'05 taurus airbag light

[Rick Kaminski]

The light is flashing a code "42" - 4 flashes, pause, 2 flashes. I found an older post here that shows a list of what these codes mean, but 42 is not on the list. It skips from 41 to 44. Does anyone have any ideas? Thank you!

[shorod]

Welcome to the forum!

Per the 2002 Factory Service Manual:

B2296 - LFC 42 - Restraint System — Impact Sensor Status (Front Impact Severity Sensor Circuit Failure)

Remove the driver seat and deactivate the system. Refer to Air Bag and Safety Belt Pretensioner Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) in the Diagnosis and Testing portion of this section.

Inspect the driver side impact sensor mounting and make sure that the retaining bolts are fully seated and tightened correctly.

Remove the driver side impact sensor. Refer to Side Impact Sensor—Driver in this section.

Visually inspect the driver side impact sensor, mounting bracket and mounting surface for damage, corrosion or dirt.
Was a significant amount of corrosion or dirt found, the driver side impact sensor mounting bracket attached to the mounting surface incorrectly or were the driver side impact sensor bolts not fully seated and tightened correctly?

[Edit: I'm not sure why the diagnostic steps speak to a side impact sensor. Seemingly better information for this code can be found in this thread.]

-Rod

[Rick Kaminski]

Thanks!! I will get into it this weekend and let you know how it comes out. Rick

[Rick Kaminski]

Imagine my surprise in taking apart the interior trim and finding no side impact sensor, on either side of the car. Now I'm really stumped!! Got any other ideas?

[shorod]

From what I posted in post #2 above I get the impression the side impact sensor is under the driver's seat. What interior trim did you take apart?

-Rod

[Rick Kaminski]

I took off the side pillar trim as described in the 2005 Taurus service manual which I downloaded for 12 bucks. The diagrams show it mounted on the side pillar between the 2 doors, just above the seatbelt retractor. I guess I'll get into what is under the seat next.

[shorod]

Ahhh, okay. $12 is a good deal for the service manual, as long as it provides accurate information. Is it Factory information or more like Chilton or Haynes? Good luck.

-Rod

[Rick Kaminski]

It is a factory manual. Covers from 2000 to 2007, and practically fills a CD. Go to tradebit.com.

So here is where I am at. I am such a dope. I couldnt locate the side impact sensor because the car doesnt have side air bags!! Apparently they are optional in 2005. So, I started paying particular attewntion to the light. It will not indicate a code when the car is started unless you do one of three things. (Remember, the car is driven by my daughter, so I am just putting this all together.) Anyway, after starting the car, there is no flashing code. However, if you turn on the headlights, pull the turn signal towards you to flash the headlights, or turn on the A/C, the light will immediately begin flashing that 42 code. I am thinking there must be some chip or something that is bad. It appears from my reading there is one in the instrument cluster; I may have to replace it. Its either that or the restraints control module.

[shorod]

Wow, that's an interesting one. I think I'd be checking the electrical system to make sure the battery is healthy, connections are clean and tight, and alternator output is good and not noisy from a bad rectifier. It sounds like if you load the electrical pretty heavily is when the SRS light flashes.

-Rod