Test Notes

Diagnostic Trouble Code Timed Out, or Diagnostic Monitor Disconnected or Inoperative, or No Ignition Voltage to Diagnostic Monitor.

NORMAL OPERATION
The air bag indicator is designed to light for six (+\-two) seconds when the ignition switch is turned to RUN. This initial six seconds of air bag indicator illumination is considered normal operation and is called "prove-out" of the air bag indicator. If the air bag diagnostic monitor has detected any faults in the air bag system, it will flash the air bag indicator a series of times to indicate the highest priority code stored in memory.

The diagnostic trouble codes are two digits.

- The first digit is displayed by a series of flashes at a rate of one per second. A two second pause follows the first digit.

- The second digit is then displayed by a series of flashes at a rate of one per second. A five second pause follows the second digit.

- The code then repeats, starting with the first digit.

After the code has flashed completely five times, the air bag indicator will light continuously until the ignition switch is cycled. If the air bag indicator comes on when the ignition switch is turned to RUN and immediately stays on for more than eight seconds continuously, then a fault exists in the air bag indicator circuit.

The air bag diagnostic monitor incorporates a solid state circuit which shorts the air bag indicator line (Circuit 608, BK/Y) to ground to turn on the air bag indicator. When the black air bag diagnostic monitor harness connector is unplugged from the air bag diagnostic monitor, a shorting bar within the harness connector shorts Pin 11 (air bag indicator) and Pin 10 (ground) together, causing a continuous lamp. This shorting bar may be removed for servicing purposes by removing the black spacer (locking wedge) in the black air bag diagnostic monitor harness connector.

The air bag diagnostic monitor requires power at Pin 6 to energize the air bag indicator circuit properly. Loss of ignition voltage at Pin 6 due to open circuit or short to ground will result in a continuous air bag indicator due to the ignition voltage applied to Pin 19. An open or short to ground in the lamp circuit at Pin 11 will result in no air bag indicator (see No Air Bag Indicator description).

POSSIBLE CAUSES

Continuous air bag indicator illumination can be caused by:


A diagnostic trouble code has flashed five times after the ignition switch was turned to RUN (after prove-out) and has timed out. Recycling the ignition switch will redisplay the DTCs.

- A disconnected or poorly connected air bag diagnostic monitor may not push the shorting bar between Pins 10 and 11 into its fully retracted position. This shorts the air bag indicator line to ground and causes the air bag indicator to glow continuously.

- A damaged air bag diagnostic monitor.

- Shorted air bag indicator wiring.

- Loss of ignition voltage at Pin 6 of the air bag diagnostic monitor.