'00 LS Seat Connector - Advice

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regiment1

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Hello, all

My '00 LS has the famous #36 air bag code. I won't bore you with the history of repairs done to try and fix it.

I've given up on the Lincoln dealer fixing it, and I'm 99% sure that the problem is in the connector under the driver seat. The connector was replaced, but it apparently still doesn't make consistent electrical connection. I had an independent tech test it, and he agrees.

So, I'm considering cutting out the connector and replacing it with butt connectors to ensure a solid connection.

Does anyone have any take on if this is a good, bad or stupid idea?
 
The only down side to bypassing the connector is that anytime the seat has to be removed, you'll have to cut and then re-splice the wires. Since that should be very rare event, I don't see that as a big issue.

I would solder the wires together and use heatshrink and tape to insulate them. That's more reliable than crimps, unless you use a really good crimp tool with good crimps, and have experience doing it.

Be sure to disconnect the battery and wait an hour before starting the work. Discharge yourself if ESD is an issue in your area at this time.
 
Thank you, joegr

I thought about it another week and then went ahead with it. I can always solder in a new connector if I need to, and this would be a quick and easy test.

The good - It worked.

The bad - It just pointed out another, intermittent short in the harness. So, I pulled off the seat back and started inspecting the harness. I noticed that the section of harness leading to the side airbag had a lot of tension in it. If I would pull the harness toward the connector, I could get the airbag light to go off about 2/3 of the time. It would stay off until I put pressure on the top of the seatbag (ex: pushing off with my left hand to to exit the vehicle). Seemed reasonable to assume that the airbag connector was being pulled a little loose when the seat moved back. I removed the extensive taping job over the harness conduit and freed the two wires leading to the airbag. The light's now been off for three days. If it stays off until this weekend I'm going to give those wires their own section of conduit so that there is no tension in the wiring and tape it all back up.

The ugly - The tabs at the bottom of the seat back broke. Doggonit. But I see one on ebay I can buy, or I might just jimmy up a zip-tie solution. Worse, I am also getting a "check charging system" warning intermittently when I drive the car from a cold start for the first 1 to 5 miles. It never happens when the engine is started warm. The dealer and auto-parts store all have run battery / alternator tests and they show up clear.
 
I thought I'd update this thread, in case it helps anyone in the future.

I said above "I removed the extensive taping job over the harness conduit and freed the two wires leading to the airbag. The light's now been off for three days. "

The light stayed off for a little over two weeks, then started coming back on intermittently. If I elbowed the seatback next to the airbag, it would go away.

So this weekend I took apart the connector to the airbag and inspected where the wires were crimped on to the male connectors. I found that the red wire had some play - it wasn't seated as firmly in the main connector housing. So the wire would pull out a little if you applied torque to it. By slightly bending the crimped connector, I got it to seat more tightly, but it's still not as solid as the green wire. The light's off again, and I'll monitor for a while longer.

As I drove to work this morning, it struck me I could have put some silicone in the connector housing to effectively cement the wires in place.

If anyone knows how these connectors generally anchor the wires, I'd be glad to hear. This connector (like the under-seat connector) was replaced by the dealer a while ago, and I wonder if there is a bit missing from it.
 
I am glad that you are troubleshooting this yourself. I have a similar problem that no one can figure out. I have removed the seat and inspected all of the wiring in it. I soldered the underseat connector, and even inspected the vehicle harness all the way to the SRS module. I will check the airbag connector for play at the airbag module. Maybe that is something that I missed, but you found.
 
Sorry I almost forgot to mention that I had the intermittant "check charging system" problem for about a year before total alternator failure. If you do replace the alternator buy a Motorcraft. Trust me I went though 4 NAPA alternators before I bought a Motorcraft reman. Motorcraft new is no longer avilable from Ford.
 
Thanks, scjmc

I had to disconnect the airbag connector from the airbag (the connector plugs directly into the airbag). Then I opened up the plastic connector housing to look inside at the wires and crimped connectors. That's when I noticed the one wire would move in and out as I moved the connector housing.

It would be great if I could have helped someone out!

I'm in the process of getting the alternator replaced. Thanks for the confirmation from your experience.
 
This weekend I will take another look at the airbag in my seat. Good luck with the alternator. If someone else is doing it good for you!! Not fun at all.
 
regiment1 said:
If anyone knows how these connectors generally anchor the wires, I'd be glad to hear.
Click to expand...

I haven't seen that specific one, but almost every modular connector is the same:
terminal is crimped onto wire
terminal slides into connector and retained by clips either on the connector or the terminal

Most connectors are easily destroyed when trying to disassemble if not using the proper tools.

I would say cut that mess off and crimp on your own quick disconnect terminals. Just don't have your face (or hands) in front of the bag while doing this. Just In Case.
 
oddball said:
I haven't seen that specific one, but almost every modular connector is the same:
terminal is crimped onto wire
terminal slides into connector and retained by clips either on the connector or the terminal

Most connectors are easily destroyed when trying to disassemble if not using the proper tools.

I would say cut that mess off and crimp on your own quick disconnect terminals. Just don't have your face (or hands) in front of the bag while doing this. Just In Case.
Click to expand...

That was exactly the approach I was going to take. But I found out that the connector attaches directly to the air bag - there is no "pigtail" leading from the airbag. You're stuck with the plastic connector.

I think that the retaining clip is either missing or damaged.
 
regiment1 said:
That was exactly the approach I was going to take. But I found out that the connector attaches directly to the air bag - there is no "pigtail" leading from the airbag. You're stuck with the plastic connector.

I think that the retaining clip is either missing or damaged.
Click to expand...

Oh. Yeah, that's bad.
Some very inventive searching may find you the parts for those connectors so you can build a new one. If you can take a picture of it, post it and maybe someone will recognize it.

This site has good descriptions and links to suppliers for the standard connectors (although this probably isn't one):
http://www.rowand.net/shop/tech/automotiveelectricalconnectors.htm

My next step would be hitting up a pick'n'pull, snagging the connector and some wire, and splicing that one in place of yours.
I might head to my local one this weekend. Let me know and I can keep an eye out. My buddy and I just pulled the seat covers off a Town Car, might use the same airbag or at least the same connector. Easy to get to with the state it's in now! ;)
 
oddball said:
Oh. Yeah, that's bad.
Some very inventive searching may find you the parts for those connectors so you can build a new one. If you can take a picture of it, post it and maybe someone will recognize it.

This site has good descriptions and links to suppliers for the standard connectors (although this probably isn't one):
http://www.rowand.net/shop/tech/automotiveelectricalconnectors.htm

My next step would be hitting up a pick'n'pull, snagging the connector and some wire, and splicing that one in place of yours.
I might head to my local one this weekend. Let me know and I can keep an eye out. My buddy and I just pulled the seat covers off a Town Car, might use the same airbag or at least the same connector. Easy to get to with the state it's in now! ;)
Click to expand...

If you run across one, I'd be very grateful for the help. Just PM me and I'll arrange to pay for it and shipping.

Thanks!
 
I am an engineer with a very large electronics distributor (Newark Electronics/Newark.com).

I am also one of two connector specialists here.

Post up photos, and if I recognize it I will get you a part number and web link where you can purchase.
 
2000sport said:
I am an engineer with a very large electronics distributor (Newark Electronics/Newark.com).

I am also one of two connector specialists here.

Post up photos, and if I recognize it I will get you a part number and web link where you can purchase.
Click to expand...

Hey 2000, sorry I forgot to respond to your offer when you made it.

I got everything buttoned up, and don't want to pull it apart right now. I'm going to have some time next week, and will take a pic then if I get a chance.

Thank you!
 
This it?

6312385238_f42ef5ffc3.jpg


6311865107_c0cd2697ca.jpg
 
oddball said:
This it?

6311865107_c0cd2697ca.jpg
Click to expand...

Yes, that's the connector that I was working on. The one that connects to the airbag itself inside the seat.

Manoli, it looks like your after the under-seat connector, which i ended up taking out completely and hard-wiring the seat.
 
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