Disabling Airbag System and Diagram of System

[papasmith]

My airbag warning light is blinking on my 92 Ford Taurus. Research on this forum indicates that I need to check the electrical connections for corrosion, loosesness and so on. It has been suggested that the Airbag System needs to be disabled first. What is the easiest way to do that? Secondly, where can I find a diagram of the system so that I can locate the connections? Thanks.

[shorod]

What is the Lamp Fault Code (LFC) that the light is indicating? When you turn the key to the run position, it should perform a series of flashes, indicating the LFC or codes for you system. These codes will continue for less than a minute, then the lamp will stay on depending on the severity of the codes.

-Rod

[papasmith]

51

5 flashes - Pause - 1 flash - Pause

The lamp does not stay on but continues to blink.

I did find your reference Rod to what the 51 code means. If I could find the electrical diagram of the system then I would attempt to trace the ground short. Also, where is a good place to buy the part you mentioned that would need to be replaced after the short is fixed? thaks. Papasmith

[shorod]

Then as you're probably aware, LFC code 51 means "Air Bag Diagnostic Monitor Internal Thermal Fuse--Fuse Blown Due to Intermittent Short to Ground."

Also, according to the factory service manual, "The air bag diagnostic monitor contains an internal thermal fuse that is not serviceable. The thermal fuse is controlled by the microprocessor inside the air bag diagnostic monitor. The microprocessor inside the air bag diagnostic monitor will blow the thermal fuse whenever a short on the deployment circuits occurs. The thermal fuse does not blow because of excessive current flowing through it. DO NOT attempt to short circuit the thermal fuse with a circuit breaker or any other type of fuse.

"WARNING:
"DO NOT INSTALL A NEW DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR UNTIL THE SHORT HAS BEEN LOCATED AND CORRECTED. IF A SHORT TO GROUND HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED AND CORRECTED, THEN THE SHORT TO GROUND IS INTERMITTENT AND IS NOT PRESENT AT THIS TIME. INSTALLING A NEW DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR WITH AN INTERMITTENT SHORT IN THE SYSTEM WILL RESULT IN REPEAT BLOWN DIAGNOSTIC MONITORS AND REPEAT SERVICE."

If you send me a Private Message with an e-mail address for you that can accept PDF attachments, I'll forward to you the diagnostice procedure which includes a block diagram of the SRS system.

-Rod