Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Airbag Code

I too am getting a 3-2 code on the airbag light. Could someone please translate this into layman's terms that I might understand:


The air bag diagnostic monitor measures the resistance across Pin C2-10, Circuit 31S (BK/O) and Pin C2-11, Circuit 8 (W/BL) every time the ignition switch is turned to RUN. Normal resistance across these circuits is between 1.5 ohm and 2.0 ohms. This resistance comes from the air bag itself (approximately 1.0 ohm) and the air bag sliding contacts windings (approximately 0.25 to 0.5 ohm per winding, two windings in all). If the resistance across these two circuits exceeds 4.0 ohms, the air bag diagnostic monitor will flash Code 32.


What would a dealer (or independent) mechanic do to fix this or, since I am not all that happy driving behind these two bombs in the dash anyway, can/should I leave it alone?

That means that the cicuit mesures too high of a resistance during selftest.

Problem might be an open circuit somewhere, or a dirty/corroded slipring under the airbag module in the steering wheel.

A technician would measure the resistance the same as the monitor did to see if it was an open circuit or if the resistance was just a little high.

If just a little high, cleaning the slipring contacts would likely fix it.

An open circuit would be diagnosed using standard continuity checks. There is the possibility that the 1 Ohm resistor inside the airbag itself is open, requiring the replacement of the airbag module.

Steve

Thanks Steve, that's very helpful. I'm still debating if I'll just let it ride - I don't like air bags.

Peter-