R053

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
During the "Initiator Assembly Resistance Test" the DERM grounds the "Driver Side Low," terminal "B8" and turns "ON" the passenger current source at the "Passenger Side High" terminal "A7". This causes a known amount of current to flow through the passenger initiator circuit allowing this resistance to be calculated. The normal, non-deployment current flow through the driver deployment loop is also affected since the DERM is supplying ground through a resistor bypassing the ground supplied by the resistance of the discriminating sensor network. When the voltage difference between "Driver Side High" terminal "B9" and "Driver Side Low" terminal "B8" is above a specified value DTC RO53 is set.

DTC WILL SET WHEN
The voltage difference between "Driver Side High" terminal "B9" and "Driver Side Low" terminal "B8" is above a specified value. This test is run once each ignition cycle during the "Initiator Assembly Resistance Test" when: 1) No "higher priority faults" the detected during "Turn-ON," 2) No "higher priority faults" are detected during "Continuous Monitoring" for one second, 3) No "Crank" signal present, 4) "Ignition 1" voltage is above a specified value.

ACTION TAKEN
DERM turns "ON" the "AIR BAG" warning lamp and sets a diagnostic trouble code.

DTC WILL CLEAR WHEN
The ignition switch is turned "OFF."

DTC CHART TEST DESCRIPTION
Number(s) below refer to circled number(s) on the diagnostic chart.
1. This test determines whether the malfunction is due to a high resistance or open in the "Driver Side Low" circuit between the DERM and the steering column harness connector.

DIAGNOSTIC AIDS
An intermittent condition is likely to be caused by a poor connection at DERM terminal "B8" or an open in CKT 348A. The test for this diagnostic trouble code is run only while the "AIR BAG" warning lamp is performing the bulb check. When a scan tool "Clear Codes" command is issued and the malfunction is still present, the DTC will not reappear until the next ignition cycle.