air bag warning light

[turbobrick]

The warning light for the air bag came on at the dashboard in my girlfriend's escort LX ('95). It is blinking 3 times, a short break, and then 5 times. Must be a code - but for what?? Does anyone have an idea what that means? Any help is appreciated. Thx.

[Davescort97]

It is diagnostic code 35. Passenger side airbag circuit low resistance or shorted. The connector for the passenger side airbag has a shorting bar built into the plastic connector. If the connector has come loose the shorting bar will complete the circuit. It is built into the hard plastic connector. It's function is to allow the air bag to deploy even if the connector has come loose. Low resistance can be caused by 1. the connector not pushing the shorting bars back into their retracted positions. 2. a damaged shorting bar. 3. A short in the wiring harness or 4. a short across the passenger air bag module terminals within the passenger side air bag module.

I would suggest you take the vehicle to the Ford Service department and get it Fixed. If you do decide to work on it disconnect the negative battery terminal and wait at least 15 minutes to disarm the reserve power backup for the air bag system.