Possible Causes
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Mazda Tribute. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
AIR BAG warning light inoperative condition could be caused by damaged Black/Yellow wire, damaged or burned out bulb, instrument cluster malfunction 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 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 5 . - Check RCM
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Access RCM and disconnect harness connector C2041A. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance between ground and component side of RCM connector, terminal No. 20. See Fig 1 . If resistance is less than 100 ohms, replace RCM. Go to step 6 . If resistance is more than 100 ohms, go to next step. - Check circuit for short to ground
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Reconnect RCM connector C2041A. Access and disconnect 20-pin instrument cluster connector C220B. See INSTRUMENT CLUSTER under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance between ground and harness side of instrument cluster connector C220B, terminal No. 11 (Black/Yellow wire, circuit No. 608). See Figure . If resistance is less than 100 ohms, repair short to ground in Black/Yellow wire. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Go to step 6 . If resistance is more than 100 ohms, go to next step. - Check circuit for open
Disconnect RCM harness connector C2041A. Measure resistance between RCM connector, terminal No. 20 and instrument cluster connector C238, terminal No. 11 (Black/Yellow wire). See Figure & Figure . If resistance is more than 10 ohms, repair open in Black/Yellow wire. Go to step 6 . If resistance is less than 10 ohms, go to next step. - 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/Yellow wire (circuit No. 608). 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 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.