Normal Operation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2009 Mercury Milan, 2009 Lincoln MKZ, and 2009 Ford Fusion. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

As part of the supplemental restraint system (SRS), the driver and passenger safety belt buckles are equipped with safety belt buckle switches. The safety belt buckles are comprised of integrated circuits called Hall-effect switches. The safety belt buckle switches indicate to the restraints control module (RCM) whether the safety belt buckles are buckled or unbuckled.

The RCM supplies current to the safety belt buckle switch. Current flows through the switch, buckled or unbuckled to ground. The RCM will sense the difference in this current draw, 6 mA (unbuckled) or 15 mA (buckled), and use this information in determining the deployment rate of the dual-stage driver and passenger air bag modules. If the RCM detects current out of this range, it will store DTC B2434 in memory and send a message to the instrument cluster (IC) module to illuminate the air bag warning indicator.

DTC B2434 Drivers Seat Belt Buckle Switch Circuit Short to Ground - If the RCM detects a short to ground on the driver safety belt buckle circuit, it will set this DTC.

This pinpoint test is intended to diagnose the following:

Wiring, terminals or connectors
Driver safety belt buckle switch
RCM