Test Notes

Normal Operation
The air bag diagnostic monitor measures the voltage at Pin 14 of the air bag diagnostic monitor connector. Voltage at Pin 14 should be equal to battery voltage. If the voltage at Pin 14 drops to less than 8 volts, the air bag diagnostic monitor will flash out on the air bag indicator a DTC 12. If the voltage at Pin 14 drops below 5 volts, the diagnostic trouble code 12 will also be stored in memory. Should the loss of battery voltage at Pin 14 be intermittent or repaired, the air bag diagnostic monitor will flash out a DTC 52 (or higher priority code if one exists) on the next ignition switch cycle.

Possible Causes

WARNING: Do not, under any circumstances, substitute another fuse value. Any fuse other than 10a may cause disarming failure and may result in danger to the occupants of the vehicle. Do not attempt to replace the 10a fuse unless the air bag system has been deactivated (see deactivation procedure for details).

Low voltage at air bag diagnostic monitor Pin 14 can be caused by:
- If a short to ground exists on any of the Circuits 607 (LB/O), 614 (GY/O), 615 (GY/W), or 616 (PK/BK) leading to a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) 13 or 53, or similarly a short to ground exists on any of circuits 617 (PK/O), 619 (PK/W), 624 (Y/W) or 625 (Y/LG) leading to a DTC 14 or 54, the air bag diagnostic monitor will activate a solid state switch at Pin 13 of the air bag diagnostic monitor. This causes the 10-amp battery fuse to blow, thus disarming the air bag system and preventing inadvertent air bag deployment. This removes battery voltage from Pin 14, causing the diagnostic monitor to flash out a diagnostic trouble code 12. If the 10-amp junction panel (or power distribution in some vehicles) battery fuse has blown, it MUST be replaced by a 10-amp fuse.

After the air bag diagnostic monitor has disarmed the air bag system, it will not be able to disarm again until the appropriate condition (DTC 13, 14, 53 or 54) has been serviced and cleared (refer to DTC 13 , DTC 14 , DTC 53 and DTC 54 and Diagnostic Trouble Code Clearing descriptions for further details).
- An open in the battery circuit that would prevent voltage from reaching air bag diagnostic monitor Pin 14.
- A short to ground on the battery feed circuit between the fuse and Pin 13 or 14 of the air bag diagnostic monitor.
- A concern in the charging system causing battery voltage to drop below 8 volts.