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Ford F150 Pickup. Instruction - part 1729

RCM monitors PAD switch warning light for open or short to ground conditions. If RCM detects an open or
short to ground in PAD switch warning light circuit, it will store Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) B1884 in
memory and flash Code 27 on AIR BAG warning light.

Possible Causes

An open or short to ground in PAD switch warning light circuit could be caused by an open or short to ground
in Yellow/Light Green wire, damaged or burned out PAD light bulb, damaged or inoperative PAD switch,
damaged or inoperative RCM or blown PAD switch fuse (fuse No. 22, located in instrument panel fuse block).

1. Check for hard or intermittent DTC

Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Connect scan tool to Data Link Connector (DLC). See USING
SCAN TOOL under DIAGNOSTICS. Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Retrieve and record any
continuous DTCs. See RETRIEVING FAULT CODES under DIAGNOSTICS. Perform on-demand
self-test. See ON-DEMAND SELF-TEST under DIAGNOSTICS. If DTC B1884 was retrieved during
on-demand self-test, fault is hard. Go to next step. If DTC B1884 was not retrieved, fault is intermittent.
Go to step 5 .

2. Check PAD switch warning light voltage

Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM under
DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Access RCM and disconnect harness connector.
See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Turn
ignition switch to RUN position. Measure voltage between ground and harness side of RCM connector
terminal No. 9 (Brown wire, circuit No. 629). See Fig. 14 . If voltage is 9-16 volts, replace RCM. Go to
step 6 . If voltage is not 9-16 volts, go to next step.

3. Check circuit for short to ground

Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Measure resistance between ground and RCM connector terminal
No. 9 (Brown wire). If resistance is less than 1000 ohms, repair short to ground in Brown wire. See
WIRING DIAGRAMS . Go to step 6 . If resistance is more than 1000 ohms, go to next step.

4. Check circuit for open

Access PAD switch and disconnect connector. See PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG DEACTIVATE
SWITCH (PAD) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure resistance of Brown wire between
harness side of RCM connector terminal No. 9 and harness side of PAD switch connector. If resistance is
less than 10 ohms, replace PAD switch. Go to step 6 . If resistance is more than 10 ohms, repair open in
Brown wire. Go to step 6 .

5. Check for intermittent fault

Refer to continuous DTCs recorded in step 1 . If DTC retrieved in step 1 was an intermittent fault, check
for cause of intermittent faults in Brown wire (circuit No. 629). See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Attempt to
recreate fault by flexing wire harness and cycling ignition switch frequently. Repair any intermittent

2003 Ford Pickup F150

2003 ACCESSORIES/SAFETY EQUIPMENT Air Bag Restraint Systems - F150 Pickup

problems found. Go to next step. If DTC retrieved in step 1 was not an intermittent fault. Go to next step.

6. Check for additional DTCs

Refer to continuous DTCs recorded in step 1 . If any continuous DTCs were retrieved, go to diagnostic
trouble code identification table for direction to appropriate test. See DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE
(DTC) IDENTIFICATION table. DO NOT clear any DTCs until all DTCs have been resolved. If no
continuous DTCs were retrieved, reconnect air bag system. Activate air bag system. See ACTIVATING
SYSTEM under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Clear all DTCs. See CLEARING
FAULT CODES under DIAGNOSTICS.

TEST L: DRIVER AIR BAG CIRCUIT SHORT TO GROUND (DTC B1887)

Description

Restraints Control Module (RCM) checks driver-side air bag module circuit for shorts to ground by monitoring
voltage at RCM harness connector terminals No. 3 (Gray/Orange wire) and No. 4 (Gray/White wire). If RCM
detects short to ground in either terminal, it will store Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) B1887 in memory and
flash Code 15 on AIR BAG warning light.

Possible Causes

A driver-side air bag ignitor circuit shorted to ground could be caused by short to ground in Gray/Orange wire,
short to ground Gray/White wire, short to ground in clockspring, short to ground in driver-side air bag module
or faulty RCM.

1. Check for hard or intermittent DTC

Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Connect scan tool to Data Link Connector (DLC). See USING
SCAN TOOL under DIAGNOSTICS. Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Retrieve and record any
continuous DTCs. See RETRIEVING FAULT CODES under DIAGNOSTICS. Perform on-demand
self-test. See ON-DEMAND SELF-TEST under DIAGNOSTICS. If DTC B1887 was retrieved during
on-demand self-test, fault is hard. Go to next step. If DTC B1887 was not retrieved, fault is intermittent.
Go to step 5 .

2. Check driver-side air bag module

Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM under
DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Perform on-
demand self-test. If DTC B1887 is retrieved, go to next step. If DTC B1887 is not retrieved, replace
driver-side air bag module. See DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE under REMOVAL &
INSTALLATION. Go to step 6 .

NOTE:

Before proceeding, see AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS .

NOTE:

Do not remove or separate shorting bars from RCM harness connector.

2003 Ford Pickup F150

2003 ACCESSORIES/SAFETY EQUIPMENT Air Bag Restraint Systems - F150 Pickup

3. Check driver-side air bag circuit

Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Access RCM and disconnect harness connector. See
RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure
resistance between harness side of RCM connector terminals No. 3 (Gray/Orange wire, circuit No. 614)
and No. 21 (Black/Orange wire, circuit No. 649). See Fig. 14 . If resistance is less than 10 k/ohms, go to
next step. If resistance is more than 10 k/ohms, replace RCM. Go to step 6 .

4. Check driver-side air bag wiring & clockspring

Disconnect driver-side air bag module connector. Disconnect lower clockspring connector located on
bottom of steering column. Inspect all crimps, terminals, fuses, wires and connectors feeding RCM
harness connector terminals No. 3 (Gray/Orange wire) and No. 4 (Gray/White wire), clockspring and
clockspring connectors. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Also, check for pinched wires and damaged
connector terminals. If any damage is found, repair/replace as necessary and go to step 6 . If no damage is
found, go to step 6 .

5. Check for intermittent fault

Refer to continuous DTCs recorded in step 1 . If DTC retrieved in step 1 was an intermittent fault, check
for cause of intermittent short to ground in Gray/Orange wire (circuit No. 614), Gray/White wire (circuit
No. 615) and clockspring assembly. See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Attempt to recreate fault by flexing
wire harness and cycling ignition switch frequently. Repair any intermittent problems found. Go to next
step. If DTC retrieved in step 1 was not an intermittent fault. Go to next step.

6. Check for additional DTCs

TEST M: PASSENGER AIR BAG CIRCUIT SHORT TO GROUND (DTC B1888)

Description

Restraints Control Module (RCM) checks passenger-side air bag module circuit for shorts to ground by
monitoring voltage at RCM harness connector terminals No. 6 (Light Blue/Orange wire) and No. 7 (Pink/Black
wire). If RCM detects short to ground in either terminal, it will store Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) B1888 in
memory and flash Code 16 on AIR BAG warning light.

Possible Causes

NOTE:

Before proceeding, see AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS .

2003 Ford Pickup F150

2003 ACCESSORIES/SAFETY EQUIPMENT Air Bag Restraint Systems - F150 Pickup

A passenger-side air bag circuit short to ground could be caused by a short to ground in Light Blue/Orange
wire, short to ground Pink/Black wire, short to ground in passenger-side air bag module or faulty RCM.

1. Check for hard or intermittent DTC

Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Connect scan tool to Data Link Connector (DLC). See USING
SCAN TOOL under DIAGNOSTICS. Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Retrieve and record any
continuous DTCs. See RETRIEVING FAULT CODES under DIAGNOSTICS. Perform on-demand
self-test. See ON-DEMAND SELF-TEST under DIAGNOSTICS. If DTC B1888 was retrieved during
on-demand self-test, fault is hard. Go to next step. If DTC B1888 was not retrieved, fault is intermittent.
Go to step 5 .

2. Check passenger-side air bag module

Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM under
DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Perform on-
demand self-test. See ON-DEMAND SELF-TEST under DIAGNOSTICS. If DTC B1888 is retrieved,
go to next step. If DTC B1888 is not retrieved, replace passenger-side air bag module. See
PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Go to step 6 .

3. Check passenger-side air bag circuit

Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Access RCM and disconnect harness connector. See
RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE (RCM) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Measure
resistance between harness side of RCM connector terminals No. 6 (Light Blue/Orange wire, circuit No.
607) and No. 21 (Black/Orange wire, circuit No. 649). See Fig. 14 . If resistance is less than 10 k/ohms,
go to next step. If resistance is more than 10 k/ohms, replace RCM. Go to step 6 .

4. Check passenger-side air bag wiring

Disconnect passenger-side air bag module connector. Inspect all crimps, terminals, fuses, wires and
connectors feeding RCM harness connector terminals No. 6 (Light Blue/Orange wire) and No. 7
(Pink/Black wire, circuit No. 616). See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Also, check for pinched wires and
damaged connector terminals. If any damage is found, repair/replace as necessary and go to step 6 . If no
damage is found, go to step 6 .

5. Check for intermittent fault

Refer to continuous DTCs recorded in step 1 . If DTC retrieved in step 1 was an intermittent fault, check
for cause of intermittent short to ground in Light Blue/Orange wire (circuit No. 607) and Pink/Black wire
(circuit No. 616). See WIRING DIAGRAMS . Attempt to recreate fault by flexing wire harness and
cycling ignition switch frequently. Repair any intermittent problems found. Go to next step. If DTC
retrieved in step 1 was not an intermittent fault. Go to next step.

6. Check for additional DTCs

NOTE:

Do not remove or separate shorting bars from RCM harness connector.

2003 Ford Pickup F150

2003 ACCESSORIES/SAFETY EQUIPMENT Air Bag Restraint Systems - F150 Pickup

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