maybe?

Thank you in advance. 

[Tdci-Peter]

4 hours ago, melb100 said:

air bag warning light started flashing a sequence of 4 flashes-slight pause-2 flashes

Air bag flash code 42 seems to mean:

DTC B2296 Error value 19: Crash sensor communications fault. Lamp flash code: 42

DTC B2296 Error value 18: Crash sensor internal fault. Lamp flash code: 42

(from fordwiki.co.uk)

There are usually crash sensors located near the base of the door pillars (middle of the car). Also one on the beam behind the front bumper. Maybe a connector is dislodged.

 

 

[melb100]

Cheers-Tdci-Peter,

will have a look at these 3 sensors and post a reply. I have read that the connections under the seats can cause a similar problem (different flash code though) if they get disturbed. So here is hoping it is just a matter of disconnecting and pushing the connections back firmly.

thanks again 

[Tdci-Peter]

1 hour ago, melb100 said:

will have a look at these 3 sensors

Standard advice when working on or near airbag systems is to disconnect the -ve battery terminal, and wait a minute or so.

Not sure whether there is any real risk, or just phantoms, but that is what they say.

[Chris182]

Not sure if its any help but when i installed my heated seats i had an issue with the airbag light coming on and flashing, turns out i hadn't tightened the connector under the seat and that was causing my problems.  

[melb100]

thanks for all the replies,

well the issue seems to have gone for now (touch wood), this morning started the engine and the light extinguished as usual and did not flash at all afterwards, so went for a drive, and still nothing, and its behaved all day today. I haven't checked the sensors as yet, so will it still be a good idea to check them anyway?

thanks

[Chris182]

Always best to check them when it comes to your air bags