Possible Causes
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Ford Econoline. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
A driver-side air bag circuit short to ground could be caused by damaged wiring, terminals or connectors, faulty clockspring or faulty RCM.
- Check for hard or intermittent DTC
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Connect scan tool to Data Link Connector (DLC). 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 B1936 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, fault is hard. Go to next step. If DTC B1936 was not retrieved, fault is intermittent. Go to step 6 . - 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. See ON-DEMAND SELF-TEST under DIAGNOSTICS. If DTC B1936 is retrieved, go to next step. If DTC B1936 is not retrieved, replace driver-side air bag module. See DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Go to step 7 .NOTE: Do not remove or separate shorting bars from RCM harness connector. - Check driver-side air bag circuit
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disconnect driver-side air bag simulator from harness connector. Access RCM and disconnect harness connector C310A. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Measure resistance between ground and harness side of RCM connector C310A, terminals No. 1 (Gray/Orange wire) and No. 2 (Gray/White wire). See Figure . If resistance is less than 10 k/ohms in either circuit, go to next step. If resistance is more than 10 k/ohms in both circuits, go to step 5 .NOTE: Due to shorting bar in connector, fault can exist in either circuit. Do not remove or defeat shorting bar. - Check driver-side air bag wiring & clockspring
Disconnect lower clockspring. Measure resistance between ground and harness side of RCM connector C310A, terminals No. 1 (Gray/Orange wire) and No. 2 (Gray/White wire). If resistance is more than 10 k/ohms in both circuits, replace clockspring. See CLOCKSPRING under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Go to step 7 . If resistance is less than 10 k/ohms in either circuit, repair Gray/Orange and Gray/White wires as necessary. Go to step 7 .NOTE: Ensure all air bag system simulators, sensor electrical connectors and RCM electrical connectors are connected prior to carrying out on-demand self-test, or erroneous faults may be set. - Confirm RCM fault
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Reconnect RCM connector C310A. Reconnect air bag simulator to driver-side air bag harness connector. Turn ignition switch to ON position. Perform on-demand self-test. If DTC B1936 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, replace RCM. Go to step 7 . If DTC B1936 was not retrieved during on-demand self-test, fault is intermittent. Attempt to recreate fault by flexing wire harness and cycling ignition frequently. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Repair any intermittent problems found. Go to step 7 . - Check for intermittent fault
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Perform on-demand self-test. If DTC B1936 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, check for cause of intermittent fault at or near air bag module harness connector. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Repair any intermittent faults found. If intermittent faults are found and corrected, go to next step. If intermittent faults are not found, go to step 3 . If DTC B1936 was not retrieved during on-demand self-test, attempt to recreate fault by flexing wire harness and cycling ignition switch frequently. Repair any intermittent problems found. 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 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.