Section 01-20B: Restraints, Passive, Supplemental Air Bag System
1996 F-150, F-250, Bronco Workshop Manual
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

Diagnosing Customer Concerns with Hard Diagnostic Trouble Codes

 

Most supplemental air bag restraint system diagnostic procedures will require the use of the system deactivation and system reactivation procedures described below. These procedures allow the removal of the driver side air bag module (043B13) from the vehicle, removing the risk of air bag deployment while diagnostics are performed.

The Rotunda Air Bag Simulator 105-00010 or equivalent is required to perform diagnosis and testing of the supplemental air bag restraint system. The air bag simulator is a 2 ohm resistor that must be used to simulate an air bag connection in the system as specified in the deactivation procedure. It is not acceptable to jump the air bag connection with a zero ohm jumper wire. If a zero ohm jumper wire is used, a system fault may be displayed (Diagnostic Trouble Code 34 or 35) according to the priority scheme.

Deactivation Procedure

  1. Disconnect battery positive cable.

  1. Wait one minute. This is the time required for backup power supply in air bag diagnostic monitor (14B056) to deplete its stored energy.

  1. Remove four nut and washer assemblies retaining driver side air bag module to steering wheel (3600).

  1. Disconnect driver side air bag module connector.

  1. Connect Rotunda Air Bag Simulator 105-00010 or equivalent to vehicle harness at top of steering wheel.

  1. NOTE: When the battery has been disconnected and reconnected, some abnormal drive symptoms may occur while the powertrain control module (PCM) (12A650) relearns its adaptive strategy. The vehicle may need to be driven 16 km (10 miles) or more to relearn the strategy.

    Connect battery positive cable.

Reactivation Procedure

 

  1. Disconnect battery positive cable.

  1. Wait one minute for backup power supply to deplete stored energy.

  1. Remove air bag simulator from vehicle harness connector at top of steering column. Reconnect driver air bag module connector. Position driver side air bag module on steering wheel and secure with four nut and washer assemblies (10mm). Tighten nut and washer assemblies 4-6 Nm (36-53 lb-in).

  1. NOTE: When the battery has been disconnected and reconnected, some abnormal drive symptoms may occur while the powertrain control module relearns its adaptive strategy. The vehicle may need to be driven 16 km (10 miles) or more to relearn the strategy.

    Connect battery positive cable.

  1.  WARNING: THE AIR BAG SIMULATOR MUST BE REMOVED AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE RECONNECTED FOR THE SYSTEM TO BE REACTIVATED.

    Prove out system.