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.
A left-side air bag circuit short to ground could be caused by a short to ground on White/Light Blue wire, short to ground on Brown/Light Blue wire, short to ground in left-side air bag module 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 B1993 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, fault is hard. Go to next step. If DTC B1993 was not retrieved, fault is intermittent. Go to step 5 . - Check left-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 B1993 is not retrieved, replace left-side air bag module. See SIDE AIR BAG MODULE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Go to step 6 . If DTC B1993 is retrieved, go to next step.NOTE: Do not separate or remove shorting bars from RCM connector C2041B. - Check left-side air bag circuit for short to ground
Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Access and disconnect RCM connectors C2041B and C2041A. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance between RCM connector C2041B, terminal No. 2 (White/Light Blue wire, circuit No. 1257) and RCM connector C2041A, terminal No. 21 (Black wire, circuit No. 57). See Figure . If resistance is less than 10 k/ohms, repair short to ground in White/Light Blue wire. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . If resistance is more than 10 k/ohms, go to next step. - Check left-side air bag circuit wiring
Disconnect left-side air bag module simulator. Inspect all crimps, terminals, wires and connectors in White/Light Blue wire between left-side air bag module floor harness connector and RCM connector C2041B, terminal No. 2. Inspect all crimps, terminals, wires and connectors in Brown/Light Blue wire between left-side air bag module floor harness connector and RCM connector C2041B, terminal No. 3. 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 . - Check for intermittent fault
Activate air bag system. See ACTIVATING SYSTEM under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. 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 ground on White/Light Blue wire (circuit No. 1257) and Brown/Light Blue wire (circuit No. 1258). 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. - 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.