Possible Causes
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Ford Ranger. 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 bulb or an instrument cluster malfunction.
- 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 5 . - 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. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance between chassis ground and RCM pin No. 20 (measure at component). 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 6 . - Check circuit for open
Ensure ignition switch is in OFF position. Reconnect RCM harness connector. Access and disconnect 10-pin instrument cluster connector C220C. See INSTRUMENT CLUSTER under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance between ground and instrument cluster connector C220C, terminal No. 4 (Black/Yellow wire). See Fig 2 . If resistance is less than 100 ohms, repair short to ground in Black/Yellow wire. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Go to step 6 . If resistance is more than 100 ohms, go to next step. - Check air bag tone warning indicator
Measure resistance of Black/Yellow wire between RCM harness connector terminal No. 20 and instrument cluster connector C220C, terminal No. 4. See Figure & Fig 2 . If resistance is less than 10 ohms, repair instrument cluster as necessary. Go to step 6 . If resistance is more than 10 ohms, repair open in Black/Yellow wire. Go to step 6 . - 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. 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. Perform system operation check. See SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK . Clear all DTCs. See CLEARING FAULT CODES under DIAGNOSTICS.