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Question for the "contemporary" vehicle folk:

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DrEntropy

DrEntropy

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Question for the "contemporary" vehicle folk:

My neighbor just came over and asked me to ID the light he's got coming on, on the dash. '05 Ford F-150, the light is a li'l yellow glyph of a strapped in crash test dummy with a baloon in his lap... I assume it to be the air bag circuit, but is it a "countdown" to inflation or a notice of "insufficient monies spent, see your dealer for a rectification" light? Anybody know?
 
Re: Question for the "contemporary" vehicle folk:

"Notice of insufficent funds, see the dealer" light. When the light is ON, should (but might not) render system inop. It means it failed a self test. Could be almost anything, broken "clock spring" at the steering wheel, bad seatbelt latch electrics, etc. I hate working on those things, and so far have successfully avoided owning any vehicle so equipped. Not my idea of a safety device to have Govt. mandated explosive device aimed at me. Somehow, if I wanted to install an explosive device in Govt. desks to prevent employees from sleeping on the job it would not be enthusiasticly recieved. Bah!! and BAH!! again.
 
Re: Question for the "contemporary" vehicle folk:

I both whole-heartedly agree with and personally adhere to your philosophy, Jesse. Don't need a chambered round goin' off in my face. I haven't the kit to deal with anything built after '85 or so, don't expect to need it here either. I'll pass the info on, tho. Thanks.

What's this OBDII everybody's so het up over?!?! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
 
Re: Question for the "contemporary" vehicle folk:

OBD stands for-on board diagnostics-self check system on modern cars,by plugging into the obd socket with a scan tool,or a dedicated obd11 reader for that vehicle,you can access the trouble codes stored in the ecu,which on looking up the code will tell you the sensor or component that is causing the fault code,but sometimes it lies!you can purchase an aftermarket reader quite cheap these days,depends how much the dealer/repair shop charges just to scan it,some are abusive! others can be very helpful.
 
Re: Question for the "contemporary" vehicle folk:

That was meant rhetorically, Mike. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif

But thanks fer th' explanation. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
Re: Question for the "contemporary" vehicle folk:

Mike,
many aftermarket OBD scanners don't cover airbag lights. they're completely seperate from the engine ECU.
Doc, Yup could be anything in the system of the airbags. touchy things. I don't like working on them much, and a light is always a pain. Airbag diagnostics today are as percise as the first gen OBD systems were ( OK not quite that bad). they stink.
Biggest thing in airbag systems is that you're not supposed to repair the wiring if it's damaged. It's supposed to be replaced. and most of the individual components aren't cheap either.
Most of the cars I work on daily have between 4-9 "bombs" (technically called "squibs") hidden inside them.
Steering wheel, passenger dash, drivers knees, both "A" pillars, both "C"pillars, and the sides of both front seats.
 
Re: Question for the "contemporary" vehicle folk:

We have to remeber that in the fire dept.when
doing extracation.If you cut a car in the wrong area,
you can set off an air bag.

- Doug
 
Re: Question for the "contemporary" vehicle folk:

ok some don't-there again some do and you still plug into the same socket to access the info-a lot of the time if the fault is cleared from the memory,it does not throw again,hence me saying they can lie.
 
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