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.
A left side air bag circuit high resistance could be caused by high resistance in White/Light Blue wire (circuit No. 1257), high resistance in Brown/Light Blue wire (circuit No. 1258), high resistance in left side air bag module or RCM internal fault.
- Check for hard or intermittent DTCs
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. Clear continuous DTCs. See CLEARING FAULT CODES under DIAGNOSTICS. Perform on-demand self-test. See ON-DEMAND SELF-TEST under DIAGNOSTICS. If DTC B1994 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, fault is hard. Go to next step. If DTC B1994 was not retrieved, fault is intermittent. Go to step 7 . - Check left side air bag
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 B1994 is retrieved, go to step 5 . If DTC B1994 is not retrieved, go to next step. - Check left side air bag seat wiring harness for high resistance
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Access left side air bag module and disconnect left side air bag harness connector from module. See SIDE AIR BAG MODULE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance in White/Light Blue wire between seat harness side of left side air bag floor connector and harness side of left side air bag module connector. If resistance is more than one ohm, repair high resistance in White/Light Blue wire. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Go to step 8 . If resistance is less than one ohm, go to next step. - Check left side air bag seat wiring harness for high resistance
Measure resistance in Brown/Light Blue wire between seat harness side of left side air bag floor connector and harness side of left side air bag module connector. If resistance is more than one ohm, repair high resistance in Brown/Light Blue wire. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Go to step 8 . If resistance is less than one ohm, replace left side air bag module.NOTE: Due to shorting bar, short to battery can exist in either circuit. - Check left side air bag seat wiring harness circuits
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Access left side air bag module and disconnect left side air bag harness connector from module. See SIDE AIR BAG MODULE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance between White/Light Blue wire and Brown/Light Blue wire on harness side of left side air bag module connector. If resistance is more than one ohm, repair appropriate wire as necessary. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Go to step 8 . If resistance is less than one ohm, go to next step. - Check air bag module wiring
Inspect all crimps, terminals, wires and connectors in circuit No. 1257 (White/Light Blue wire) between side air bag module connector and RCM connector C2041B, terminal No. 2. Inspect all crimps, terminals, wires and connectors in circuit No. 1258 (Brown/Light Blue wire) between side air bag module connector and RCM connector C2041B, terminal No. 3. Check for pinched wires and damaged connector pin terminals. If any damage is found, repair as necessary. Go to step 8 . If no damage is found, replace RCM. Go to step 8 . - Check for intermittent fault
If DTC retrieved in step 1 was an intermittent fault, check for cause of intermittent high resistance in White/Light Blue and Brown/Light Blue 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. - 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.