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Home >> Ford >> 2000 >> Contour SE, 2.5 L, Standard >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 272 (Supplemental Inflatable Restraint System) >> Diagnostic Tests >> Test D: Pad Warning Light Failure (DTC B1884) >> Possible Causes

Possible Causes

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

A PAD indicator circuit failure can be caused by damaged wiring, terminals or connectors, faulty RCM or faulty PAD indicator.

  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 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 B1884 was retrieved during on-demand self-test and PAD indicator light does illuminate, go to next step. If DTC B1884 was not retrieved and PAD indicator light does illuminate, go to step  5 .
  2. Check circuit for short to ground

    Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM  under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Access PAD indicator. See PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG DEACTIVATION (PAD) INDICATOR  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance between ground and PAD indicator connector C998, terminal No. 2 (Tan/Light Blue wire, circuit No. 1632) by backprobing PAD indicator connector C998. See Fig 1 . If resistance is more than 10 k/ohms, go to step  8 . If resistance is less than 10 k/ohms, go to next step.
  3. Check circuit for short to ground

    Disconnect PAD indicator harness connector C998. Measure resistance between ground and harness side of PAD indicator connector C998, terminal No. 2 (Tan/Light Blue wire). If resistance is more than 10 k/ohms, go to step  8 . If resistance is less than 10 k/ohms, go to next step.
  4. Check RCM

    Access RCM and disconnect harness connector C310A. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM)  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance between ground and component side of RCM connector C310A, terminal No. 24. See Figure . If resistance is more than 10 k/ohms, repair short to ground in Tan/Light Blue wire. See WIRING DIAGRAMS  . Go to step  10 . If resistance is less than 10 k/ohms, go to step  8 .
  5. Check PAD indicator light

    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 C310A. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM)  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Turn ignition switch to ON position. Connect fused jumper between ground and harness side of RCM connector C310A, terminal No. 24 (Tan/Light Blue wire, circuit No. 1632). See Figure . If PAD indicator light illuminates, go to step  8 . If PAD indicator light does not illuminate, go to next step.
  6. Check circuit for open

    Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Access PAD indicator and disconnect harness connector C998. See PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG DEACTIVATION (PAD) INDICATOR  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance between RCM connector C310A, terminal No. 24 and harness side of PAD indicator connector C998, terminal No. 2 (Tan/Light Blue wire). If resistance is less than 0.5 ohm, go to next step. If resistance is more than 0.5 ohm, repair open in Tan/LIght Blue wire. See WIRING DIAGRAMS  . Go to step  10 .
  7. Check circuit for open

    Turn ignition switch to ON position. Measure voltage between ground and harness side of PAD connector C998, terminal No. 1 (Red/White wire, circuit No. 937). If voltage is more than 10 volts, replace PAD indicator. Go to step  10 . If resistance is less than 10 volts, repair open in Red/White wire. Go to step  10 .
    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.
  8. Confirm RCM fault

    Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Reconnect RCM connector C310A and PAD indicator connector C998 . Turn ignition switch to ON position. Perform on-demand self-test. If DTC B1884 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, replace RCM. Go to next step. If DTC B1884 was not retrieved during on-demand self-test, check for cause of intermittent open or short to ground in Tan/Light Blue wire. See WIRING DIAGRAMS  . Attempt to recreate fault by flexing wire harness and cycling ignition switch frequently. Activate other systems in same wire harness. Repair any intermittent problems found. Go to next step.
  9. 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 B1884 was retrieved during on-demand self-test and PAD indicator light does illuminate, go to step  2 . If DTC B1884 was retrieved during on-demand self-test and PAD indicator light does not illuminate, go to step  5 . If DTC B1884 was not retrieved, fault is intermittent. Check for cause of intermittent faults in Tan/Light Blue wire (circuit No. 1632). 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.
  10. 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 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.
Fig 1: Identifying Passenger-Side Air Bag Deactivation (PAD) Indicator Harness Connector C998 Terminals
G99J29594Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.