Yesterday I replaced the bulbs in my heater controls, today I have the Airbag light on, flashing 2/7. And when I turn off the passenger airbag, the "OFF" light does not come on. Any thoughts? I've heard if the "OFF" light goes out, you replace the switch, would that possibly cause this code? Thanks, Rob.

 

You are apparently getting lamp fault code 27:
"Passenger Air Bag Deactivation (PAD)Warning Lamp Inoperative"
or
"Passenger Air Bag Deactivation (PAD) Warning Lamp Short to Battery"

The first thing I'd check is fuse #22 (7.5 amp).

Otherwise it could be caused by the PAD switch, the PAD indicator, or the Restraint Control Module (RCM).

 

Thanks, I'll check into it. Rob

 

Ok, I dissasembled the PAD and found the bulb to be burned out. I've read a little about guys buying radio shack bulbs and replacing it themselves. How do you know what bulb to get? Because the system check reads resistance, and it seems to me, if the wrong bulbs is reinstalled, it won't "fix" the problem. Any further thoughts? Rob.

 

Probably any 12V bulb that has the same physical configuration will work. The SRS computer is just checking to make sure it isn't burned out so the bulb's resistance is likely irelevent.

If you find a suitable replacement, please post the Radio Shack and/or device number for future SEARCHers.

Steve

 

the bulb to use is radio shack # 272-1141, it works and cost less than $2.00
ford does't sell just the bulb and wants $ 91.00 for the whole unit.

 

You beat me to it! I just got it back together with success. Used a handy dandy cautery pen to solder it! $1.29 at the Shack.

 

I can't remember stuff anymore, so I always go back and SEARCH for previous posts where I dscussed specific items.

LFC 27 PAD Radio shack bulb 272-1141.

Now, hopefully, I'll remember what to look for....

Steve

 

Hey All,
I'm new to forum...found it looking for fix to $#*%@ series of 5 x 5 air bag warning beeps. Ford mechanic said airbag warning light was out and he needed to replace unit. Thanks for the insight into fixing the bulb. I got the cluster out, but can't for the life of me figure where to solder the new bulb in. It occurs to me that I could just swap an unused bulb from the cluster (e.g. 4x4 indicator light, not used on my 2 wheel drive). I'm going to try that and check back in. Hopefully I won't blow my instrument cluster!!!
Great forum btw!

 

Nevermind my last post. I discovered that there were two bulbs that were blown. The PAD "off" indicator light and the Air bag warning light on the instrument cluster, the latter which was causing the incessant 5 beeps...for 5 cycles...EVERY 30 MINUTES!!!. I repaired the swapped the light on the cluster with the 4x4 light and it started displaying the 2 7 code. I then took out the module for the on/off switch for the passenger air bag and....felt really stupid! Put the new bulb in, purchased from Radio Shack, and everything works great. Thanks a bunch for a great forum. Now if I can just get rid of a misfire on my #6 cylinder everything would be great. But that's a battle for another time.

 

Welcome to the forum shadowfaxinc

Good to hear that you got the problem solved.

 

Just finished fixing the PAD light myself. Dash light was blinking 27. This past weekend took the PAD out and sure enough it was burned out. The Radio Schack by the house did'nt have a bulb, so I put in an 12V LED, no yellow ones, then red. Ok, got it soldered in, tried it, dash light is out, after a year, but, the LED does not go completely out. On start up . it glows brightly and then dims if I have the pass. air bag on, and if I turn it off, the light stays on bright. Is this wrong? Dash light goes out in either position, which is what I was looking for. 99 ranger xlt,2.5 l, 5-speed man...

 

The RCM runs a small current through the PAD lamp to ensure that the circuit is complete.

At less than 20 mA, this test current won't cause a lamp to light up, but LEDs are low current devices that typically illuminate to some degree with any forward current of more than 5 mA.

Except for the dim light when the passenger PAD is ON, it is working correctly. The system is supposed to turn on the warning lamp in the PAD when it's turned OFF to alert the driver and/or passenger that the safety device is turned OFF.

You can probably add a resistor in series with the LED (either lead) to knock down the brightness. It will probably take a value somewhere between 390 and 1.2K ohms.

Steve

 

I appreciate your answer, as I don't fully understand electricity the way some of you do. The LED is working just fine as there is no dash light.(that light sure was irritating) When the passenger airbag is "on" , the light stays on, but is so dim you would hardly know it was on during the day. When it is "off", you know it , as you can definetly see the LED lit up. Problem solved and I didn't pay $91.00. I think it should be a law, whereas the auto companies should be responsible for the airbag system in these cars and trucks for as long as they are on the street. Afterall, it is a non-maintenance item as far as I"m concerned. You really can't do anything to the system to maintain it, as you run the risk of setting them off, or shutting down the system.

 

Ok, so the Shack bulb previously mentioned is kaputt. I almost always have my passenger airbag turned off, so the bulb is always on. I think I'll try to find an LED this time. Not a bad project, but one I don't care to do every 12 months. Rob