Reading and Clearing Diagnostic Trouble Codes

- The air bag diagnostic monitor illuminates the air bag lamp for approximately six seconds when the ignition switch is in the ON position and then turns the lamp off. This shows that the air bag lamp is operational. If the air bag lamp does not illuminate or the lamp stays on or flashes at any time, a fault has been detected by the air bag diagnostic monitor.

- Fault codes may not be displayed for approximately 45 seconds after the ignition switch is placed in the ON position. This is the amount of time the air bag diagnostic monitor requires to perform all tests and verify system faults, if present.

- Fault codes are displayed as a series of flashes and pauses of the air bag lamp. Each fault code (series of flashes) represents a two-digit number. For example, a fault code 32 is displayed as follows:

^ Three flashes, followed by a one second pause, then two flashes, followed by a three second pause.

^ Three flashes, followed by a one second pause, then two flashes, followed by a three second pause.

- If a system fault is present and the air bag lamp is malfunctioning, an audible tone will be heard, indicating that system service is required. The tone is a series of five sets of five beeps. This does not indicate a fault code 55.If the tone is heard, the air bag lamp is inoperative and a system fault that requires service is present.

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

CAUTION: The thermal fuse does not blow (open) because of excessive current flowing through it. DO NOT attempt to jumper out the thermal fuse with a circuit breaker or any other type of fuse.

- Fault 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. After that fault has been corrected, the next highest priority fault code will be displayed. The fault code will repeat continuously.