Getting Ripped? - Airbag Monitor - thermal fuse blown - $315!

[River_Rat]

I have 5 blinking lights, 2 second pause, 1 blink
Code 51 - Means i have an Integrated Airbag Monitor blown thermal fuse

I asked Ford Dealership if it was one of the three sensors, said nope, it is the integrated Airbag monitor with a blown thermal fuse.

So he told me that this is one entire unit, and that you cant just get another thermal fuse and stick it in there, you MUST buy the entire monitor

says parts and labor will be $315

this sound like bullshit? i have been trying to find online stores who sell this, but no luck, was hoping i could do it myself and save some money

anyinsight would be apprecaited!

[steelbrook]

This is something you can service on your own (as I have done it). Code 51 means that a small thermal fuse inside your cars airbag computer has purposely blown itself due to some airbag wires in the steering column touching ground at some point. THE VERY FIRST THING YOU WANT TO DO is make sure the problem with the wires touching ground is resolved. You will need to take apart your steering wheel (but not before disconnecting your battery for at least one minute) and give the wires a good once over. Look for freyed ends and other obvious problems. The point is, the fuse doesn't just blow for fun. It is trying to tell you something is wrong with those wires. In my case, the steering wheel had been taken apart and the wires touching was an accident and not going to be an ongoing problem.

Anyways, on to the fun part. MAKE SURE TO DISCONNECT YOUR BATTERY. Lets get that airbag computer out. Assuming you take care of the wiring problem you need to take off the plastic molding around your shifter. It should just be two Phillips head screws holding it on. With that molding off you will see a blue box under your cigarette lighter. This is your airbag computer that someone wants to charge you $315 to install. Take that sucker out by removing the two wire connectors plugged into the back. Now open the unit up and you will see the motherboard for this thing. Pay attention to area F1. Under this black and white plastic molding on area F1 is your 20 cent fuse that has blown. Remove the molding to get to the fuse. There will be two items under this molding, one is a resistor and the other is the fuse. The fuse is the larger of the two. Unsolder this from the board (oh, c'mon, it's not that hard). You will want to look that bad boy up on the internet and buy another one. It is a thermal fuse that is rated to blow at (I believe) 165C. Don't take my word and make sure to look it up by the little part number or ask someone that knows this stuff. Solder your new fuse in (it's thermal, so don't get it too hot with the solder gun!!) and reasemmble everything. Your airbag light should no longer be blinking code 51. If it comes back on, then guess what? Your wires touched ground again and you blew your fuse. Well, at least now you know how to do it again. And this time check your wires in the steering column better. If you ever get a code 13 then that means the wires are stuck on ground as opposed to occasionally touching ground.

There you have it. Good luck.

David Maiolo

[mightymoose_22]

Sounds like good info from someone who has been there...
Twenty cents is my kind of price!

[zzyzzx2]

Even if you did need the whole module, a U-pull-it junkyard or a part out on eBay or FEOA.NEt is the way to but one.