Possible Causes

A right-side air bag circuit short to battery or ignition voltage could be caused by a short to battery or ignition voltage on White/Yellow wire, short to battery or ignition voltage on Brown/Yellow wire, short to battery or ignition voltage in right-side air bag module or RCM internal fault.

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 DTCs. See RETRIEVING FAULT CODES  under DIAGNOSTICS. Perform on-demand self-test. See ON-DEMAND SELF-TEST  under DIAGNOSTICS. If DTC B1996 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, fault is hard. Go to next step. If DTC B1996 was not retrieved, fault is intermittent. Go to step  5 .
2. Check right-side air bag module
   
   Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM  under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Perform on-demand self-test. If DTC B1996 is not retrieved, replace right-side air bag module. See SIDE AIR BAG MODULE  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Go to step  6 . If DTC B1996 is retrieved, go to next step.
   NOTE: Do not separate or remove shorting bars from connector C2041B.
3. Check right-side air bag circuit to seat harness
   
   Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disconnect negative battery cable. Access and disconnect RCM connectors C2041B and C2041A. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM)  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Measure resistance between RCM connector C2041B, terminal No. 5 (White/Yellow wire, circuit No. 1259) and RCM connector C2041A, terminal No. 2 (White/Violet wire, circuit No. 296). See Figure . If resistance is less than 10 k/ohms, repair short to voltage in White/Yellow wire and go to step  6 . See WIRING DIAGRAMS  . If resistance is more than 10 k/ohms, go to next step.
4. Check right-side air bag circuit to seat harness
   
   Disconnect right-side air bag module simulator from floor harness connector. Inspect all crimps, terminals, wires and connectors in White/Yellow wire (circuit No. 1259) between right-side air bag module floor harness connector and RCM connector C2041B, terminal No. 5. See Figure . Inspect all crimps, terminals, wires and connectors in Brown/Yellow wire (circuit No. 1260) between right-side air bag module floor harness connector and RCM connector C2041B, terminal No. 6. See WIRING DIAGRAMS  . Also, check for pinched wires and damaged connector terminals. If any damage is found, repair/replace as necessary and go to step  6 . If no damage is found, replace RCM. Go to step  6 .
5. Check for intermittent fault
   
   Refer to continuous DTCs recorded in step  1 . If DTC retrieved in step  1 was a intermittent fault, check for cause of intermittent short to voltage on White/Yellow wire (circuit No. 1259) and Brown/Yellow wire (circuit No. 1260). 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. If DTC retrieved in step  1 was not a intermittent fault, go to next step.
6. 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. DO NOT clear any DTCs until all DTCs have been resolved. See DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE IDENTIFICATION  table. If no DTCs were retrieved, reconnect air bag system. Activate air bag system. See ACTIVATING SYSTEM  under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Prove out system. See PROVE OUT SYSTEM  under DIAGNOSTICS. Clear all DTCs. See CLEARING FAULT CODES  under DIAGNOSTICS.