Yellow wrench and air bag light.

[Griswald]

460 miles into 500 mile weekend trip, accellerating to get on 95, I got an error message and a yellow wrench. The FFH drove fine, and my wife looked through the owners manual to see what was up. I noticed the air bag light was on also. I pulled over at the next exit (actually 2 exits because I did not want be broke down at South of the Border) and tried to find the vehicle health report command.

 

What an ordeal, that topic is not referenced in the manual. Tried V for Vehicle, tried H for Health, tried R for Report. Nothing... Tried the voice command Services, asked for a report, nothing. Eventually looked through all the index and found it. Ran the report and can't see any report. You need an internet connection to see what may or may not be wrong while you are stuck along side the interstate...brilliant .

 

I kept going, I didn't want to be 40 miles from home, figured I'll stop if it blows up or catches fire.

 

Fortunately, nothing happened. The brakes feel grabby, and the air bag light kept going back off.

 

I got home and finally read the report. Brake system issue and supplemental restraint issue.

 

Any ideas? I will call the dealer in the morning, but that would be my first dealer trip since my Sport Tracs tranny blew in 2009.

[murphy]

If you run a VHR with the parking brake on you will always get a brake system issue.

 

The voice comand is "vehicle health report". The last word, report, is optional.

[Easy Rider]

 

Any ideas? I will call the dealer in the morning, but that would be my first dealer trip since my Sport Tracs tranny blew in 2009.

 

Two thoughts:

Sometimes stuff just breaks; sometimes even new stuff.

I had a blower motor fail in mine when it was only 3 months old.

 

If they don't find anything and the symptoms just magically disappear..........AND strange stuff happens again within a short period.......you might suspect the 12 V battery.

How many miles total on the car ? Is it driven regularly ??

[Griswald]

3500 miles and driven just about daily.

 

Why would the parking brake set a code? Thats just really bad programming.

 

I will see if the light is still on tomorrow morning.

[Griswald]

No light this morning. Oh well...

[Easy Rider]

 

Why would the parking brake set a code? Thats just really bad programming.

 

One reason is that the "brake" light has more than one function.

The code set tells you WHY the light is on.

I tend to agree that it is bad design.

[acdii]

No light this morning. Oh well...

Codes are set though, but will get erased after so many key cycles. Provided you haven't stopped and started the car much since then, they may still be there to be pulled by a code reader. What you can do is to download your current VHR so you have a hard copy, then run another report, but don't shut the car off, then check the report to see if you still have the same errors, and if so drive right over to the dealer to get them pulled before shutting off the car. You can also go to Autozone or Advanced Auto and they can pull the codes too

[Griswald]

No code, I read them first thing this morning, only 1 key start since I shut it off in my driveway yesterday.

 

I may run a new report after work (with the "troubled" parking brake off).

[FordService]

No code, I read them first thing this morning, only 1 key start since I shut it off in my driveway yesterday.

 

I may run a new report after work (with the "troubled" parking brake off).

 

Hi Griswald,

 

If you're still experiencing these concerns, I recommend having the dealer take a look. Once you've got an appointment, shoot me over a PM with your name, phone number, VIN, mileage, and dealer info. I'll help out.

 

Ashley

[BlueZips]

Almost the same happened to me july 4th weekend. Driving 70mph on the highway just crusing. Look down and see the seat belt/airbag light. Look down again and see traction control lights. The lights stayed on every time i drove. Took it to the service depart last week. The car needed a new computer module thing? I will have to check the name of it. They said because the seat belt/airbag light was on that the airbag would not inflate in a crash, and it was a safety concern to not drive it. So if you see this light, get it in and get it fixed. Mine is fixed now ;)

[Griswald]

Thanks Ashley.

 

BlueZips, My lights did not stay on, they even went on and off a few times in the 40 miles or so that I drove home and did not come back on since. I'm not going to go out of my way until it becomes a problem. Heck, as hot as it was on Sunday here, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the sensors simply showed an over temperature that went away when air started flowing back over it.

 

If it happens again, it will go back.

[FrankQC]

Same thing happened to me this afternoon, car is only about 3700 miles... The FFH was running fine this morning. When I got out of work, put the key in, I got several chimes and messages...

 

On the left screen:

- See manual (with a wrench)

- Hill start assist unavailable

- AdvanceTrac requires service

 

On the right screen:

- Air bag light

- Anti-skating light

- AdvanceTrac light

 

On the radio:

- 911 assist is not working. Please contact dealer to enable this service

 

I also hear the Sync lady telling me the same thing I can read on the radio, and three chimes every times the ICE starts with the same "Hill start assist unavailable".

 

I went home, connected my OBDII ready and pulled two codes:

- B11D8 (Restraint Event Notification)

- U0151 (Lost Communication With Restraints Control Module)

 

All these issues popped out when I turned on the key ON this afternoon. I guess I need to call the dealer......

 

[GrySql]

I went home, connected my OBDII ready and pulled two codes:

- B11D8 (Restraint Event Notification)

- U0151 (Lost Communication With Restraints Control Module)

I agree, sorry to say a trip to the Dealer is indicated.

Other threads here that have had similar symptoms turned out to need a Restraint Control Module.

Send our Ford Rep Crystal a PM, she can really help the repair process.

 

DTC B11D8:12 = Restraint Event Notification: Circuit Short to Battery

DTC B11D8:14 = Restraint Event Notification: Circuit Short to Ground or Open

DTC U0151:00 = Lost Communication with Restraints Control Module: No Sub Type Information

 

If there is a short anywhere it can cause all kinds of Warning messages.

There is a SSM 44614 regarding Instrument Panel Harness Chafe but I don't see your DTC codes there.

Edited September 24, 2014 by GrySql

[FrankQC]

Thanks GrySql, I've just read the other thread and it really smells like a failed RCM... I am dropping the car to my dealer tomorrow morning, I will let you know their diagnostic.

[FrankQC]

Thanks GrySql, I've just read the other thread and it really smells like a failed RCM...

And it is. The RCM needs to be replaced. They told me the part is backordered and may take a while, as much as a month, maybe two... Wow ! They refuse to let me drive my FFH in this condition so they rented me a loaded 2014 Taurus, on Ford's bill. That' a nice touch, but that thing averages 15 mpg........

 

I just hope those kind of bugs do not happen too often. I've been driving the Taurus for only the last 3 days and I already miss my FFH.

[GrySql]

And it is. The RCM needs to be replaced. They told me the part is backordered and may take a while, as much as a month, maybe two... Wow ! They refuse to let me drive my FFH in this condition so they rented me a loaded 2014 Taurus, on Ford's bill. That' a nice touch, but that thing averages 15 mpg........

 

I just hope those kind of bugs do not happen too often. I've been driving the Taurus for only the last 3 days and I already miss my FFH.

Let's hope you are selected as a Ford Special Service Support Center owner and gets a 'rush order' part!

 

I really wouldn't like my garaged, super clean car to be sitting outside for months in the Dealers back parking lot getting bird droppings on it.

Edited September 29, 2014 by GrySql

[murphy]

The part is backordered because they have to repair 850,000 cars. It will take a while to manufacture 850,000 parts.

 

Get the Ford Service rep on the forum (Crystal) involved. She may be able to get your car repaired sooner.

Edited September 29, 2014 by murphy