helpppppppppp!
 

i know this question isnt about mercedes, but you guys are so smart about cars in general so i figured id ask

my grandfather has a 91 grand marquis. the airbag sensor light continously flashs. the code it sends says its a fault in the drivers airbag, but the dealer said it was a fault in the airbag sensor relay, but that the airbag was fine. when he inquired about it, they said that ford nor anyone else makes the part anymore (pretty much telling him to deal with it). he didnt believe it, and neither did i, as i can get new parts for my 76 mercedes! anyways he asked me to look online to see if I could find the part. would anyone know where it could be obtained?

91 grand marquis air bag sensor

the part # they gave him: 718AZ-14B004-A

Hmmmm...Ford POS. Still 15 years is good out of one of them.

Now you understand the difference between the big 3 and older MB's.

BY Federal Law a car maker only has to supply parts for 10 years after MFG year. They will continue to supply parts that have continued demand.

Check with a wrecking yards as well, but being airbag/safety related, new is better. Check also for the same part from the Crown Vic. Same mechanicals, lower grade comfort items.

American cars
 

The Germans are the best when it comes to getting parts for old cars. I used to get parts for my Ponton with no problem from RBM in Atlanta. They had to bring them in from NJ but they had almost any part I ever ordered. In Germany. Mercedes has there own used parts depot outside of Stuttgart. http://www.mbgtc.de/index.asp I doubt that Ford has that. However, I know that parts are available for many of the more sought after American cars over the last 40 or so years, such as the Mustang and T-Bird. But all that stuff is not from the dealer. Maybe try Hemmings Motor News.

The others are right about American car parts. After 10 years, you may be out of luck, especially on body and interior parts. Mechanical parts are usually still available. But I would think that being it is a safety related item, it would still be available from Ford. The dealers also have a network they can get onto where they can do a dealer search for a part across the nation. You may want to ask your dealer to run a search. My local dealer is always willing to if a part shows to be obsolete or not available. You might also try aftermarket parts dealers (NAPA, Autozone, etc.). Then there is always the junkyard. If worse comes to worse, you can remove the bulb or have the air bag disconnected.

I can't look up the part number you gave, but I can't find anything called an air bag sensor relay in the wireing diagrams. Usually if you get a drivers side air bag circuit error it is the "clock spring". This is a unit just under steering wheel that carries the signal to the air bag. Usually the horn and cruse control also don't work. I see this problem atleast once a week or more and it is always the Clock Spring. The part is available from Ford for $93.04. It requires a modification but will work. If you will give me the actual error code I'll look it up and see if I can shed some more light on the problem.

I checked napas database and we do not carry the part (meaning no napas carry it, there is a description but no p/n) sorry.

'91 Grand Marquis, great car on Panther platform, even without "de Sade" package
 

The 1988 Crown Victoria I owned was the BEST car all things considered, and cheapest to run dollar for mile, I ever had in my WHOLE LIFE. Those cars are wonderful, cheap to take care of reliable to a fault and comfortable and pretty safe, very spacious. Very durable, used as police and taxicabs, will run 300 000 miles no problem.

They make a great wonderful first or second car. It should last your grandfather forever, then maybe you might think about getting it from him one day. Only thing bad about them was the vinyl half roofs tended to crack from the sun after several years, and mouse fur upholstery eventually wears, as does the leather seats too.

There was an ignition switch recall on these cars, which Ford will perform free of charge, there was a fire danger if I recall. I had the recall done at mine at the Ford dealer in San Leandro, no charge.

Dont know about the airbag prblem, but worth it to fix