WARNING

Do not use a volt/ohm meter for any of this. You'll be using the scan tool and a jumper wire only. Do not use the ohm meter for anything, you will cause the airbags to explode. Do not unbolt or move the airbag computer while it's plugged in, all the airbags will explode. Don't be a fucking idiot.

Situation

The airbag light is on and you have a code indicating that there's either a short or an open squib somewhere in the system. First things first, try and clear the code.



If the code does not clear at all, it's a bad ECM. You're done here.

The reason is because the system needs to run a self test. The code should clear and the test should take about six seconds to run. If the code never clears, that means the ECM is unable to even start the test because it has an internal failure. Write it up for an ECM and you'll be right 90% of the time.
If the code clears, but comes back after a few seconds, the problem is most likely in the squib or clockspring. Very unlikely that it's the wiring, but we'll get to that.

That's because the ECM successfully ran its test and found a fault.

Click here if it's a short code.

Click here if it's an open code.