Sorry if this is in the wrong spot. A friends EF was knocked back for rego because her airbag light stayed on. Further investigation revealed a 21 fault, "Diagnostic monitor not mounted to vehicle properly" Our friendly Ford dealer quoted her $1000 to repair, approx $500 for the monitor and $500 for labour. Now since the car only cost her $1800 and she's abit strapped for cash she asked me to help. I figure I could pick up another monitor from the wreckers for a lot less than $500, replace it and alls well with the world. My questions are a) Is this doable for an average person or is it really a job best left to the dealer. B) Has anybody here done this and are there any tips or tricks C)Where exactly is the monitor situated (I'm guessing behind the dash because the manual doesn't say) Any and all help greatly appreciated. Thanks

You can get one cheap from a wrecker

The box is bolted to the pedalbox behind the dash, on the right hand side.

It's a dash out job to replace

i have seen guys at work replace them without pulling the dash off. Its just a prick of a job

Thanks people, I'll give it a go tomorrow and report back. Have a good one

Ok guys, job done. Fairly easy except for the two bolts in the center of the dash at the bottom, took me a while to find them. Once I found them, the rest was easy. The workshop manual she had was fairly useless. Thanks for the advice people and have a good one.

did a check around the wreckers a while ago the units are no good if they have been activated in an accident.. so you need to find a virgin one.

now my question here is in the subject line..
when it is installed does it need reprogramming?
the ford dealer say's yeah. but I'm suspicious of their motives..

I don't think they need to be programmed, just reset if they have been activated.
xpression will be able to answer this I assume.

You are correct about not reusing them

You can actually reuse crash sensors and the airbag module (diagnostic monitor), providing there's no physical damage to the units or mounting brackets, they do reset themselves. They are a magnetic device which uses the car's inertia (change in movement) to operate.
The airbag module will blow an internal fuse, if it determines that the airbags are in danger of being unintentionally set off (short circuits, etc), this disables the whole system, and the module will then need to be replaced, and the system reset.

The airbag module does use green screws to mount it, so be sure to use same when replacing.

He's right you can reuse them but I sure as hell wouldn't
They are amazingly simple sensors, if you ever find yourself with a spare one I'd strongly suggest you break it open and see how it works

I should've added that I'd suspect most people would be hesitant.
The under dash crash sensors are the same as the front, so if you can find a car with minimal damage to get them from, they may be a viable option, also being under cover, they'll have minimal water/UV damage.

As mentioned, the Airbag module can be replaced with the dash in place, however, patience is required. Here's how I did it - obviously not the only way.
EF/EL removal install:
- Inspect your replacement Airbag monitor and note the three 3 x mounting bolt locations, all are 8mm green bolts.
- Drop the white dash connector and bracket down (2 x 12mm bolts).
- Place socket and extension onto the upper green bolt mount closest to the pedalbox - you'll do this blind, and have the extension sit just past the module body, so you can fit the rachet to it. Remove the green bolt. If you remove the fuse box cover, you can see this bolt through the top holes.
- Remove RH side dash air vent - you'll be able to see the other upper bolt, with a number of extensions, remove the green bolt.
- Remove the lower green bolt - the module will drop down. Move it around to get it below the pedalbox.
- Press the locking tabs, remove the electrical connectors.
- Connect replacement Airbag module, fit to mounting location, fit and nip up lower green bolt. Check through the viewing points covered above, that the upper two mount holes are lined up.
Fit the upper two bolts by wrapping in masking tape and pressing into a socket so they are a tight fit, locate mounting holes as above, fit rachet to socket and extension, and do each bolt up.
- Fit white dash connector and bracket.
- Test Airbag system, and reset codes if necessary.

Thank's for all that info. I will use the airbag sensors from the undamaged car. This should fix the airbag light problem. So how do you reset the faulut codes?

Cheers Richard

By reading the sticky:
interior-modifications-f14/ef-el-airbag-system-ready-reference-t57569.html

Thank's Snap.

I will have a good look through all that info when i reconnect everything this week.

Richard

I have had an accident at 110kph and the airbag which I had refitted to a new leather wheel worked. I had sratches on my arms from the outer seam which was my only injury.

I am not too worried about playing with the system so long as the battery is removed LOL