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Home >> Ford >> 2000 >> Contour SE, 2.5 L, Standard >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 271 (Supplemental Inflatable Restraint System) >> Diagnostic Tests >> Test D: Driver-Side Air Bag Circuit Short To Ground (DTC B1887) >> Possible Causes

Possible Causes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Ford Ranger. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

A driver-side air bag circuit shorted to ground could be caused by damaged wiring, connectors or terminals, short to ground in clockspring, short to ground in driver-side air bag module or RCM internal fault.

  1. Check for hard or intermittent DTC

    Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Connect scan tool to Data Link Connector (DLC). Turn ignition switch to ON 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 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

    Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM  under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Turn ignition switch to ON 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. See DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Go to step  6 .
    NOTE: Do not remove or separate shorting bars from RCM harness connector.
  3. Check driver-side air bag circuit

    Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Access RCM and disconnect harness connector C2041. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM)  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance between ground and RCM harness connector C2041, terminal No. 3 (Gray/Orange wire). See Figure . Measure resistance between ground and RCM harness connector C2041, terminal No. 4 (Gray/White wire). If resistance is less than one megohm in either circuit, go to next step. If resistance is more than one megohm in both circuits, replace RCM. Go to step  6 .
  4. Check driver-side air bag wiring & clockspring

    Disconnect lower clockspring connector. Measure resistance between ground and RCM harness connector C2041, terminal No. 3 (Gray/Orange wire). Measure resistance between ground and RCM harness connector C2041, terminal No. 4 (Gray/White wire). If resistance is less than one megohm in either circuit, repair short to ground in appropriate wire. If resistance is more than one megohm in both circuits, replace clockspring. See CLOCKSPRING  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Go to step  6 .
  5. Check for intermittent fault

    Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM  under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Turn ignition switch to ON position. Perform on-demand self-test. If DTC B1887 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, check for intermittent fault in Gray/Orange or Gray/White wire. Repair any intermittent problems found. If intermittent problems are found and repaired, go to next step. If intermittent problems are not found, go to step  2 . If DTC B1887 was not retrieved, check for cause of intermittent fault. Attempt to recreate fault by flexing wire harness and cycling ignition switch frequently. Activate systems in same wire harness. See WIRING DIAGRAMS  . Repair any intermittent problems found. 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. 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.