Airbag LFC Code 42 - 03 Taurus

[BOBT03]

Can anyone help with common faults that may be associated with LFC code 42 on an '03 Taurus Sedan? My understanding is it may be a sensor located at the front of the vehicle. After disconnecting the battery, what needs to be removed to access it? Do they normally go bad? What is a good place to buy one cheap if so?
Thanks
Bob

[shorod]

Welcome to the forum!

Per the factory service manual, LFC 42 means Restraint System — Impact Sensor Status (Front Impact Severity Sensor Circuit Failure).

Since this is part of the airbag system, you would probably be best served to let an experienced professional with all the right tools repair the issue. Or, get yourself a good service manual.

-Rod

[BOBT03]

Originally Posted by shorod

Welcome to the forum!

Per the factory service manual, LFC 42 means Restraint System — Impact Sensor Status (Front Impact Severity Sensor Circuit Failure).

Since this is part of the airbag system, you would probably be best served to let an experienced professional with all the right tools repair the issue. Or, get yourself a good service manual.

-Rod

Thanks Rod
I usually pay to have the tough stuff done, but if there are easy things like bad ground connections, I can fix no problem.
Bob

[tripletdaddy]

There's an airbag or supplemental restraint system specialist that frequents the forums including the Taurus forum. If you search this subject area, you can hopefully find one of his posts and be able to send him a personal message by clicking on his forum name to the left of his posting. I don't know his name, but maybe Rod or Way2old do.

[shorod]

dugan50. He's a vendor, so I'm not sure how much free info you'll get though. He's a nice guy an all, but since this is his business, you can't expect him to give out details for free. Plus, there is a certain amount of potential liability guiding unqualified (professionally-speaking) people on how to repair the explosive supplemental restraint system (SRS).

For what it's worth, the factory service manual walks through the steps on how to properly diagnose this code and repair the problem.

-Rod

[dugan50]

Thanks shorod...
Yes, this is my business, but here's a freebee..
Code 42 on a 2003 taurus is a bad front impact sensor fault. Usually it's a bad ground (rusted mounting). disarm the system, take off the sensor, clean it and the mounting panel with sandpaper and install it with new screws.
if that doesn;t do it,replace the sensor. the system should reset itself if you have corrected the problem.

Here's our company site that will explain everything you need to know about airbag systems, airbag lights and resetting the system. It shows you the location of the components and the procedure for diagnosing and resetting airbag lights.
http://www.airbagsolutions.com/
You can always check to see if your car is listed here first.
http://www.airbagsolutions.com/vehicles_list.aspx
If the light is flashing on your car it's telling you there's a problem. On some vehicles, the light is flashing a two digit code. Once you know the code, you can most likely repair it yourself. There are fairly easy procedures that most people are capable of repairing.

Airbagsolutions.com has the fault code charts to tell you what is wrong and how to fix it!

[BOBT03]

Originally Posted by dugan50

Thanks shorod...
Yes, this is my business, but here's a freebee..
Code 42 on a 2003 taurus is a bad front impact sensor fault. Usually it's a bad ground (rusted mounting). disarm the system, take off the sensor, clean it and the mounting panel with sandpaper and install it with new screws.
if that doesn;t do it,replace the sensor. the system should reset itself if you have corrected the problem.

Douglas,
Many thanks for the information, I'll give it a go this weekend and report back.
Bob

[BOBT03]

Originally Posted by BOBT03

Douglas,
Many thanks for the information, I'll give it a go this weekend and report back.
Bob

The problem is now solved. I found the restraint system sensor causing the problem - it is located on the front center of the car, directly (maybe 5" down) under the front hood latch. Right in the way of all the road dirt and salty corrosion from driving winter roads. It is mounted on a steel plate, and you need to remove the entire plate to get it out (3 screws - 2 mounting and one for the ground wire connection). Make SURE you disconnect the battery for 20 minutes before you touch it though.

In my case, the 2 wire connector to the sensor leaked, and corrosion actually ate away one of the internal sensor copper connector pins. Wow, it was a green corroded mess. It also destroyed the connector, which was not available as a pigtail kit from the local Ford dealer.

To fix it I ordered a new OEM sensor, which I bought discounted online for 85. + 10. shipping from these guys
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...?siteid=214944

The Ford list was $118., and the part number on the box was as follows - 6F1Z-14B006-A

Since I do a lot of electronics work, it was fairly easy for me to solder new wires directly to the new sensor pins, and then cut off the old ruined connector, and use a generic euro screw down terminal block to attach the leads together. Aftre making the connections, I coated everything including the teminal block in 2 coats of black silicone sealer, then wrapped it in teflon plumbers tape, and coated that in silicone.
I re-attached the battery terminals, started the car, and the airbag light was off. It's been about 2 weeks now and it has stayed off. Thanks for the help, doing this repair myself was enabled by help from this forum.
Bob