Possible Causes
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Lincoln Navigator and 2002 Ford Expedition. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
AIR BAG warning light inoperative condition could be caused by damaged Black/Yellow wire (circuit No. 608), damaged or burned out AIR BAG warning light bulb, worn or damaged instrument cluster or RCM internal fault.
- Check for hard or intermittent DTC
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Connect scan tool to Data Link Connector (DLC). See USING SCAN TOOL under DIAGNOSTICS. Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Retrieve and record any continuous DTCs. See RETRIEVING FAULT CODES under DIAGNOSTICS. Perform on-demand self-test. See ON-DEMAND SELF-TEST under DIAGNOSTICS. If DTC B1869 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, fault is hard. Go to next step. If DTC B1869 was not retrieved, fault is intermittent. Go to step 6 . - Check RCM
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Access RCM and disconnect harness connector C2005. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance between chassis ground and component side of RCM connector C2005, pin No. 20. See Fig 1 . If resistance is more than 10 ohms, go to next step. If resistance is less than 10 ohms, replace RCM. Go to step 7 . - Check circuit for short to ground
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Reconnect RCM harness connector. Access and disconnect 20-pin instrument cluster connector C238. See INSTRUMENT CLUSTER under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance between ground and harness side of instrument cluster connector C238, terminal No. 13 (Black/Yellow wire, circuit No. 608). See Fig 2 . If resistance is less than 100 ohms, repair short to ground in Black/Yellow wire. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Go to step 7 . If resistance is more than 100 ohms, go to next step. - Check circuit for open
Disconnect RCM harness connector C2005. Measure resistance between ground and harness side of instrument cluster connector C238, terminal No. 13 (Black/Yellow wire). See Fig 2 . If resistance is more than 10 ohms, repair open in Black/Yellow wire. Go to step 7 . If resistance is less than 10 ohms, go to next step. - Check air bag tone warning indicator
Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Connect fused jumper wire between ground and component side of instrument cluster connector C238, terminal No. 13. If AIR BAG warning light illuminates, replace RCM. Go to step 7 . If AIR BAG warning does not illuminate, repair instrument cluster as necessary. Go to step 7 . - Check for intermittent fault
Refer to continuous DTCs recorded in step 1 . If DTC retrieved in step 1 was an intermittent fault, check for cause of intermittent short to ground or open in Black/Yellow wire. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Attempt to recreate fault by flexing wire harness and cycling ignition switch frequently. Repair any intermittent problems found. Go to next step. If DTC retrieved in step 1 was not an intermittent fault, go to next step. - Check for additional DTCs
Refer to continuous DTCs recorded in step 1 . If any continuous DTCs were retrieved, go to diagnostic trouble code identification table for direction to appropriate test. DO NOT clear any DTCs until all DTCs have been resolved. See DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) IDENTIFICATION table. If no continuous DTCs were retrieved, reconnect air bag system. Activate air bag system. See ACTIVATING SYSTEM under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Clear all DTCs. See CLEARING FAULT CODES under DIAGNOSTICS.