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        General >> Problems >> Airbag warning light on Cosworth
        
(Message started by: catalina on Jun 8^th, 2018, 10:17am)

Title: Airbag warning light on Cosworth
Post by catalina on Jun 8^th, 2018, 10:17am

Hello
For many years the airbag warning light has come on intermittently.
Now its on 90% of the time and likely to result in MOT failure.

Has anyone successfully resolved this problem?

I've tried spraying inside the steering wheel hub in the past but without success. Tapping the light itself sometimes resolves problem for a few minutes, but clearly no real help.

Any ideas please. I will have difficulty managing without this car which ha been a good friend for 12 years.

Hope you can help.

John

Title: Re: Airbag warning light on Cosworth
Post by Simmo on Jun 8^th, 2018, 10:28am

Have a look at the Fault finder page (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/faultfinds.htm) Scroll down to find the air bag entry and then follow the links.
A common issue is the solder joints on the led on the instrument panel get dry and cause this problem.
From what you say it sounds that this might be the case. If you tap the top of the dashboard does that cure it? It can also depend on the weather. Sometimes the heat will cause the joints to expand.
The other option is the clock spring, detailed in the fault finder guide.

It is a pain...mine does it sometimes.

Title: Re: Airbag warning light on Cosworth
Post by Torbayboy on Jun 8^th, 2018, 11:14am

Hi, currently running 3 Scorps and if I don't use them regularly the light tends to be a pain, not much use to you if you use regularly - but thought it may help you.
Biggest pain on my 95 cos saloon, also had this with the 2.0 95 saloon I had - is yours an early car also?
I make a point of using it twice a week now, and no problem but MOT at month end!
Hope this helps

Title: Re: Airbag warning light on Cosworth
Post by Tompion on Jun 8^th, 2018, 3:09pm

Have a look here:
http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=admin;action=display;num=1398512782

Title: Re: Airbag warning light on Cosworth
Post by catalina on Jun 8^th, 2018, 8:08pm

Thank you for your responses.
My car is 1997.

It seems you might be right about the temperature. It was cooler this morning and the light didn't come on for the first few miles. ( Maybe I should ask them to MOT it early in the morning!).
On this basis I will start by dismantling the dash and resoldering the LED. Wish me luck.

John

Title: Re: Airbag warning light on Cosworth
Post by Tompion on Jun 8^th, 2018, 8:28pm

Just to be clear it's the pin/s the connector plugs into not the LED itself. You may need to look with a magnifier to confirm the solder is bad.
I've soldered 3 instrument panels with the same symptoms & the problem went away.

Make sure you check if the pins have been pressing on the case & cut them back otherwise they may get pushed through again.

Good luck.

Title: Re: Airbag warning light on Cosworth
Post by Simmo on Jun 9^th, 2018, 2:20pm

Well John, there is the answer from the Oracle! What more could we ask for? ;D

Thanks, as ever Dave, for your knowledge and expertise. ;)

Title: Re: Airbag warning light on Cosworth
Post by catalina on Jun 11^th, 2018, 5:58pm

Are you there Dave?
Taken all day but I've taken everything to pieces including removal of the plug from the rear of the instrument cluster.

Then removed two small white plastic spacers from the plug but cannot remove the actual pin to re-solder it.

Can you recall how to get the pin out? Tried pulling on the wire but am afraid of doing irreparable damage.

Any ideas. Have I missed something?

John

Title: Re: Airbag warning light on Cosworth
Post by Tompion on Jun 11^th, 2018, 9:30pm

Not sure I understand, are you saying you've taken the plug on the lead apart? You don't need to remove a pin, you need to re-solder the pin on the circuit board inside the instrument cluster as shown here:

http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=admin;action=display;num=1398512782

You need to unplug the circuit board from the needle drives & hinge it down on the ribbon cables so you access the back of the circuit board to solder the pins on the other side to the socket.

Title: Re: Airbag warning light on Cosworth
Post by catalina on Jun 11^th, 2018, 10:38pm

Thanks again Dave.

I'd forgotten the rule always to read the question.

Have got the instrument panel indoors and will have a go at soldering tomorrow.

All very embarrassing.

John

Title: Re: Airbag warning light on Cosworth
Post by Tompion on Jun 12^th, 2018, 10:46am

Good luck John,

Never easy working from/understanding pictures but easy enough once you start.

Check the reset button is in place before you put the board back.

Dave