dieseldoc Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 2004 F250. Air bag light on and seat belts wont roll out. Customer replace seat belts themselves. The other day they were driving down the road and heard a bang and the seat belts locked up again. I havent had time to look at it yet hopefully tomorrow. Curious if the air bag light and seat belt issue are connected, or if you guys have run into this before? Going to read up on it tonight hopefully, but any heads up or tips appreciated. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Is this a crew cab, regular cab or a super cab? Crew cab and regular cab are similar, supercab is different. Worrysome is the statement "locked up again". I think you'll want to depower the system and install the dummies before you do much testing. ESPECIALLY if civilians have been working on the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieseldoc Posted June 5, 2009 Author Share Posted June 5, 2009 I think I will tell them to go to the dealer for this repair. As much as I like to learn something new. . . I think it will be better handled by the dealer this time around. When it comes to restraint systems there is so much liability involved that I would rather not take this issue on. When I read through the workshop manual there is a page of disclaimers and warnings before every test or item discussed. The best bet for this vehicle is to visit the factory trained technician with the factory tooling. Thanks for responding so quickly jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Robert, I have a couple of guys that scare the piss out of me.... Their attitudes towards SRS systems is so friggin' cavalier it makes my eyes hurt.... The workshop manuals are likely overkill as far as the dangers of these devices.... But the workshop manuals deal with systems that aren't compromised by "enemy action" or a motor vehicle accident. Come to think of it...could some SRS systems have been compromised by a stereo or Nav system installer? Or an "Automotive Fluid Systems Technician"? Naw... we all know that those guys are "professionals"..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Come to think of it...could some SRS systems have been compromised by a stereo or Nav system installer? Or an "Automotive Fluid Systems Technician"? There was a Lincoln LS in the shop a while back, had blown the side seat airbag, triggered by the sensor directly below the seat. Pull the carpet and there's 2 0GA wires, and four sets of RCA cables draped right across the sensor, as well as the wiring to the sensor Electomagnetic Interference much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LARRY BRUDZYNSKI Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Quote: Customer replace seat belts themselves I think the first and most important question is why did the customer replace them????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieseldoc Posted June 7, 2009 Author Share Posted June 7, 2009 Apparently the light came on a while ago and than after that the seat belts would not retract and you could not pull them out anymore. The customer took it to another indy shop where they slapped some seat belts in it and said good enough. My thoughts would be maybe when there is a light on in the dash we should check it out. There is obviously a reason the seat belts dont work anymore. Perhaps we should find the root cause of the issue before we start throwing 700 dollars worth of parts in it. People that throw parts and fix things by chance annoy the hell out of me. Read a little first and understand the system before you just put a band-aid on it. Restraint systems are not something you can just fuck around on. The customer told me they dont have a scan tool at the shop they took it to. How do you have an automotive repair business these days and not have a scan tool. You can a piece of shit at napa for 200 bucks that will give you a code. Whoa. . . Ranting is over it has been a bad day at the office today. It is a super cab, with a bench seat I believe. I have not seen the vehicle yet. They said they would drop it by on friday and havent seen it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mchan68 Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 The customer told me they dont have a scan tool at the shop they took it to. How do you have an automotive repair business these days and not have a scan tool. You can a piece of shit at napa for 200 bucks that will give you a code.Okay, if the shop doesn't have a scan tool, all it takes is a little reading to determine that LFCs (lamp fault codes) can be obtained by simply counting the flashes of the SRS indicator at key-on, and then proceeding with the appropriate pinpoint test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 Okay, if the shop doesn't have a scan tool, all it takes is a little reading to determine that LFCs (lamp fault codes) can be obtained by simply counting the flashes of the SRS indicator at key-on, and then proceeding with the appropriate pinpoint test. This also requires the outlay of <GASP> cash.... BACK IN THE DAY, if you could remember points at about 0.017" - plugs at 0.035" (with a very few exceptions at 0.028") and timing at 8 BTDC give or take, you could have the world by the short and curlies.... Today...you will spend money... depending on what you have for a target, you can spend serious money... for information. Twenty years ago, I was telling people that the tech of the future wasn't going to be rich in "I remember that".... he WAS, however, going to know where to find the info he needed and how to use that info.... Gentlemen, we ARE there. The Rex Umneys of the world are those that cannot see the forest because all them fucking trees are in the way. Lamp flash codes - especially in a system whose primary function is to fire explosive squibs - may be just enough to get someone into real trouble. If someone isn't prepared to invest in the tools and manuals to do a job properly, they are cheating themselves and their customer financiallyu, they are endangering everyone involved and they are making the rest of us, those that truly desire to excell at our work, look like assholes.... The automotive industry is in a great state of flux.... Now is the time for those that feel the need for change in the system to speak up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieseldoc Posted June 9, 2009 Author Share Posted June 9, 2009 I am with you on this one jim. If your customer comes to you with a request that you are not comfortable with or equipped to handle. It is best to be honsest with them. Tell them you dont have the tooling or training to handle that particular concern but here is a great place to take it for that concern. I think they will be much more impressed with your honesty and professionalism than when they get a bill for a thousand dollars and there concern isnt taken care of. People have the perception that we as "mechanics" are crooks looking to steal there money. If we dont realize our abilities and throw our customers money away than there perception will quickly become a reality. The customer called me today and said they have an appointment with the local dealer and will be taking it to them. I told them it was a good choice and to give me a call with any future concerns and will take care of them. I informed them that I can handle most of there issues but that there are a few jobs best handled by the dealer, restraint systems being one of those. If anybody has any thoughts on how I could have handled that better I am all ears. I want to do the best I can and what is best for my customers. Thanks again for all the input guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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