Reading and Clearing Diagnostic Trouble Codes

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

- Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) may not be displayed for approximately 16 seconds after the ignition switch has been switched to RUN. This is the amount of time it takes the air bag diagnostic monitor to perform all the tests and verify any system faults.

- Diagnostic trouble codes are displayed as a series of flashes and pauses of the air bag warning indicator. Each diagnostic trouble code, or series of flashes, represents a two-digit number. For example, a Diagnostic Trouble Code 32 is displayed as follows:

flash flash flash - (one-second pause) - flash flash - (three-second pause)...

flash flash flash - (one-second pause) - flash flash - (three-second pause)...

- If a system fault exists and the air bag warning indicator is inoperative, an audible tone will be heard indicating the need for service. The tone is a series of five sets of five beeps. This DOES NOT indicate a diagnostic trouble code 55. It means that the air bag warning indicator is out and a system fault exists that requires service.

- If a fault exists that makes unwanted air bag deployment possible, the air bag diagnostic monitor has an internal thermal fuse that will blow automatically. This removes all power to the air bag deployment circuit. The air bag warning indicator will flash the appropriate diagnostic trouble code to indicate the suspect circuit.

- The thermal fuse is controlled by a microprocessor inside the air bag diagnostic monitor and is not serviceable.

NOTE: The thermal fuse does not blow because of excessive current flowing through it. DO NOT attempt to short circuit the thermal fuse with a circuit breaker of any other type of fuse.

- Diagnostic trouble codes are prioritized numerically so that if two or more different faults occur at the same time, the fault having the highest priority will be displayed first. The highest priority fault will be displayed until it is corrected. After it has been corrected, the next highest priority fault will be displayed.