Chart No.3, Continuous Air Bag Indicator

Continuous Air Bag Indicator - Air Bag Diagnostic Monitor Disconnected or Inoperative (DTC: None, LFC: None)

Normal Operation
The air bag indicator is designed to light for 6 (±2) seconds when the ignition switch is turned to ON. 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 lamp fault codes (LFCs) 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 continuously for more than eight seconds, 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 (B/Y) to ground to turn on the air bag indicator. When the black air bag diagnostic monitor harness connector is disconnected from the air bag diagnostic monitor, a shorting bar within the harness connector shorts Pin 8 (air bag indicator) and Pin 9 (ground) at black connector 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 7 (B/LG) at gray connector to energize the air bag indicator circuit properly. Loss of ignition voltage at Pin 7 (B/LG) at gray connector due to open circuit or short to ground will result in a continuous air bag indicator due to the ignition voltage applied to Pin 6 (Y) at black connector. An open or short to ground in the lamp circuit at Pin 8 (B/Y) at black connector will result in no air bag indicator.

Possible Causes
Continuous air bag indicator illumination can be caused by:
^ A LFC has flashed five times after the ignition switch was turned to ON (after prove out) and has timed out. Recycling the ignition switch will redisplay the codes. Codes can also be retrieved by the NGS tester.
^ A disconnected or poorly connected air bag diagnostic monitor may not push the shorting bar between Pins 8 and 9 at black connector into its fully retracted position. This shorts the air bag indicator line to ground and causes the air bag indicator to glow continuously.
^ Shorted air bag indicator wiring.
^ Loss of ignition voltage at Pin 7 (B/LG) at gray connector of the air bag diagnostic monitor.
^ Damaged diagnostic monitor.

Electrical Schematic - Continuous Air Bag Indicator:

Electrical Schematic - Continuous Air Bag Indicator

Step 1
Understand function.

NOTE: Failure to understand air bag system functions will result in needless replacement of system components and repeat service.

1. Read normal operation description for Continuous air bag indicator.
2. Examine the fault code schematic.

Step 1:

3. Is fault code operation well understood?

Step 2
Check B/Y circuit for short to ground.
1. Deactivate system. Refer to Deactivation Procedure.
2. Disconnect diagnostic monitor.
3. Remove red plastic locking wedge from the black air bag diagnostic monitor harness connector.
4. Turn ignition switch to ON.

Step 2:

5. Is air bag indicator ON?

Step 3
Check for short to battery.
1. Turn ignition to OFF

Step 3:

2. Measure voltage at Pin 7 (B/LG) of gray connector and known good ground.

Step 3:

3. Is voltage less than 1 volt?

Step 4
Check shorting bar
1. Inspect shorting bars on plastic locking wedge for damage or bad connection.

Step 4:

2. Are shorting bars in good working order?