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Home >> Ford >> 2000 >> Contour SE, 2.5 L, Standard >> Repair and Diagnosis >> Restraints >> Air Bag, SRS >> Air Bag Restraint Systems >> Diagnostic Tests >> Test P: Air Bag Warning Light Inoperative (DTC B1869) >> Possible Causes

Possible Causes

AIR BAG warning light inoperative condition could be caused by damaged Black/Green wire (circuit 31S-JA14), damaged or burned out bulb or an instrument cluster malfunction.

  1. Check for hard or intermittent DTC

    Ensure ignition is off. Connect NGS tester to DLC. See USING NGS TESTER  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  8 .
  2. Check if air bag warning light is on continuously

    If AIR BAG warning light is in continuously, go to next step. If AIR BAG warning light is not on continuously, go to step  6 .
  3. Check RCM

    Turn ignition off. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM  under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Access RCM and disconnect harness connector. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance between chassis ground and RCM pin No. 20. 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  9 .
  4. Check RCM ground

    Measure resistance between RCM pins No. 20 and 21. See Fig 1 . If resistance is less than 10 ohms, replace RCM. Go to step  9 . If resistance is more than 10 ohms, go to next step.
  5. Check circuit for short to ground

    Ensure ignition is off. Access and disconnect 10-pin instrument cluster connector C808B. See INSTRUMENT CLUSTER  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance between ground and instrument cluster connector C808B, terminal No. 10 (Black/Green wire). See Fig 2 . If resistance is less than 100 ohms, repair short to ground in Black/Green wire. Go to step  9 . If resistance is more than 100 ohms, replace instrument cluster. Go to step  9 .
  6. Check air bag warning indicator circuit for open

    Turn ignition off. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM  under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Access RCM and disconnect harness connector. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Access and disconnect 10-pin instrument cluster connector C808B. See INSTRUMENT CLUSTER  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance of Black/Green wire between RCM harness connector terminal No. 20 and instrument cluster connector C808B, terminal No. 10. See Figure & Fig 2 . If resistance is less than 10 ohms, go to next step. If resistance is more than 10 ohms, repair open in Black/Green wire. Go to step  9 .
  7. Check circuit for short to power

    Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Measure voltage between ground and instrument cluster connector C808B, terminal No. 10 (Black/Green wire). See Fig 2 . If any voltage is present, replace RCM. Go to step  9 . If no voltage is present, replace instrument cluster. Go to step  9 .
  8. 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 on Black/Green 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.
  9. 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. 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 Restraints Control Module Pin No.
    G99A00844Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
    Fig 2: Identifying Instrument Cluster Connector C808b
    G99B00845Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.