I have a 2006 F150 and when I start the truck the airbag light blinks and then stays on - what is my problem?

 

Count the blinks, and find it in the list below for your year F150. The airbag icon light in the cluster will blink a number of times, pause, then blink out a number of times again.


As an example: airbag light blinks three times, pauses, blinks three times, then repeats this. This would be a code 33.


F SERIES TRUCKS

1994-96

12 Low Battery Voltage/Charging System Fault
13 Airbag Module Circuit Shorted To Ground or Earth
14 Front Airbag Crash or Impact Sensor & Bracket Circuit Shorted To Ground or Earth
21 Rear Airbag Crash or Impact Sensor Improperly Mounted
22 Rear Airbag Crash or Impact Sensor & Bracket Output Circuit Shord To Battery
23 Rear Airbag Crash or Impact Sensor & Bracket Input Feed/Return Circuit Open
24 Rear Airbag Crash or Impact Sensor & Bracket Output Feed/Return Circuit Open
32 Driver's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit High Resistance Or Open
34 Driver's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Low Resistance Or Shorted
41 Right-hand Front Airbag Crash or Impact Sensor Feed/Return Circuit Open
42 Left-hand Front Airbag Crash or Impact Sensor Feed/Return Circuit Open
44 Right-hand Front Airbag Crash or Impact Sensor Improperly Mounted
45 Left-hand Front Airbag Crash or Impact Sensor Improperly Mounted
52 Back-Up Power Supply Voltage Feed Fault
53 Front Airbag Crash or Impact Sensor Resistance To Ground or Earth On Diagnostic Module or Computer Fault

1997 F SERIES TRUCKS (OBD-2 Style Codes)

Scanner Flash

B1867 12/52 Loss Of Battery Feed Or Battery Supply Shorted To Ground or Earth
B1913 13/53 Airbag Module Circuit Short To Ground or Earth
B1914 14/54 Airbag Sensor Circuit Shorted To Ground or Earth
B1921 21 Diagnostic Module or Computer Ground or Earth Circuit Open Or Not Mounted Properly
B1922 22 Sating Sensor Output Circuit Shorted To Battery or Voltage (VSS) Voltage
B1923 23 Memory Clear Circuit Improperly Ground or Earthed
B1932 32 Driver's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit High Resistance Or Open
B1933 33 Passenger's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit High Resistance Or Open
B1934 34 Driver's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Low Resistance Or Shorted
B1935 35 Passenger's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Low Resistance Or Shorted
B1941 41 Right-hand Airbag Sensor Feed/Return Circuit Open
B1942 42 Left-hand Airbag Sensor Feed/Return Circuit Open
B1944 44 Right-hand Airbag Sensor Not Mounted Properly
B1945 45 Left-hand Airbag Sensor Not Mounted Properly

1998 F SERIES TRUCKS

Scanner Flash

B1342 24 System Disarm Failure Or Internal Diagnostic Module or Computer Fault
B1867 12/52 Lost Or Low Battery Voltage/Charging System Fault
B1869 No Airbag Indicator Or Inoperative Indicator Circuit
B1913 13/53 Driver/Passenger's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Shorted To Ground or Earth
B1914 14/54 Airbag Sensor Circuit Shorted To Ground or Earth
B1921 21 Diagnostic Module or Computer Ground or Earth Circuit Open Or Improperly Mounted
B1922 22 Sating Sensor Output Circuit Shorted To Battery or Voltage (VSS) Voltage
B1923 23 Memory Clear Circuit Improperly Ground or Earthed
B1924 System Disarm Failure Or Internal Diagnostic Module or Computer Fault
B1932 32 Driver's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit High Resistance Or Open
B1933 33 Passenger's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit High Resistance Or Open
B1934 34 Driver's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Low Resistance Or Shorted
B1935 35 Passenger's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Low Resistance Or Shorted
B1941 41 Right-hand Airbag Sensor Feed/Return Circuit Open
B1942 42 Left-hand Airbag Sensor Feed/Return Circuit Open
B1944 44 Right-hand Airbag Sensor Improperly Mounted Or Ground or Earth Circuit Open
B1945 45 Left-hand Airbag Sensor Improperly Mounted Or Ground or Earth Circuit Open

1999-2002 F SERIES TRUCKS

Scanner Flash

B1231 19 Restraints Control Module Crash Data Memory Full
B1342 24 Restraints Control Module Internal Fault
B1869 Airbag Indicator Inoperative
B1870 Airbag Indicator Shorted To Battery or Voltage (VSS)
B1871 25 Passenger's Airbag Detonator Unit Deactivation (PAD) Switch Fault
B1877 46 Driver's Seat Belt Pretensioner Circuit Resistance High
B1878 17 Driver's Seat Belt Pretensioner Circuit Shorted To Battery or Voltage (VSS) Or Ignition
B1879 17 Driver's Seat Belt Pretensioner Circuit Shorted To Ground or Earth
B1881 47 Passenger's Seat Belt Pretensioner Circuit Resistance High
B1882 18 Passenger's Seat Belt Pretensioner Circuit Shorted To Battery or Voltage (VSS) Or Ignition
B1883 18 Passenger's Seat Belt Pretensioner Circuit Shorted To Ground or Earth
B1884 27 Passenger's Airbag Detonator Unit Deactivation (PAD) Warning Lamp Inoperative
B1885 46 Driver's Seat Belt Pretensioner Circuit Resistance Low
B1886 47 Passenger's Seat Belt Pretensioner Circuit Resistance Low
B1887 15 Driver's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Shorted To Ground or Earth
B1888 16 Passenger's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Shorted To Ground or Earth
B1890 27 Passenger's Airbag Detonator Unit Deactivation (PAD) Warning Lamp Short To Battery
B1891 Airbag Tone Warning Indicator Shorted To Battery or Voltage (VSS) Or Ignition
B1892 Airbag Tone Warning Indicator Circuit Shorted To Ground or Earth Or Open
B1916 15 Driver's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Shorted To Battery or Voltage (VSS) Or ignition
B1921 21 Restraints Control Module Bracket Ground or Earth Resistance High
B1925 16 Passenger's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Shorted To Battery or Voltage (VSS) Or Ignition
B1932 32 Driver's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Resistance High
B1933 33 Passenger's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Resistance Low
B1934 34 Driver's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Resistance Low
B1935 35 Passenger's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Resistance Low
C1414 29 Incorrect Vehicle Information Code

RANGER (Flash Codes)

1994-95

12 Low Battery Voltage/Charging System Fault
13 Airbag Module Circuit Shorted To Ground or Earth
14 Primary Crash or Impact Sensor Circuit Shorted To Ground or Earth
21 Diagnostic Module or Computer Improperly Mounted
22 Sating Sensor Output Circuit Shorted To Battery or Voltage (VSS) Voltage
23 Memory Clear Circuit Improperly Ground or Earthed
24 System Disarm Failure Or Internal Diagnostic Module or Computer Fault
32 Driver's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit High Resistance Or Open
33 Passenger's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit High Resistance Or Open
34 Driver's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Low Resistance Or Shorted
35 Passenger's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Low Resistance Or Shorted
41 Right-hand Crash or Impact Sensor Feed/Return Circuit Open
42 Left-hand Radiator Crash or Impact Sensor Feed/Return Circuit Open
44 Right-hand Crash or Impact Sensor Improperly Mounted
45 Left-hand Crash or Impact Sensor Improperly Mounted
52 Intermittent Or Rewired Low Battery Voltage/Charging System Fault
53 Intermittent Or Rewired Airbag Module Circuit Shorted To Ground or Earth
54 Intermittent Or Rewired Crash or Impact Sensor Circuit Shorted To Ground or Earth
61 Intermittent Or Rewired Diagnostic Module or Computer Improperly Mounted
62 Intermittent Or Rewired Safing Sensor Output Circuit Shorted To Battery or Voltage (VSS)
63 Intermittent Or Rewired Memory Clear Circuit Improperly Ground or Earthed
64 Intermittent Or Rewired System Disarm Failure Or Internal Diagnostic Module or Computer Fault
72 Intermittent Or Rewired Driver's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit High Resistance Or Open
73 Intermittent Or Rewired Passenger's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit High Resistance Or Open
74 Intermittent Or Rewired Driver's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Low Resistance Or Shorted
75 Intermittent Or Rewired Passenger's Airbag Detonator Unit Circuit Low Resistance Or Shorted
81 Intermittent Or Rewired Right-hand Primary Crash or Impact Sensor Feed/Return Circuit Open
82 Intermittent Or Rewired Left-hand Crash Feed/Return Circuit Open
84 Intermittent Or Rewired Right-hand Crash or Impact Sensor Improperly Mounted
85 Intermittent Or Rewired Left-hand Crash or Impact Sensor Improperly Mounted

 

Well I found out the problem - when the airbag icon blinks I get code 18 which the best I can tell is the passenger airbag light above the radio. Pulled of the radio bezel and looks good not loose - snaps in and out fine - But when I resnap it in it works and the light comes on for a few seconds and then goes out the the airbag icon starts blinking the code again - I need help!

 

The restraints control module (RCM) monitors the circuit to the passenger belt and buckle assembly pretensioner. When the RCM detects a circuit short to battery or ignition it will set lamp fault code (LFC) 18 and diagnostic test code (DTC) 1882.

Possible Causes: A short to battery or ignition on the passenger belt pretensioner circuit can be caused by:
1) a short to battery or ignition on circuit 1081 (YE/RD).
2) a short to battery or ignition on circuit 1082 (YE/BK).
3) a short to battery or ignition on the passenger belt pretensioner.
4) an RCM internal concern.


In simple terms, the passenger side pretensioner may be bad. This is the "female" part of the seatbelt (see picture below); During a front end collision, this pretensioner has a small cartridge that "pops" (small gas cartridge) that cinches the belt about 2 inches tighter, keeping the passenger back against the seat.


Two ways to tell if yours has activated: measure or visually compare the length of the drivers side "accordion" section against the passenger side; if the passenger side is shorter, it imploded, and you have to replace it.
Or, remove the passenger seat, and remove this part (on left side of passenger seat). To do so there is a large bolt, and a small two wire harness to it that will activate the cartridge during a front end accident. There is a tube you can look into at its front; you can tell if the buckle "arm" pulled in.


These aint cheap! Used they go for $69.00 on ebay.

 

As a "hope for the best" try, you could unplug, then plug back in the large plug connector under the center of the passenger seat; maybe you'll get lucky and find that a pin within this connector was not making good contact, as two of them run to this seat belt pretensioner.


Or make sure something did not fall between the center console and passenger seat, causing the seat belt pretensioner wire connector to break off.