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Home >> Ford >> 2000 >> Contour SE, 2.5 L, Standard >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 111 (Air Bag Restraint Systems) >> Diagnostic Tests >> Test D: Driver-Side Air Bag Circuit Shorted To Ground (DTC B1887) >> Possible Causes

Possible Causes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Lincoln Blackwood. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Driver-side air bag circuit short to ground could be caused by short to ground in Gray/Orange wire (circuit No. 614), short to ground in Gray/White wire (circuit No. 615), short to ground in clockspring or short to ground in driver-side air bag module.

  1. 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 DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS)  under DIAGNOSTICS. Perform on-demand self-test. See ON-DEMAND SELF-TEST  under DIAGNOSTICS. If DTC B1887 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, fault is hard. Go to next step. If DTC B1887 was not retrieved, fault is intermittent. Go to step  5 .
  2. Check driver-side air bag module

    Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM  under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Perform on-demand self-test. If DTC B1887 is retrieved, go to next step. If DTC B1887 is not retrieved, replace driver-side air bag module. Go to step  6 .
    NOTE: Do not remove or separate shorting bars from RCM harness connector C2041A.
  3. Check driver-side air bag module wiring

    Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Access RCM and disconnect harness connector C2041A. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM)  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance between harness side of RCM connector C2041A, terminals No. 3 (Gray/Orange wire) and No. 21 (Black Orange wire, circuit No. 649). See Figure . If resistance is more than 10 k/ohms, replace RCM. Go to step  6 . If resistance is less than 10 k/ohms, go to next step.
  4. Check driver-side air bag module wiring & clockspring

    Disconnect driver-side air bag simulator from harness connector. Disconnect lower clockspring connector. Inspect all crimps, terminals, wires and connectors in circuit No. 614 (Gray/Orange wire) feeding RCM connector C2041A, terminal No. 3. See WIRING DIAGRAMS  . Inspect all crimps, terminals, wires and connectors in circuit No. 615 (Gray/White wire) feeding RCM connector C2041A, terminal No. 4. Inspect all crimps, terminals, wires and connectors of clockspring. Check for pinched wires and damaged connector pin terminals. If any damage is found, repair as necessary. Go to step  6 . If no damage is found, go to step  6 .
  5. Check for intermittent fault

    If DTC retrieved in step  1 was an intermittent fault, check for cause of intermittent short to ground in Gray/Orange and Gray/White wires. 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.
  6. 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. See DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) IDENTIFICATION  table. DO NOT clear any DTCs until all DTCs have been resolved. If no 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.