On my 1990 ltd cv air bag lights - 1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria

you need to scan for codes

if your car has air bags there will be something on the horn pad indicating it like the letters SRS or something like that. also on the dash when you turn on the key there will be a light indicating an air bag as it tests the circuit.

The light is on because there is a problem with the air bag system. When the air bag light is on the system is not working and will not deploy in the event of an accident. When the air bag light is on the system has set a code in the computer a scanning device can retrieve the code. The code will give you a clue where the problem is.

you need a new idle air sensor

supplemential restraint system,covers from air bag to seat belts, most times when light is on it means problem with that system and it is shut off, on the other hand newer vehicls you can shut off passenger air bag and a light will remind you that a suppemential restraint system is off.

1990 Buick REATTA Recall ID from NHTSA: 90V164000 Auto Recall Date: 09/06/1990
Vehicle Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
Estimated Vehicles Affected: 63964
1990 BUICK REATTA Defect Summary:
TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE FROM THE FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL WITH LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION.
Defect Consequence:
DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE ACTUAL GEARPOSITION THE TRANSAXLE IS IN, WHICH COULD RESULT IN UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENTAND AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy:
INSTALL A TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP TO PREVENT CABLE DISENGAGEMENT.
Notes: GENERAL MOTORS CORP., 1990 Buick REATTA Recall ID from NHTSA: 91V158000 Auto Recall Date: 09/13/1991
Vehicle Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:SWITCHES:BRAKE WARNING
Estimated Vehicles Affected: 18904
1990 BUICK REATTA Defect Summary:
BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT MAY NOT LIGHT WHEN IGNITION IS IN THE "ON" POSITION, THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, AND THE SHIFT SELECTOR IS IN THE PARK OR NEUTRAL GEAR RANGE.
Defect Consequence:
VEHICLES WOULD NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 101AND 105.
Remedy:
REPLACE THE PROM IN THE BODY COMPUTER MODULE TO PREVENT THIS CONDITION FROM OCCURRING.
Notes: GENERAL MOTORS CORP., 1990 Buick REATTA Recall ID from NHTSA: 90V031000 Auto Recall Date: 02/12/1990
Vehicle Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
Estimated Vehicles Affected: 857
1990 BUICK REATTA Defect Summary:
THE FORWARD SENSOR FOR THE AIR BAG MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY CONSTRUCTED WITH PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE SENSOR REVERSED.
Defect Consequence:
THE REVERSAL OF THE WIRES COULD CAUSE DELAY IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG AND INCREASE THE SEVERITY OF THE OF INJURY TO AN UNBELTED DRIVER IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy:
REPLACE FORWARD DISCRIMINATING SENSOR AS NECESSARY.
Notes: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Next time go to Autozone or Oreillys for a free scan. There may be plenty of Obama turnins with perfectly good parts. Even with a wreck, a rear end collision should not affect the front sensors.

I think you should be able to measure the resistance of the sensors with a multimeter. You would also gain by working on another car you don't care about to learn how the parts come off. Then you don't have to tear up your own car. You will know what to take apart.

problem may be the clock spring under the steering wheel .you need to have a shop c/k it out . the air bag light will not make the air bag deploy , its telling you the air bag is inoperative

it is the computer

the air bag is not ok, this is exactly what they do when they have a leak, these air bags are shot at about 100,000 miles, they start to leak at the creases, u will see cracks there.