'92 air bag sensor light slowly blinks

[kdkrone]

Just yesterday, the air bag sensor light on my 140K-old beast began slowly blinking --about 2 seconds on, two off, two on, two off, etc. I have searched through the service manual but cannot find whether that particular blinking pattern means.

Can someone help get me started in the right direction on solving this issue?

Thanks
Ken K

[Q451990]

Sorry I missed this earlier. It took me a while to find the section in the factory service manual, but it starts on BF-162 in the 1991 version.

The closest pattern I see is the one for "no failure/intermittent failure" that's three seconds on, two off. My guess is that you're just getting the general "take me to the dealer" light since I don't think you're actually in the diagnostic mode. I would run it through the self diagnostic and see what you get there...

Good luck!

Heath

[kdkrone]

HI, Heath. I ran Consult but found no error messages.

As I am at end of life with the car, nearing 20 years and quite aware of rising gas prices, I am doubtful that I will take it to a dealer, as it is now 100 miles from where I live; I MAY try a local mechanic who has been working on our MDX and Solara and who seems very comfortable with Japanese cars. Since there does not appear to affect performance, I will continue driving the beast until it dies. I was hoping that someone might have had the problem before and had some suggestion of something I could do. I kept seeing warnings in the SM about malfunction if any positive charge was applied to the wrong electrode, not to mention that the relays all seem to be behind the dash...

[Q451990]

Do you have a Consult, or you're saying you ran "without Consult" diagnostics in the FSM?

You might try disconnecting the battery for a while to see if it resets a glitch of some sort...

Heath

[kdkrone]

HI.

I have the cable that attaches to the fusebox receptacle and the Datascan program for Nissan vehicles. No error messages. All was OK

I will try disconnecting the battery tonight.

[Q451990]

I'm not sure that datascan supports SRS codes and diagnostics. I'm pretty sure they're not stored in the ECU - but in the SRS control module. I would run the "without consult" diagnostic in the FSM and watch the light to see what it tells you.

Heath

[goody90q45]

Just yesterday, the air bag sensor light on my 140K-old beast began slowly blinking --about 2 seconds on, two off, two on, two off, etc. I have searched through the service manual but cannot find whether that particular blinking pattern means......

Hey Ken....I've been reading through the Self-Diagnostic (using the Warning lamp) starting on pg BF-182 of my 90 FSM and I'm thinking you may have gone into the "Present Diagnosis Mode". The closest thing to 2 sec. on, 2 sec. off means NO FAILURE when in this mode. It looks like pushing the door switch 5 times within 7 seconds of turning the ignition switch to ON may take the airbag system back to the User Mode and clear the light.

Look at the "How to Alternate Self-Diagnosis" on page BF-182. You're in the center box (Present Diagnosis Mode) and need to move to the left to the User Mode. Once you're back in User Mode if there really is a failure the airbag light should flash 1/2 second on, 1/2 second off. If this happens you might as well do the complete self-diagnosis (as Heath suggested) on pg BF-182 and BF-183.

Just a hunch but since the driver's door switch starts and stops the test how's your door switch working? Opening and closing properly? Rubber boot in place? Any corrosion under the switch creating a bad ground? If in doubt take it out (one screw) and clean it up. I have a couple of spares if you find that you need one.

[kdkrone]

Heath and Mike,

Thanks for the tips. Presently in Florida visiting my mom for Mother's day. Returning Monday and will try some of your solutions by Weds or Thurs and then post.

Thanks again
Ken

[SteveTheTech]

If that were my car I would probably look the other way from that light. The designed life span of the airbag is about 10 years. After that the winding and internal circuitry degradation point is enough that when the system tests itself.

The bags might just be too old to safely work.

[kdkrone]

Thanks. I have no thoughts that the airbag is functional; I just would not mind having the light blinking. Wish theybhad put the blinker lights in such a noticeable position!

Ken K

[Q451990]

The cluster isn't that hard to remove... but I'd rather have the air bag confetti in my face than nothing if the time came.

Heath

[kdkrone]

No argument there! As i said, if there is a relatively simple solution for re-setting the light, I will explore that, but not more than that. I will try Mike's and your suggestions whenI return.

[maxnix]

Look at the SRS section in the 1994 or 1995 FSM as it may apply.

[kdkrone]

I will look again through my '92 FSM when I return home Tuesday. I don't have access to the 94 or 95 versions.

Thanks

[kdkrone]

OK. Returned home last night and found the SRS section BF (I had looked through the Electrical system). SUCCESS! I was able to turn see that Diagnostic procedures there and played with the flow chart. I turned the ignition switch on, hit the driver's door switch 5 times quickly, and the light turned off. So somehow the system had gone into diagnostic mode. I suppose it is probable that Heath's suggestion about disconnecting the battery would have worked, as well.

THANKS TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED.

Ken K

[Q451990]

Excellent!

Heath