Possible Causes
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Mazda Tribute. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Driver-side air bag low resistance could be caused by short circuit in clockspring windings, short circuit in wiring harness, low resistance in air bag module, closed shorting bar, damage camming beam or RCM internal 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 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 B1934 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, fault is hard. Go to next step. If DTC B1934 was not retrieved, fault is intermittent. Go to step 5 . - Check driver-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. See ON-DEMAND SELF-TEST under DIAGNOSTICS. If DTC B1934 is retrieved, go to next step. If DTC B1934 is not retrieved, replace driver-side air bag module. See DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Go to step 6 .NOTE: By disconnecting RCM harness connector, circuit No. 614 (Gray/Orange wire) and circuit No. 615 (Gray/White wire) are shorted together by shorting bar. Do not remove shorting bar. - Check driver-side air bag circuit
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Access Restraints Control Module (RCM) and disconnect connector. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Disconnect driver-side air bag simulator. Zero ohmmeter. Measure resistance between Gray/Orange and Gray/White wires on clockspring side of upper clockspring connector. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . If resistance is more than 10 k/ohms, go to next step. If resistance is less than 10 k/ohms, replace RCM. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Go to step 6 . - Check clockspring
Disconnect lower clockspring connector located at base of steering column. Zero ohmmeter. Measure resistance between Gray/Orange and Gray/White wires on RCM side of lower clockspring connector. If resistance is less 10 k/ohms, repair Gray/Orange and/or Gray/White wire as necessary. Go to step 6 . If resistance is more than 10 k/ohms, replace clockspring assembly. See CLOCKSPRING under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Go to step 6 . - 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 low resistance on Gray/Orange wire (circuit No. 614), Gray/White wire (circuit No. 615) and clockspring. 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 an intermittent fault, 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. DO NOT clear any DTCs until all DTCs have been resolved. 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. Prove out system. See PROVE OUT SYSTEM under DIAGNOSTICS. Clear all DTCs. See CLEARING FAULT CODES under DIAGNOSTICS.