Airbag warning light - cold temps only (06 Explorer)

[dave 911]

The yellow dash light stays on after the initial start up and stays on when the outside air temp is below 30 or so. When the outside air temp is higher, or when the vehicle is warmed up, it doesn't stay on. Any ideas what this could be?

[stomachmonkey]

I get occasional odd warning lights in cold weather on different cars that generally live outdoors.

Never a permanent situation and certainly weather related.

Best guess, low temps affect battery possibly causing the on board computer to throw error due to low initial voltage / current draw?

[RANDY P]

Could be anything until you get the codes pulled.

With that said, I'd start snooping around the contacts between the steering wheel and column. There's a spring there that might be losing connection.

[dave 911]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

I get occasional odd warning lights in cold weather on different cars that generally live outdoors.

Never a permanent situation and certainly weather related.

Best guess, low temps affect battery possibly causing the on board computer to throw error due to low initial voltage / current draw?

Now that I think about it, it's the original battery...and it's our first really cold weather of the winter. And this car lives outdoors. Good call, this would be a logical (and easy) solution.

[pete3799]

Our Toyota Highlander does that too. Usually below 20*......no idea why.

[boosted 89]

Scan check to see what is turning the light on..SIR systems perform a self test every time you turn the ignition on. With cold temps some of the components connectors terminals shrink enough to create a high resistance or open in that circuit. Electrical contact grease solves a lot of these intermittent conditions.If you can pinpoint which component of the SIR system is faulting..it can most likely be remedied with electrical contact grease inserted into the terminals. Unless the component has internal cold issues of course.

[Bob Kontak]

airbag light stays on sometimes - Ford Explorer & Ranger Resource "Serious Explorations"®

Apparently not uncommon.

Battery.

[dave 911]

Too close the loop on this one, it was the battery. I replaced it in early Dec (before a trip to Colorado High Country and the dreaded Polar Vortex cold snap) and have had 0 repeats of the issue since.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Weak batteries seem to cause lots of weird issues with modern cars. Glad you sorted it out.