Possible Causes
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Mercury Sable and 2003 Ford Taurus. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Incorrect vehicle identification fault could be caused by damaged wiring, terminals or connectors, incorrect RCM for vehicle or RCM fault.
- 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, flag and record any continuous Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs). See RETRIEVING FAULT CODES under DIAGNOSTICS. Perform on-demand self-test. See ON-DEMAND SELF-TEST under DIAGNOSTICS. If DTC C1414 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, fault is hard. Go to next step. If DTC C1414 was not retrieved, fault is intermittent. Go to step 6 .NOTE: For this application, RCM connector C310A, terminal No. 21 must have no connection. - Visually vehicle identification pin No. 21
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Access RCM and disconnect connector C310A. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Visually inspect RCM connector C310A, terminal No. 21. If wire is attached to connector C310A terminal cavity No. 21, determine cause of incorrect vehicle harness configuration and repair as necessary. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Go to step 7 . If wire is not attached to connector C310A terminal cavity No. 21, go to next step. - Check circuit for short to voltage
Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Measure voltage between ground and harness side of RCM connector C310A, terminal No. 20 (Black/Light Blue wire, circuit No. 1203). See Figure . If voltage is less than 0.2 volt, go to next step. If voltage is more than 0.2 volt, repair short to voltage in Black/Light Blue wire. Go to step 7 . - Check circuit for open
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Measure resistance between ground and harness side of RCM connector C310A, terminal No. 20 (Black/Light Blue wire). If resistance is less than 5 ohms, go to next step. If resistance is more than 5 ohms, repair open in Black/Light Blue wire. Go to step 7 . - Confirm RCM fault
Reconnect RCM connector C310A. Perform on-demand self-test. If DTC C1414 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, replace RCM. Go to step 7 . If DTC C1414 was not retrieved during on-demand self-test, fault is corrected. Go to step 7 . - 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 C1414 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, go to step 2 . If DTC C1414 was not retrieved during on-demand self-test, check for cause of intermittent fault at RCM connector C310A, terminals No. 20 and 21. Attempt to recreate fault by flexing wire harness and cycling ignition switch frequently. Repair any intermittent problems found. Go to next step. - 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.