99 Strat air bag lite on

[ousotsuki]

Recently I started the car and both the brake and the air bag light remained on. In addition, although the car was "driveable", I had no power to the windows, the ac/fan, radio and signals which made it uncomfortable and unsafe driving home in the current heat spell. Turned the car off and restarted, same problem. Got the car home, let it sit for a bit and started the car; things went back to normal. Any hints as to what had happened? I'm concerned for when this is no longer a "fluke" and becomes a "hard" problem.
thx.

[Hungrycat7]

That's a lot of things to go wrong at once! I would start by checking all your fuses and relays. Sounds electrical. May want to check your grounds as well. If the air bag light does come back on I would get it scanned by a capable scan tool!

[jpb53]

Sounds like an ignition switch problem.

[ousotsuki]

Over a year ago, I played tag with a deer; had some body work done on the front left of the car. And since then, the car has a wee bit of a shake to it. Maybe 6 months ago the airbag light remained on twice after the "lamp check" did its thing, I noticed it as I started to drive off. After pulling over, turning the car off and restarting, the indicators went back to normal, so I haven't thought much of it; figured maybe a relay was hanging up. It's possible a connection is loose, but how to find it? I don't know squat about the airbag system, moreless where the ground or connectors related to the system are located. I'll have to do an internet search to get more info before I start checking... don't want to deploy the airbag in the process. Any pics or hints as to where to check would be appreciated.

Though the brake light indicator comes on, which is new; the consistent malfunction is the airbag light. The day after I posted this thread, the two lights came on again, but cleared after restarting. I don't understand how the car can be running, but have no electrical power to the windows, fans and turn signal indicators ( I don't know if the exterior turn signals were working ). Usually when the brake light remains on, I either have the emergency brake on or the brake fluid level was low, neither is the case during this problem. Also it was mentioned the ig switch could be at fault, can you explain?
thx.

[jpb53]

Power leaves the ign switch while in the run position from different wires. The wire to look at on your car is the black with orange tracer. It supplies the drivers door master switch;blower resistor for the blower motor; air bag control module; trans control module; and the body control module. You can pull the top covers on the strg column and ck for power on this wire when the problem occurs. Power into the switch is fed by the pink with black tracer and this wire should be hot at all times.