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HOW TO GUIDE: Airbag Code #51 Fix w/ pics

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  • HOW TO GUIDE: Airbag Code #51 Fix w/ pics

    Ok, I got so sick of the airbag light flashing and was set, bound, and determined to fix it. I scoured PT for hours trying to find a fix. Finally, I found the part number for the new fuse, but not a "how to" guide or anything, just a "solder it in and your good to go" With that in mind, I decided to take pics as I went through this fix and write up a how-to for the next person that needs this fix.

    I have done this 4 times now, and each time it has been successful!

    Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any malfuntions that you cause while attempting to fix this. You are conducting this at your own risk!

    *Be sure that before you do this fix, you check all your connections to and from your airbag computer. Check to see if any of the outside sensors have been tripped or wires snipped or grounding. If they are and you do this fix, the minute you plug it in and turn the car on, the fuse will blow. Make sure this is the only code you are getting!

    If your airbag code is blinking, and you get 51, it means that your internal thermal fuse in your airbag computer is blown which is caused by an intermittant short to ground on one of the wires in the circuit. When the short to the ground is removed, code 51 flashes with the use of the airbag warning lamp, 5 flashes, pause, 1 flash, longer pause. According to the ford bible, this is a nonrepairable fix....until now!

    Tools required:
    - screwdriver
    - low temp soldering iron
    - de-soldering tip
    - aluminum spring thing to take heat away from new thermal fuse
    - new thermal fuse

    ok, now you have all the parts probably except for the thermal fuse. YOU WILL NOT FIND THIS AT RAIDOSHACK! I searched and searched, no luck. Just google it and youll get an electronics parts store online who carries them. I picked up three fuses for a total of $6.00 shipped to my door in three days. Cant go wrong there! The fuse number your looking for is NTE8167C or just 167C

    1.Now go underneath your steering column and locate the airbag computer. Its a blue box and looks like this
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...g/100_0769.jpg
    Using your screedriver, use to to pry it out of the three mounting tabs seen at the top.

    2.Now that you got it out, take it out and go to the kitchen table
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...g/100_0768.jpg

    3.Using the screwdriver again, split the case
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...g/100_0766.jpg

    4.Next, search the airbag computer til you find this fuse
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...g/100_0758.jpg

    5.Here comes the fun technical part: Flip the board over, locate the pins for the old fuse, and desolder them
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...g/100_0759.jpg
    (what I did was count them, then with a sharpy, marked the two pins)

    6.Your board should look like this
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...g/100_0760.jpg

    7.Now get your new fuse out. Here is a comparison of the fuses. Notice how much beefier the new one is, but dont worry, itll still work the same as the old one!
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...g/100_0761.jpg

    8.Now bend the ends of the new fuse to match the contouring of the old fuse. Snip the excess ends, and "drop" in the new fuse into the board.

    **THE NEXT STEPS THE MOST CRUCIAL AND CRITICAL!**

    Remeber before how I said you were going to need the aluminum spring thing. Well here is where it come in handy. The thermal fuse will POP/BLOW if you dont use it when you solder it in.

    9.Now, make sure the new fuse rests on and touchs the resister. It WILL NOT work if it doesnt (trust me)
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...g/100_0763.jpg

    10.Now, with that aluminum spring thing, clamp the fuse to the resister
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...g/100_0765.jpg

    11.Flip the board and start soldering
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...g/100_0764.jpg

    12.Get one done, move the aluminum spring thing over to the other side, clamp it and solder

    13.When both ends are soldered, your board should look like this
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1...g/100_0767.jpg

    14.Now place the board back into the case and snap the housing together.

    15.Go to your car and plug it in and test. You should now have no more flashing/blinking airbag light (well code 51 at least, you may have other issues first)

    16.REJOICE and have a beer!

    *Side note, the casing that covers the fuse will NOT fit back on the new fuse. I will post a picture of what the fuse looks like as soon as I find the picture on my memory card and will update the post immediatly!

    **I will host these pictures as long as I have my photobucket account!!!**
    Last edited by Kov; July 12, 2009, 07:42 PM. Reason: Grammer
    Built by Ford.....Engineered by Mazda....
    Rebuilt, Re-engineered, and Redefined by Kov.
    New Probe in 2013, let the S/C fun begin!

  • #2
    Nice write up!
    I wanted to do this for such a long time but got tired searching for fuses with similar temperatures. Are yours 167*C? Does it work well?
    Last edited by RigsPGT; July 8, 2009, 10:06 PM.
    Rio Red 94PGT, Turbo T360trim,T3T4E 50 trim,T3T4E57 trim Parted out!
    1998 Volvo S70, The Brick
    1999 Red Volvo S70 T5 The Red Devil, modded
    1998 Black V70R AWD, The Waggo with mods

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    • #3
      Nice writeup for those who have limited access to junkyards. I picked up a used one and swapped it out. Only cost me $3 the first time and the last time it somehow found its way at the bottom of my toolbox. LoL But very cool write up and pics = awesome.
      1993 PGT-DE-T Silver Surfer - 8psi


      1995 PGT Daily Driver - D2's - Turbo kit sitting in garage

      1997 F-150 - Home Depot Getter

      2004 Acura TSX - Wife Mobile

      2007 BMW 335i Coupe - My new toy

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      • #4
        Originally posted by RigsPGT View Post
        Nice write up!
        I wanted to do this for such a long time but got tired searching for fuses with similar temperatures. Are yours 167*C? Does it work well?
        Yes. the fuses I bought where the 167*C ones, which are the same exact temp as the OEM one. You wont find them local, you have to order them offline, but well worth it in the end to finally have this problem fixed and no more blinking light

        Originally posted by JazRedGT View Post
        Nice writeup for those who have limited access to junkyards. I picked up a used one and swapped it out. Only cost me $3 the first time and the last time it somehow found its way at the bottom of my toolbox. LoL But very cool write up and pics = awesome.
        WEll thanks. The only thing that I d be worried about it all the j/y's around that i saw awlays had totalled out probes= their airbag computer would be blown too. Also, when I did this, I was severly strapped for cash, so for $6 or so, the part was shipped to my door, and all i had to do was spend about 1/2hr (with taking pictures and taking my time!) for the fix!
        Built by Ford.....Engineered by Mazda....
        Rebuilt, Re-engineered, and Redefined by Kov.
        New Probe in 2013, let the S/C fun begin!

        Comment


        • #5
          will this stop the light from blinking if you have removed your airbags? like in adding an aftermarket steering wheel

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by 95blackoutgt View Post
            will this stop the light from blinking if you have removed your airbags? like in adding an aftermarket steering wheel
            honestly i have no idea. you would have to read all your airbag codes, but i HIGHLY doubt it!
            Built by Ford.....Engineered by Mazda....
            Rebuilt, Re-engineered, and Redefined by Kov.
            New Probe in 2013, let the S/C fun begin!

            Comment


            • #7
              where is this fuse located?

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by shawner1 View Post
                where is this fuse located?
                look at the pics bud. there pointed out there
                Built by Ford.....Engineered by Mazda....
                Rebuilt, Re-engineered, and Redefined by Kov.
                New Probe in 2013, let the S/C fun begin!

                Comment


                • #9
                  kov, can you post a better picture of how the replacement fuse sits, preferably from the top and maybe a side pic without so much flash saturation?

                  this is a GREAT thread. sticky.
                  ProbeTalk is BACK! Once again, it's what you use the Internet for!

                  Let's get DANGEROUS!

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                  • #10
                    I've got some pics of how the original one sits, maybe they might help:
                    http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...T/IMG_2017.jpg
                    http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...T/IMG_2019.jpg
                    Rio Red 94PGT, Turbo T360trim,T3T4E 50 trim,T3T4E57 trim Parted out!
                    1998 Volvo S70, The Brick
                    1999 Red Volvo S70 T5 The Red Devil, modded
                    1998 Black V70R AWD, The Waggo with mods

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by RigsPGT View Post
                      I've got some pics of how the original one sits, maybe they might help:
                      http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...T/IMG_2017.jpg
                      http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...T/IMG_2019.jpg
                      that helps. thanks.

                      i have a spare blue box floating around in my garage. this is what i was planning on using for this particular repair. all of the instructions are sound, so the only thing to do is get things together and give this a shot.
                      ProbeTalk is BACK! Once again, it's what you use the Internet for!

                      Let's get DANGEROUS!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        wow... very nice writeup! will attempt this next weekend! finally get rid of the airbag light.. i'm sick of the person sitting in the passengers seat asking "whats that flashing light?" and me saying " oh its just the airbag light.. dont worry it will still deploy if we crash"
                        Cardomain - The Probey
                        Life's Always Better When You've Been Probed

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Thaiboy4u2grab View Post
                          wow... very nice writeup! will attempt this next weekend! finally get rid of the airbag light.. i'm sick of the person sitting in the passengers seat asking "whats that flashing light?" and me saying " oh its just the airbag light.. dont worry it will still deploy if we crash"
                          haha, will it?
                          93 pgt= yard ornament

                          proud owner since 1999

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                          • #14
                            ^^ yep, mine was blinking about a half second before this
                            Attached Files

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by dmark101 View Post
                              kov, can you post a better picture of how the replacement fuse sits, preferably from the top and maybe a side pic without so much flash saturation?

                              this is a GREAT thread. sticky.
                              Well thank you for the sticky. I m just glad that I can contrubuite back to the site. I have been on here so much since 05, but barely post (but i m changing that now). This site has helped me/save me so much and the members are great, so this is the least I can do.

                              If you need more pics, let me know. I ll dig through my memory card and pull them out for yah.

                              Originally posted by RigsPGT View Post
                              I've got some pics of how the original one sits, maybe they might help:
                              http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...T/IMG_2017.jpg
                              http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...T/IMG_2019.jpg
                              Wow, those look identical to the ones I have haha. If you dont mind, would it be alright if I steal your pics and edit the original post with them (that way I can also put them in my photobucket account with all the other pics so they will stay there forever!)

                              Originally posted by tahoe View Post
                              ^^ yep, mine was blinking about a half second before this
                              Hmmm, yup you may have more than a blown fuse there haha
                              Built by Ford.....Engineered by Mazda....
                              Rebuilt, Re-engineered, and Redefined by Kov.
                              New Probe in 2013, let the S/C fun begin!

                              Comment

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