1.9L 1994 Trouble code

[RocketUSA]

Today I started getting a code "32" from my airbag dash light. Anyone know what 32 means?

[Intuit]

Oh about six/seven years ago my dash light started blinking in pattern. It's been so long I may be pull'n this outta my rear end but I think it was something link blink 5 times, pause, blink once, long pause; then repeat pattern.

Took it in to the dealer and a (good) mechanic there said the airbag diagnostic module's fuse had blown. Rattled off some price in excess of $120 just for the part. After reading my expression he clarified and stated that the entire module must be replaced; that the fuse wasn't serviceable. So I of course declined the service and pulled the diagnostic module out from underneath the ash-tray, radio, heater-core myself to investigate. (disconnect battery, then airbag itself, then module)

Just a little circuit board. Located and read the part number from the fuse, turns-out it's a TCO (thermal cut off) fuse. Looked up the manufacturer and part number, then white-sheet technical specifications and it turned-out to be a pretty unique part. It also had a finite lifetime meaning, it would eventually fail regardless of whether the part ever reached temperature. (which it apparently decided to do with me) Couldn't find a fuse from any other manufacturer that matched it's specs close enough. The manufacturer of the fuse only manufactured in huge lots to order, didn't have any parts (willing) to sample out, and none of their distributors were willing to let-go any less than 1,000 parts. (did find 1 distributor who was willing to do 100)

Why would they make a module that is thermal sensitive, stick it right under the heater-core, then put non-serviceable fuse with a finite lifetime ? Makes ZERO sense. Anyway I refused to buy another just on principal and have been rolling without one ever since. Never put the module back in and my airbag has been inoperable ever-since.

If you decide to go the route I did, but intend to sell, check your state laws regarding safety-restraints before selling it. It may be illegal to sell a vehicle without all of it's safety-restraints working. Airbags systems could be included.

[Davescort97]

It means the driver side air bag circuit wiring has high resistance or has an open circuit. The air bag monitor measures the resistance every time the ignition is turned on. The resistance is supposed to be 1.5 to 2 ohms. If it is geater than 4.0 ohms the light will flash. This is something you may want to have an expert look at. No, the airbag will not deploy accidentally. It has built in safeguards not to do so.