Possible Causes

A left front seat belt buckle switch short to ground fault could be caused by damaged wiring, terminals, connectors, faulty seat belt buckle switch or 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 RUN position. Retrieve and record any continuous Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs). See RETRIEVING FAULT CODES  under DIAGNOSTICS. Perform on-demand self-test. See USING SCAN TOOL  under DIAGNOSTICS. If DTC B2434 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, fault is hard. Go to next step. If DTC B2434 was not retrieved, fault is intermittent. Go to step  6 .
2. Check circuit for short to ground between RCM & left front seat
   
   Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM  under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Ensure front seats are removed. Access RCM and disconnect harness connector C310B. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM)  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance between ground and harness side of RCM connector C310B, terminal No. 25 (Brown/Light Blue wire, circuit No. 85). See Figure . If resistance is more than one megohm, go to next step. If resistance is less than one megohm, repair short to ground in Brown/Light Blue wire. See WIRING DIAGRAMS  . Go to step  7 .
3. Check circuit for short to ground in left front in-seat harness
   
   Disconnect left front seat belt buckle switch connector at switch. Measure resistance between harness side of in-seat harness connector C313M, terminal No. 3 (Brown/Light Blue wire) and all other terminals in connector. See Figure . If resistance is less than one megohm at any terminal, replace left front in-seat harness. Go to step  7 . If resistance is more than one megohm at all terminals, go to next step.
4. Check seat belt buckle switch
   
   Reconnect left front seat belt buckle switch connector. With left front seat belt buckled, measure resistance between harness side of in-seat harness connector C313M, terminals No. 3 (Brown/Light Blue wire) and No. 4 (Black/Orange wire, circuit No. 649). With left front seat belt unbuckled, again measure resistance between harness side of in-seat harness connector C313M, terminals No. 3 (Brown/Light Blue wire) and No. 4 (Black/Orange wire). If resistance is 248-455 ohms with left front seat belt buckled and 725-1282 ohms with left front seat belt unbuckled, go to next step. If resistance is not 248-455 ohms with left front seat belt buckled and 725-1282 ohms with left front seat belt unbuckled, replace left front seat belt buckle. 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.
5. Confirm RCM fault
   
   Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disconnect air bag simulators from right and left front under-seat harness connectors. Disconnect right and left front seat belt buckle harness connectors at buckles. Install front seat(s). DO NOT activate air bag system at this time. Install Air Bag Simulators (418-F395/014-R1079) on harness side of right and left front seat belt buckle harness connectors. Reconnect right and left front under-seat harness connectors. Reconnect RCM harness connector C310B. Perform on-demand-self-test. If DTC B2434 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, replace RCM. Go to step  7 . If DTC B2434 was not retrieved during on-demand self-test, fault is corrected. Go to step  7 .
6. Check for intermittent DTC
   
   Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM  under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Perform on-demand self-test. If DTC B2434 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, go to step  2 . If DTC B2434 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.
7. 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.