flashing air bag light in a '90

[fielder]

The air bag warning light in my '90 Taurus ( 3.0) started flashing about a week ago and hasn't stopped since. I pulled the fuse to the module since I'm not to sure about the bag blowing up in my face while I'm driving down the road. Anyone here know anything about this problem, what to check and last,but certainly not least, can that air bag deploy while driving?

[shorod]

The risk of the airbag deploying just due to a flashing SRS light is extremely small. There are safeguards to keep that from happening, and the flashing light indicates the SRS computer recognizes a problem and therefore will disable the airbag if the problem warrants it.

Did you notice if the light is flashing in a pattern? The light is probably flashing out a diagnostic code. For example, a flash-flash, pause, flash-flash-flash, pause would indicate a code 2-3 or 23. Additional codes would be flashed out after the pause in a similar manner.

When you get up the courage, put the fuse back in and check for codes. Post what you see back on this thread and someone should be able to guide you from there.

-Rod

[fielder]

Thanks for the info, shorod. I put the fuse back in. The light flashes 9 times, then pauses, flashes 9 times again, pauses, and keeps the same amount of flashes no matter if I drive 1 mile or 100 miles. The light starts flashing within a couple of seconds each time I start the car.

[shorod]

Are those sets of 9 flashes very periodic, or is there a longer pause between a couple of flashes? A code of 99 is not one that I can find. Maybe there is a shorter pause between a couple of the flashes and then a long pause to indicate the code is repeating?

Maybe you have a code 45-flash, flash, flash, flash, pause, flash, flash, flash, flash, flash, long pause, etc.? A code 45 would indicate a fault in the center radiator crash sensor.

-Rod

[fielder]

There's no pause at all between the 9 flashes. the flashes are evenly spaced until after that 9nth one and then it pauses for a couple of seconds.

[fragmore]

People have operated trucks and cars for most of the last century without airbags.
I wouldn't worry too much.