My air bag light on the idiot cluster has started to blink all of a sudden. It used to just come on and stay illuminated for about 20 seconds after the car was started, which is normal, now it goes out after the 20 seconds and starts flashing 6 flashes....pause....6 flashes.....pause....forever until the car is shut off. I have noticed that sometimes I can shut the car off and start it right back up and the light does not keep blinking.

The shop manual I have is for an 88, so it does not have the air bag troubleshooting stuff in it. I have a 91.

Does anybody have a list of these codes that are flashed by the light if something is wrong? Is there a separate CPU that controls the air bag system? If so, where is it located?

Thanks.....

 

If I were you, I would have Mazda look at the airbag, regardless of price. That is one thing that I refuse to work on or even troubleshoot. You can be seriously injured or even killed if it goes off while working on it or if a sensor is defective. It is probably just one of your impact sensors acting up and won't cost but a few dollars for Mazda to diagnose the problem.

 

I don't think I'll be taking my car to any Mazda dealership any time soon. They'll probably tell me I need a whole new airbag system or some stupid **** like that....at least the dealerships here in St. Louis.

Doesn't anybody know anything about these?

I don't want the thing blowing up in my face while I'm cruising down the highway, but then again I don't feel like bending over for the idiot mechanics at my local dealership.

 

I think fc3s.org is right on this. Only a dealership is or a very very good mechanic is qualified to diagnose air bags. This is one time that I would risk going to Mazda. Besides, you can at least have them diagnose it, if you don't like their answer, you don't have to have them to fix it, but on the other hand, if they say all you need is a $20 relay or some ****, then you can get it fixed and you are in the clear.