1990 Corvette Air Bag Sensor Fault Codes ??

[John H.]

Members -

Looking for any leads on obtaining two air bag sensors for my 90 ZR1. Know anyone parting a 90? Any of you have a couple on the shelf? Appreciate any leads I know one is available on e-bay.

Thanks,

John

[David H.]

Re: 1990 Corvette Air Bar Sensor (needed)

Members -

Looking for any leads on obtaining two air bag sensors for my 90 ZR1. Know anyone parting a 90? Any of you have a couple on the shelf? Appreciate any leads I know one is available on e-bay.

Thanks,

John

John,

PM sent re sensors.

Dave

[Ed H.]

Re: 1990 Corvette Air Bar Sensor (needed)

John, I am going through the same problem. It may not be a faulty sensor. I found a 1991 Corvette Tech Service Bulletin, dated Nov 7, 1991.
You can go to any Chevy dealer and ask the service Mgr. to print out a copy of TSB #90-436-9J, which will explain in detail what might be the problem and how to fix it. The important part is repairing a ground fault problem and the "MOST IMPORTANT PART" is how to go about clearing the code. There is a sequence that must be followed to the letter. I just went through the fix but found out I did not clear the code 25, or 26,
25 is the left side and 26 the right side. Tomorrow I will attempt to do the code clearing the right way and hope for the best. If no joy back to the drawing board.

[Ken R.]

Re: 1990 Corvette Air Bar Sensor (needed)

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/tech/knowledgebase/article/1990-corvette-service-bulletin-sir-diagnostics-and-procedures-to-prevent-codes-16-and-26-due-to-corrosion-revised-561.html

Google search found this

[John H.]

Re: 1990 Corvette Air Bar Sensor (needed)

Gentlemen,

I've been fighting the battle for a while on these. I have the bulletin, have cleaned the frame even though it wasn't corroded applied the dielectric grease and cleared the code for about a day or 6 key cycles. I called an airbag company in the Seattle area that our judging chairmen had used when he owned his shop. Using a Tech 1 he claimed the sensors are bad. I ordered two from Dino's salvage from a car he hopes to receive this weekend. Still hoping to PV in Oregon in a few weeks. I appreciate the responses.

John

[Ed H.]

Re: 1990 Corvette Air Bar Sensor (needed)

John, I had a long conversation with a friend if mine who has had a lot of experience solving the problem on a 1990. He gave me explicit instructions on how to clear the code. Tomorrow I plan on following his instruction and see if I am successful. If it works I will share the method with you and all who are interested.

[Ed H.]

Re: 1990 Corvette Air Bar Sensor (needed)

Dave, as usual, good sage advice. So you are saying, 25 & 26 are both to starboard, what is to port. I'm going to give it a go
this AM, don't be surprised if you get a call from me yelling "MAN OVERBOARD", throw me a ring.

[Ed H.]

Re: 1990 Corvette Air Bar Sensor (needed)

John and all who may suffer from this problem. I was able to clear code 26 which is the R/H side air bag sensor. I found that by following
the instructions provided in the Corvette Tech Services i Bulletin # 90-436-9J and the 1990 10lb service manual, you have to be very precise. The instructions state, you have to follow the timing between grounding pin K to pin A for exactly 3 seconds + or - 1/2 second. This and the sequence between grounding and turning on the ignition then off, then waiting for the computer to read the sequence is the most important order of things. It took me two days and 10 tries to finally have code 26 and the seat belt light go off. I found my problem was going from pin K to battery ground, you have to ground pin K to pin A on the ALDL "EUREKA". Good luck!

[E B.]

Re: 1990 Corvette Air Bar Sensor (needed)

Thank you all for this information. My 90 also has the same problem plus no horn function. Sounds like an winter project to me. Ed

[John H.]

Re: 1990 Corvette Air Bar Sensor (needed)

Members,

Just an update to the original post. My ZR1 is ready for PV, so I will see you in Redmond Dave! Mine proved to be a bad RH sensor. I was able to obtain a couple used sensors, so I have a spare from Dino's Corvette Salvage. We did go back through the whole process a couple of times including removing more paint from the frame and got the old sensor to work for 5 key cycles before the Airbag Light / Seat Belt light came back on. Once we changed the sensor the problem was eliminated and I've run the car about 60 miles and started the car about 30 times.

Special thanks to fellow NCRS member John Sigmund for working the issue with me and thanks to each of you for your input as well. I was ready to walk away and enjoy a beer or 6, when John said I'll replace it this time. John had already helped me pull the engine out of my 65 Duntov car earlier that day, so I was ready to walk away. I'm sure I would have felt differently in the morning, but I was done with the light.

John

[John D.]

Re: 1990 Corvette Air Bar Sensor (needed)

I am not sure how the sensor could be bad without causing a discharge the air bag. You can resistance check the sensor off the car, not sure how your friend made the determination the sensors were bad. Most likely a ground issue.

The timing of the code clearing process is critical. If you fixed the ground problem it might take a few tries to clear the codes. The sensor ground on the passenger side is more prone to failing since it is under the evaporator drain. The drivers side is under the battery and an over flow or leak may affect this one. Disconnect the battery to discharge the current from the system and remove the sensor, don't jar it. Clean up the frame rail and use a star washer under the sensor to make good ground contact. I have read not to use dielectric grease since it may act as an insulator.. Good luck. John

Gentlemen,

I've been fighting the battle for a while on these. I have the bulletin, have cleaned the frame even though it wasn't corroded applied the dielectric grease and cleared the code for about a day or 6 key cycles. I called an airbag company in the Seattle area that our judging chairmen had used when he owned his shop. Using a Tech 1 he claimed the sensors are bad. I ordered two from Dino's salvage from a car he hopes to receive this weekend. Still hoping to PV in Oregon in a few weeks. I appreciate the responses.

John

[Joe L.]

Re: 1990 Corvette Air Bar Sensor (needed)

Members,

Just an update to the original post. My ZR1 is ready for PV, so I will see you in Redmond Dave! Mine proved to be a bad RH sensor. I was able to obtain a couple used sensors, so I have a spare from Dino's Corvette Salvage. We did go back through the whole process a couple of times including removing more paint from the frame and got the old sensor to work for 5 key cycles before the Airbag Light / Seat Belt light came back on. Once we changed the sensor the problem was eliminated and I've run the car about 60 miles and started the car about 30 times.

Special thanks to fellow NCRS member John Sigmund for working the issue with me and thanks to each of you for your input as well. I was ready to walk away and enjoy a beer or 6, when John said I'll replace it this time. John had already helped me pull the engine out of my 65 Duntov car earlier that day, so I was ready to walk away. I'm sure I would have felt differently in the morning, but I was done with the light.

John

John------


The part number for the sensor was GM #10094613 but, as you know, it's long-since GM-discontinued. This was a 1990-only part so that fact makes it all the more difficult to find.