LEMON Manuals: Even more car manuals for everyone
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 U: Right Seat Belt Buckle Circuit Short To Ground (DTC B2438) >> 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 right seat belt buckle switch short to ground fault could be caused by damaged wiring, terminals, connectors, faulty seat belt buckle switch or a faulty RCM.

  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 B2438 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, fault is hard. Go to next step. If DTC B2438 was not retrieved, fault is intermittent. Go to step  4 .

  2. Check seat belt buckle switch

    Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM  under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Install known-good right seat belt buckle. See SEAT BELT BUCKLE PRETENSIONER/SWITCH ASSEMBLY  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Turn ignition switch to ON position. Perform on-demand self-test. If DTC B2438 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, go to next step. If DTC B2438 was not retrieved during on-demand self-test, 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 step  5 .
    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.

  3. Confirm RCM Fault

    Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Reinstall original right seat belt buckle. Turn ignition switch to ON position. Perform on-demand self-test. If DTC B2438 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, replace RCM. Go to step  5 . If DTC B2438 was not retrieved during on-demand self-test, 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 step  5 .

  4. 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 B2438 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, go to step  2 . If DTC B2438 was not retrieved during on-demand self-test, check for cause of intermittent fault. Attempt to recreate fault by flexing wire harness and cycling ignition switch frequently. Repair any intermittent problems found. Go to next step.

  5. 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 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.
scientia non olet · About LEMON Manuals