Displaying & Reading Trouble Codes

- The air bag diagnostic monitor illuminates the air bag indicator for approximately six seconds when the ignition switch is turned to RUN and then turns the air bag indicator off. This indicates that the air bag indicator is operational. If the air bag indicator does not illuminate at all, stays on continuously, or flashes at any time, then a concern has been detected by the air bag diagnostic monitor.

- Diagnostic trouble codes, if present, will begin flashing within 30 seconds after the ignition switch has been turned to RUN. This is the amount of time it takes the air bag diagnostic monitor to perform all tests and verify system faults, if present.

- Diagnostic trouble codes are displayed as a series of flashes and pauses of the air bag indicator. Diagnostic trouble codes are two-digit numbers. Example: A DTC 32 is displayed as follows:

+ flash flash flash -- (two second pause) -- flash flash -- (five second pause)...

- Diagnostic trouble codes are prioritized numerically so that if two or more faults occur at the same time, the diagnostic trouble code with the highest priority will be displayed.

- After the DTC is displayed five times, the air bag indicator will illuminate continuously until the ignition switch is cycled.

- The air bag diagnostic monitor incorporates Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) to store diagnostic trouble codes and retain them indefinitely. The air bag diagnostic monitor will always flash the highest priority diagnostic trouble code stored in NVM. Diagnostic trouble codes may be cleared from the air bag diagnostic monitor after the conditions are serviced (see Diagnostic Trouble Code Clearing procedure for details).

- The air bag diagnostic monitor distinguishes between hard and intermittent (or repaired) conditions.

+ Each of these hard diagnostic trouble codes has an equivalent diagnostic trouble code which is the sum of the diagnostic trouble code number plus 40. This equivalent diagnostic trouble code will indicate that an intermittent condition exists, or that a hard condition has been repaired.

+ Only the intermittent (repaired) diagnostic trouble codes, numbers 52-85, may be cleared from the air bag diagnostic monitor. (See Diagnostic Trouble Code Clearing procedure.)

- Example: A Diagnostic Trouble Code 32 indicates that high resistance in the driver side air bag circuit has been, and still is, present. A DTC 72 (32 + 40) indicates that high resistance in the driver side air bag circuit existed at one time, but no longer exists due to an intermittent condition, or a repair made to the circuit. Intermittent DTCs 61-85 may not be normally displayed by the diagnostic monitor. These stored codes may be displayed using the Air Bag Diagnostic Trouble Code Retrieval Procedure.

- If a system fault exists and the Air Bag Warning Indicator is not functioning, an audible tone will be heard indicating a need for service. The tone is a series of five sets of five beeps. This DOES NOT indicate a diagnostic trouble code 55 or any other diagnostic trouble code. The Air Bag Warning Indicator must be serviced before diagnostic trouble codes can be determined.

- If a fault exists that makes unwanted air bag deployment possible, the air bag diagnostic monitor will attempt to remove deployment power by turning on a solid state switch to blow the 10A battery fuse.

WARNING: Under no circumstances substitute another fuse value for the 10a battery fuse. 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 battery fuse until the air bag system first has been deactivated.

- If the 10A battery fuse has successfully been blown by the air bag diagnostic monitor, the air bag diagnostic monitor will not attempt to blow it again until the condition has been serviced and DTC cleared. The air bag diagnostic monitor will store both the unwanted deployment diagnostic trouble code and the loss of deployment power diagnostic trouble code. The loss of deployment power diagnostic trouble code is the highest priority.

AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE PROCEDURE TO RETRIEVE STORED DTCs
Some DTCs for intermittent problems (DTCs 61-85) may not automatically flash on the air bag indicator and may require retrieval. If an air bag DTC has been reported on a vehicle by a customer, but is not currently flashing, this may be due to two reasons:

- A charging system concern has been identified by the diagnostic monitor and a DTC 12 indicated. DTC 12 will not be stored in NVRAM (memory) under these circumstances. Correction of the charging system problem will eliminate the DTC.

- An intermittent fault has occurred and the fault is no longer present. The diagnostic monitor may be programmed to not flash "intermittent" DTCs 61-85 that are stored in NVRAM. Use the following procedure to access the stored DTC(s):






DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE RETRIEVAL PROCEDURE
1. Locate the air bag diagnostic service connector containing Circuit 631 (T/R). This is a grey connector above the accelerator pedal.
2. With the ignition key OFF, short Circuit 631 to the ground contained in the service connector or another good ground.
3. Turn the ignition key to RUN and observe the air bag indicator prove out (6 seconds).
4. Within 2 seconds after the air bag indicator goes out, remove the short on Circuit 631 (T/R).
5. Stored DTCs will be displayed if present. After repairs are made, Steps 1-4 should be repeated and the DTCs should be cleared using the DTC clearing procedure.