DTC 51 After Air Bag Deployment

NOTE: air bag diagnostic monitor can withstand several air bag deployments and do not need to be replaced after every deployment. Only replace the air bag diagnostic monitor if it is damaged.

Occasionally, after an air bag module deploys, the internal wiring of the air bag module(s) may become shorted to the metal housings of the air bag module(s). This internal air bag short is detected by the air bag diagnostic monitor as short to ground in the air bag module deployment wiring. Since the air bag diagnostic monitor is still operating immediately after most deployments, the air bag diagnostic monitor will detect the shorted wiring and will flash DTC 13 and blow the internal thermal fuse. After the deployment, as the air bag module cools off, the internal shorted wiring may correct itself; therefore, the short to ground will no longer exist and the air bag diagnostic monitor will flash DTC 51. If a vehicle with a deployed air bag module is flashing DTC 51, inspect and replace all the damaged areas of the vehicle that have crushed wiring, air bag sensors, etc. If no damage is found, assume that the deployed air bag module was the cause for the intermittent short and replace the air bag diagnostic monitor when the new air bag module is installed.

After a short to ground has been corrected, the air bag diagnostic monitor will flash DTC 51. DTC 51 indicates that the fuse inside the air bag diagnostic monitor is blown and the short to ground no longer exists.

If a short to ground has not been located and repaired (short to ground corrected itself), consult OASIS for potential wiring shorts.

If a short to ground has been correctly located and repaired, replace the air bag diagnostic monitor. Do not replace the air bag diagnostic monitor until the short to ground has been positively located and repaired. Replacing the air bag diagnostic monitor before repairing the short to ground will result in repeat repair.






The chart gives an overview of the DTC 51 repair procedure:

Possible Causes
A blown internal thermal fuse can be caused by the following:
- A short to ground on the deployment circuits existed and has been repaired.
- A short to ground on the deployment circuits exists intermittently.