Air Bag Light

[ab_slack]

I know it's not an RBV but so many of you know this stuff...

On our 03 Ford Escape the Air Bag dash light has come on. What usually causes this problem and what are the typical fix?

How should I go about diagnosing?

 

[6.2]

Does it blink a bit, or is it solid right from the start.

If it flashes, there should be two patterns. "2 flashes, small pause, 3 flashes" long pause And repeat.

That's just an example. If it does that, count the flashes. It will be a code telling you why it's flashing.

Google that. I'd post a link but I'm on my phone.


If its solid right from the beginning, maybe the fuse is bad?

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[ab_slack]

Its my daughters car, I will have to ask about that. Thanks.

 

[6.2]

no problem.

let us know.

 

[straycat]

Since this can be a life at stake issue......take it to a shop ASAP.

 

[adsm08]

Since this can be a life at stake issue......take it to a shop ASAP.

Wrong-o there old man.

An airbag light on poses no life threatening issue. When the light comes on the system is disabled, the air bags cannot and will not deploy.

Since the air bag system is a SUPPLEMENTAL restraint, not a primary, there is little increased risk in the case of an accident.

People survived accidents for almost 100 years without air bags, people still, every day, survive accidents in cars without air bags. The primary restraint is the seat belt, and if that is damaged and not working then you have a life at stake issue. When the airbags break, you have an annoying light on the dash.

 

[bulrid8]

Sorry, airbags with seatbelt use save more lives. Accident deaths have decreased by half with airbags.

Look into the problem and fix it correctly.

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[adsm08]

Lighter vehicles, better brakes, better safety cages, all of these things have evolved along with the airbag. There is no way to quantitatively prove those numbers are due only to airbags.

 

[bulrid8]

There is no quantitative proof of much in life. I deal with it daily and can tell you that airbags are a major reason for survival today. Airbags and crumple zone have attributed to a higher survival rate today. The more airbags, the better your chances.

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[6.2]

Wow. Its not a life at stake issue... Calm down.
Its just a light.

Mines been on for many months (broken clock spring) and honestly I don't plan on fixing it any time soon.

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[bocefas]

Mine is on too, and oddly enough if I push the latch end on the seatbelt down against the seat when I start the truck it won't come on until it let it up...must be a loose wire or something...I've just been too lazy to take the bulb out of the cluster.

 

[straycat]

Lighter vehicles, better brakes, better safety cages, all of these things have evolved along with the airbag. There is no way to quantitatively prove those numbers are due only to airbags.

I don't agree on this. Tell that to the many families that have lost loved ones over this.

 

[6.2]

I don't agree on this. Tell that to the many families that have lost loved ones over this.

Same can go both ways.

People still die in cars with functioning air bags.

Tell those families air bags make things super safe and will save lives.


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[ab_slack]

Well the light went out on its own and hasn't returned yet.

Since it is my 20 year old daughter, and car is in my name (even if it is hers) and while she is in school I have committed to maintaining it, I do feel obligated to get it resolved especially having been involved in product safety underwriting I know that safety is viewed as an entire system and when items supplement each other compromises are often allowed on the individual systems which would never be tolerated if there was one single safety critical system.

Having said that, if I were driving the car, I would not worry about it. It is my choice and like adsm08 says it is supplemental.

As far statistics, I don't think anyone can really know what effect airbags have. There has been so much done as far as structure and such. Culturally seat belts have become more taken as a given and is far more standard habit now then in the past not to mention seat belt laws in some places.

And if you want to argue but they save lives when seatbelts aren't used, well that proves nothing as far as them with seat belts on.

I also look back at why airbags were added. They were brought in as a passive restraint system to solve the problem of people not using seat belts. Then when airbags killed some people, they insisted that you have to have your seatbelt on with them. And maybe the combination is better but I don't know how in the world anyone can isolate the effect airbags have in the overall safety improvement given all the things changed at the same time.

 

[adsm08]

I don't agree on this. Tell that to the many families that have lost loved ones over this.

So you are saying that you disagree with the concept that upgrading multiple things at once that all lead to a single end makes it difficult if not impossible to say how much effect each upgrade had on the end result?

Tell me again, what is your background, aside from telling people to search for stuff.

Also, what about those people who buckle the belt behind the seat or get a dead clip out of the junk yard to shut off the seat belt dinger without actually wearing the seat belt? Those people are at greater risk of severe injury from the airbag when it goes off.

I agree that they have the potential to make the vehicle safer in a wreck. But if you don't understand how they work and follow all the rules of using them, which many people don't, they can be far more dangerous than they are beneficial.

Frankly I think the manufacturers need to start putting seat belt position sensors on the front belts, and if it doesn't see the belt move so far in three key cycles it sets a code and kills the airbags assuming that the person is not wearing the belt. That would go a long way towards making them safer.

You make it sound like having the airbags not work is functionally just as dangerous as having no brakes. That is not the case.