air bag light 1990 Miata

had the air bag light come on multiple times on the way home tonight.
on off on off. also the wipers were acting sort of flaky at the same
time. any ideas?? 1990 Miata.

Disconnect the battery and fully charge it. The number of flashes does
reveal a coded fault message but it usually stems from low battery rather
than actually faulty airbag.

Brian Minto

"Mac" > wrote in message
...
had the air bag light come on multiple times on the way home tonight.
on off on off. also the wipers were acting sort of flaky at the same
time. any ideas?? 1990 Miata.

Battery is only a year old. another thing that happened, would not
turn over tonight and appears to be the igition switch. figure maybe
it was not making contact and the air bag ckt was reseting.
thanks.


On Tue, 18 Jan 2011 08:39:46 -0700, "Brian Minto" >
wrote:

>Disconnect the battery and fully charge it. The number of flashes does
>reveal a coded fault message but it usually stems from low battery rather
>than actually faulty airbag.
>
>Brian Minto
>
>"Mac" > wrote in message
.. .
>had the air bag light come on multiple times on the way home tonight.
>on off on off. also the wipers were acting sort of flaky at the same
>time. any ideas?? 1990 Miata.
>
>
>

On 1/19/2011 7:35 PM, Mac wrote:
> Battery is only a year old. another thing that happened, would not
> turn over tonight and appears to be the igition switch. figure maybe
> it was not making contact and the air bag ckt was reseting.
> thanks.
>
>
> On Tue, 18 Jan 2011 08:39:46 -0700, "Brian >
> wrote:
>
>> Disconnect the battery and fully charge it. The number of flashes does
>> reveal a coded fault message but it usually stems from low battery rather
>> than actually faulty airbag.
>>
>> Brian Minto
>>
>> > wrote in message
>> ...
>> had the air bag light come on multiple times on the way home tonight.
>> on off on off. also the wipers were acting sort of flaky at the same
>> time. any ideas?? 1990 Miata.
>>

from reading many posting at miata.net, my understanding is that a
blinking air bag light can be due to a faulty ignition switch. the
solution suggested over there is to exercise the ignition switch with
the key by moving it back and forth several times. that might be all it
needs to clean out some dirt clogging a contact. but a bad ignition
switch is also a pretty common issue for those that used heavy key
chains in the miata. there are also issues with the capacitors in the
air bag control module that means replacing the module (unless you have
some well honed soldering skills and want to get inside the module
itself), and there is some talk about failed fuses inside of the air bag
module itself that is not user replaceable.

but enough hearsay... this is what rod's manual says:

"Turn the ignition swith to ON and observe the airbag warning light in
the instrument panel.

Airbag Warning Light Does Not Illuminate

Check the METER and the ENGINE fuses in Fuse Block 1 (depending on the
market they will be rated at 10 or 15 amps). Replace any burned fuses
with new fuses of the correct rating. If the new fuses blow, check the
appropiate wiring harness for damage, open or short circuits and oir
connections.

Airbag Warning Light Stays On

This indicates a problem with the SAS unit or its wiring harness
connector. Check the connection; If the fault remains, consult your
Mazda dealer as quickly as possible.

Airbag Warning Light Flashes

A sequence of 3 short flashes repeating: code 3. This code indicates a
problem with the battery (low voltage), faulty wiring between battery,
ENGINE fuse and SAS unit or/and faulty wiring between battery, METER
fuse and SAS unit. Check wiring and connectors. If the fault remains,
consult your Mazda dealer as quickly as possible.

A sequence of 6 short flashes repeating: code 6. This code indicates a
fault in the clockspring or/and a fault in the wiring between the
clockspring and the SAS unit. Check that the clockspring is correctly
adjusted and that all relevant connectors are securely connected. If
the fault remains, consult your Mazda dealer as quickly as possible.

A sequence of 7 short flashes repeating: code 7. Indicates a fault in
the wiring between the SAS unit and the passenger side air bag. Check
that all relevant connectors are securely connected. If the fault
remains, consult your Mazda dealer as quickly as possible.

Warning! Airbag system fault are reported one at a time in order of
priority, If you repair a fault, always check that the warning light
then indicates that all is well with the system: there may be more than
one problem. If the fault remains, consult your Mazda dealer as quickly
as possible."

Thanks for all the information. I am going to try the ignition switch
cleaing that is on the Miata site.


On Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:29:24 -0500, Christopher Muto
> wrote:

>On 1/19/2011 7:35 PM, Mac wrote:
>> Battery is only a year old. another thing that happened, would not
>> turn over tonight and appears to be the igition switch. figure maybe
>> it was not making contact and the air bag ckt was reseting.
>> thanks.
>>
>>
>> On Tue, 18 Jan 2011 08:39:46 -0700, "Brian >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Disconnect the battery and fully charge it. The number of flashes does
>>> reveal a coded fault message but it usually stems from low battery rather
>>> than actually faulty airbag.
>>>
>>> Brian Minto
>>>
>>> > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>> had the air bag light come on multiple times on the way home tonight.
>>> on off on off. also the wipers were acting sort of flaky at the same
>>> time. any ideas?? 1990 Miata.
>>>
>
>from reading many posting at miata.net, my understanding is that a
>blinking air bag light can be due to a faulty ignition switch. the
>solution suggested over there is to exercise the ignition switch with
>the key by moving it back and forth several times. that might be all it
>needs to clean out some dirt clogging a contact. but a bad ignition
>switch is also a pretty common issue for those that used heavy key
>chains in the miata. there are also issues with the capacitors in the
>air bag control module that means replacing the module (unless you have
>some well honed soldering skills and want to get inside the module
>itself), and there is some talk about failed fuses inside of the air bag
>module itself that is not user replaceable.
>
>but enough hearsay... this is what rod's manual says:
>
>"Turn the ignition swith to ON and observe the airbag warning light in
>the instrument panel.
>
>Airbag Warning Light Does Not Illuminate
>
>Check the METER and the ENGINE fuses in Fuse Block 1 (depending on the
>market they will be rated at 10 or 15 amps). Replace any burned fuses
>with new fuses of the correct rating. If the new fuses blow, check the
>appropiate wiring harness for damage, open or short circuits and oir
>connections.
>
>Airbag Warning Light Stays On
>
>This indicates a problem with the SAS unit or its wiring harness
>connector. Check the connection; If the fault remains, consult your
>Mazda dealer as quickly as possible.
>
>Airbag Warning Light Flashes
>
>A sequence of 3 short flashes repeating: code 3. This code indicates a
>problem with the battery (low voltage), faulty wiring between battery,
>ENGINE fuse and SAS unit or/and faulty wiring between battery, METER
>fuse and SAS unit. Check wiring and connectors. If the fault remains,
>consult your Mazda dealer as quickly as possible.
>
>A sequence of 6 short flashes repeating: code 6. This code indicates a
>fault in the clockspring or/and a fault in the wiring between the
>clockspring and the SAS unit. Check that the clockspring is correctly
>adjusted and that all relevant connectors are securely connected. If
>the fault remains, consult your Mazda dealer as quickly as possible.
>
>A sequence of 7 short flashes repeating: code 7. Indicates a fault in
>the wiring between the SAS unit and the passenger side air bag. Check
>that all relevant connectors are securely connected. If the fault
>remains, consult your Mazda dealer as quickly as possible.
>
>Warning! Airbag system fault are reported one at a time in order of
>priority, If you repair a fault, always check that the warning light
>then indicates that all is well with the system: there may be more than
>one problem. If the fault remains, consult your Mazda dealer as quickly
>as possible."
>
>

Cleaning the switch seems to have taken care of the issue. has turned
over and started up every time since and no issue with the air bag
light or the wipers. thanks for all the information.



On Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:37:41 -0500, Mac > wrote:

>Thanks for all the information. I am going to try the ignition switch
>cleaing that is on the Miata site.
>
>
>On Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:29:24 -0500, Christopher Muto
> wrote:
>
>>On 1/19/2011 7:35 PM, Mac wrote:
>>> Battery is only a year old. another thing that happened, would not
>>> turn over tonight and appears to be the igition switch. figure maybe
>>> it was not making contact and the air bag ckt was reseting.
>>> thanks.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, 18 Jan 2011 08:39:46 -0700, "Brian >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Disconnect the battery and fully charge it. The number of flashes does
>>>> reveal a coded fault message but it usually stems from low battery rather
>>>> than actually faulty airbag.
>>>>
>>>> Brian Minto
>>>>
>>>> > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>> had the air bag light come on multiple times on the way home tonight.
>>>> on off on off. also the wipers were acting sort of flaky at the same
>>>> time. any ideas?? 1990 Miata.
>>>>
>>
>>from reading many posting at miata.net, my understanding is that a
>>blinking air bag light can be due to a faulty ignition switch. the
>>solution suggested over there is to exercise the ignition switch with
>>the key by moving it back and forth several times. that might be all it
>>needs to clean out some dirt clogging a contact. but a bad ignition
>>switch is also a pretty common issue for those that used heavy key
>>chains in the miata. there are also issues with the capacitors in the
>>air bag control module that means replacing the module (unless you have
>>some well honed soldering skills and want to get inside the module
>>itself), and there is some talk about failed fuses inside of the air bag
>>module itself that is not user replaceable.
>>
>>but enough hearsay... this is what rod's manual says:
>>
>>"Turn the ignition swith to ON and observe the airbag warning light in
>>the instrument panel.
>>
>>Airbag Warning Light Does Not Illuminate
>>
>>Check the METER and the ENGINE fuses in Fuse Block 1 (depending on the
>>market they will be rated at 10 or 15 amps). Replace any burned fuses
>>with new fuses of the correct rating. If the new fuses blow, check the
>>appropiate wiring harness for damage, open or short circuits and oir
>>connections.
>>
>>Airbag Warning Light Stays On
>>
>>This indicates a problem with the SAS unit or its wiring harness
>>connector. Check the connection; If the fault remains, consult your
>>Mazda dealer as quickly as possible.
>>
>>Airbag Warning Light Flashes
>>
>>A sequence of 3 short flashes repeating: code 3. This code indicates a
>>problem with the battery (low voltage), faulty wiring between battery,
>>ENGINE fuse and SAS unit or/and faulty wiring between battery, METER
>>fuse and SAS unit. Check wiring and connectors. If the fault remains,
>>consult your Mazda dealer as quickly as possible.
>>
>>A sequence of 6 short flashes repeating: code 6. This code indicates a
>>fault in the clockspring or/and a fault in the wiring between the
>>clockspring and the SAS unit. Check that the clockspring is correctly
>>adjusted and that all relevant connectors are securely connected. If
>>the fault remains, consult your Mazda dealer as quickly as possible.
>>
>>A sequence of 7 short flashes repeating: code 7. Indicates a fault in
>>the wiring between the SAS unit and the passenger side air bag. Check
>>that all relevant connectors are securely connected. If the fault
>>remains, consult your Mazda dealer as quickly as possible.
>>
>>Warning! Airbag system fault are reported one at a time in order of
>>priority, If you repair a fault, always check that the warning light
>>then indicates that all is well with the system: there may be more than
>>one problem. If the fault remains, consult your Mazda dealer as quickly
>>as possible."
>>
>>

Mac wrote:
> Cleaning the switch seems to have taken care of the issue. has
> turned
> over and started up every time since and no issue with the air bag
> light or the wipers. thanks for all the information.

Glad to hear that it was an inexpensive fix! Too often, those type of
repairs cost lots of MSUs (Miata Spending Units).

Iva & Vixen
2004 Classic Red
No more winkin' Miata