air bag light trouble code question

[nealb]

on a NA, the AIR BAG light on the dash flashes in a pattern

looks like 10 flashes then off, then repeat the 10 flashes

anyone have an idea on what that is saying?

or how to make it stop?

[POS Racing]

nealb here is a link for ya!

http://www.miata.net/garage/airbag_blink.html

Sure someone with firsthand experience can give ya some better guidance!

[channelmaniac]

looks like 10 flashes then off, then repeat the 10 flashes

anyone have an idea on what that is saying?

or how to make it stop?

Yeah,

It's saying the airbag computer detected a problem that wasn't resolved so it self destructed.

There's a thermal fuse wrapped in a heating element that the module will activate to commit suicide.

Your choices:

1. Replace the module.

2. Remove bulb from dash AND unplug the airbag computer & backup power supply.

3. Do #2 and put in an aftermarket steering wheel to get rid of the airbag there too.

Basically, if you remove the bulb, the airbag computer will beep like mad so you have to unplug it. If you don't remove the bulb but unplug the airbag computer then the bulb will stay on all the time....

RJ

[nealb]

so, if I do nothing, it will never go off in a crash, but the light will blink forever?

any other ramifications to the "do nothing" course of action?

[POS Racing]

any other ramifications to the "do nothing" course of action?

The added heat from the bulb blinking may accelerate global warming.

[cam76034]

so, if I do nothing, it will never go off in a crash, but the light will blink forever?

I found the blinking light somewhat distracting at night, so I pulled the bulb, covered it with some heat shrink to black it out, then put it back in. Didn't unplug anything else.

This, combined with reduced bean consumption, helps to cut said global warming effect.

[trickyrix]

I found the blinking light somewhat distracting at night, so I pulled the bulb, covered it with some heat shrink to black it out, then put it back in. Didn't unplug anything else.

Ooooh... heat shrink... THAT'S a good idea! Sounds like I'll be taking that course of action this weekend.

BTW, is it fair to say that a good number of Miatae have airbag malfunctions? Seems to be a common theme here...

This, combined with reduced bean consumption, helps to cut said global warming effect.

...as for the bean consumption and the ensuing climate problems, maybe a charcoal filter would clean things up a bit...

[Black_devil_miata]

I looked at the link POS Racing posted up and it said "(System-down fuse burned)" So I'm taking that to mean there is some sort of fuse for the airbag and it is burnt out....so why dont you just try replacing it.

[Treibenschnell]

The added heat from the bulb blinking may accelerate global warming.

[channelmaniac]

I looked at the link POS Racing posted up and it said "(System-down fuse burned)" So I'm taking that to mean there is some sort of fuse for the airbag and it is burnt out....so why dont you just try replacing it.

Because if you read what I said you'd note that the fuse is a thermal fuse wrapped in a heating element.

It's not an item you can readily replace.

RJ

[Black_devil_miata]

ahh see I glanced over your post to quickly...that would be my problem. Any idea how much those run from the dealer?

[channelmaniac]

They don't sell internal components for the airbag computer.

Your best bet is to buy a used one from a wrecking yard. If it flashes a 3 or 4 error code then you can replace a few capacitors in it to fix it. I've done that before on those pesky airbag computers.

Once it flashes 10, it's dead.

RJ