32: Driver Side Air Bag Circuit High Resistance or Open

Electrical Schematic:

Normal Operation

NOTE: The connectors for the air bag diagnostic monitor and the air bag sliding contact have metal spring clips that act as shorting bars. These shorting bars are built into the plastic hardshell connectors. The shorting bars are designed to short Circuits 614 and 615 together when the connectors are not mated.

Do not attempt to remove the air bag shorting bar and measure the resistance of the driver side air bag module.

The air bag diagnostic monitor measures the resistance across pin 10 (Circuit 615, GY/W) and pin 11 (Circuit 614, GY/O) every time the ignition switch is turned to the RUN position. Normal resistance across these circuits is between 1.5 and 2.0 ohms. This resistance comes from the driver side air bag module (approximately 1.0 ohms) and windings of the air bag sliding contact (approximately 0.25 to 0.5 ohms per winding, two windings in all). If the resistance across these two circuits exceeds 4.0 ohms, this indicates a high resistance and the air bag diagnostic monitor will flash code 32.

The shorting bar of the air bag sliding contact may be removed to measure the resistance of the air bag sliding contact. Use extreme care when reinstalling the shorting bar to make sure it is installed correctly.

Possible Causes
Excessive resistance across pins 10 and 11 can be caused by:
1. A poor connection where the air bag sliding contact connects into the main wiring. The air bag sliding contact connector at the base of the steering column may have excessive resistance between the male and female terminals in the connector.
2. An open circuit or high resistance in the windings inside the air bag sliding contact.
3. An open circuit or high resistance in the wiring harness in either Circuit 614 (GY/O) or Circuit 615 (GY/W).
4. An open circuit or high resistance in the driver side air bag module. DO NOT attempt a direct resistance measurement of the driver side air bag module. Follow the diagnostic procedures to determine if the resistance in the driver side air bag module is higher than normal.

Pinpoint Test Steps:

32-1 - 32-5: