[Desert Rat]

Like the title says. It's intermittent....I can stop the car, put it in park, shut it off, and then restart, and most of the time it will quit.

Hoping for an easy fix (haven't ruled out a piece of black tape on the dash over that annoying light!)

 

[timb]

It will blink out a code in sequence. 2 blinks a pause 3 blinks then a long pause repeating over and over is 23. Tell us the number and we can point you in the right direction

 

[Desert Rat]

OK, it's only doing this once in a while...seemingly on the cold wet days.

Code is 34. What's this one?

 

[master486]

Code 34 is driver side air bag low resistance or shorted. Basically, this means there's a problem internal to the air bag or to the connections to the air bag. There could also be a problem with the sliding contacts behind the steering wheel or the wires connected to that assembly.

 

[Desert Rat]

Well, that's just great. I suppose if I disable the thing the light will be on forever, eh?

What's the service manual recommendation on this - replace the air bag, I suppose? Do I have to pull the wheel to get to the connectors?

 

[Rolling-Thunder]

DTC34: DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG CIRCUIT LOW RESISTANCE OR SHORTED

Normal Operation

NOTE:
The connectors for the driver side air bag module and the air bag sliding contact have metal spring clips that act as shorting bars. These shorting bars are built into the plastic hardshell connectors. The shorting bars are designed to short Circuits 614 (GY/O) and 615 (GY/W) together when the connectors are not mated. DO NOT attempt to remove the driver air bag shorting bar and measure the resistance of the driver side air bag module.

The air bag diagnostic monitor measures the resistance across Pin 10 (Circuit 615, GY/W) and Pin 11 (Circuit 614, GY/O) 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 driver side air bag module itself (approximately 1.0 ohm) and the air bag sliding contact windings (0.25 to 0.5 ohm per winding, two windings in all). If the resistance across these two circuits is less than 0.7 ohm, the air bag diagnostic monitor will flash code 34.

The air bag sliding contact shorting bar may be removed to measure the air bag sliding contact resistance. Use extreme care when reinstalling the shorting bar to ensure it is installed correctly.


Possible Causes

Low resistance across Pins 10 and 11 can be caused by:

(1) A poorly mated air bag sliding contact connector not pushing the shorting bars back into their fully retracted positions.

(2) A damaged shorting bar may short Circuits 614 (GY/O) and 615 (GY/W) together.

(3) A short in the air bag sliding contact windings.

(4) A short across the air bag terminals within the driver side air bag module. DO NOT attempt a direct resistance measurement of the driver side air bag module. Follow the diagnostic procedures to determine if the driver air bag resistance is lower than normal.


Electrical Schematic--Diagnostic Trouble Code 34



² 34-1: CHECK FOR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE
² 34-2: MEASURE RESISTANCE ACROSS PINS 11 AND 10
² 34-3: CHECK FOR CODE 34
² 34-4: MEASURE RESISTANCE ACROSS PINS 10 AND 11

 

[Rolling-Thunder]

34-1 CHECK FOR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE


l Turn ignition switch to RUN.

l Count diagnostic trouble code.

l Is code 34 flashing?

Yes
GO to «34-2».

No
Read the normal operation description for this diagnostic trouble code. EXAMINE the diagnostic trouble code schematic and look for areas where intermittent conditions would occur (connectors, splices, crimps, etc.).
DO NOT proceed with Pinpoint Test until the code is flashing!
Failure to do so will result in needless replacement of the air bag system components and repeat service.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

34-2 MEASURE RESISTANCE ACROSS PINS 11 AND 10


l Turn ignition switch to OFF.

l Deactivate system. Leave driver side air bag harness connector empty. (DO NOT install air bag simulator.)

l Disconnect air bag diagnostic monitor.

l Remove plastic locking wedge from black harness connector.

l Measure resistance across Pin 11 (Circuit 614, GY/O) and Pin 10 (Circuit 615, GY/W).

l Refer to Connector End Views.

l Is resistance across Pins 10 and 11 infinite (open)?

Yes
GO to «34-3».

No
GO to «34-4».

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

34-3 CHECK FOR CODE 34


l Install air bag simulator onto air bag connector at steering wheel (3600).

l Reconnect air bag diagnostic monitor.

l Turn ignition switch from OFF to RUN.

l Wait 30 seconds.

l Is code 34 flashing?

Yes
VERIFY air bag simulator resistance is 2.0 ohms ± 0.2 ohm. If OK, REPLACE air bag diagnostic monitor. RECONNECT system. VERIFY system. REACTIVATE system.

No
REPLACE driver side air bag module. RECONNECT system. VERIFY system. REACTIVATE system.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

34-4 MEASURE RESISTANCE ACROSS PINS 10 AND 11


l Disconnect air bag sliding contact at base of the steering column where it mates with main vehicle harness.

l Measure resistance across Pin 11 (Circuit 614, GY/O) and Pin 10 (Circuit 615, GY/W).

l Is resistance across Pins 10 and 11 infinite (open)?

Yes
REPLACE air bag sliding contact. RECONNECT system. VERIFY system. REACTIVATE system.

No
LOCATE and SERVICE short across Circuits 614 (GY/O) and 615 (GY/W) in wiring harness. INSPECT diagnostic monitor harness connector and air bag sliding contact harness connector for shorted terminals. RECONNECT system. VERIFY system. REACTIVATE system.

 

[Desert Rat]

That's the thing...it only does it once in a while. Would that troubleshooting work in that case?

 

[cjchevez]

Well first of all make sure that you dont have a short .

Then just replace the bag , I sold one for 25.00 and if that doesnt work get
a used airbag module, I paid 35.00 for one and it worked .
Just make sure the car your getting it from was not in an accident .
Parts are cheap on ebay!

Thats what I would do!

 

[Black94SC]

Sounds similar to what I had. A rainy day code. It started as a code 34 but then changed to a code 12 or 14 or 34 or 35 or 51 or whatever it felt like flashing that day. I'd get tired of looking at it and spend a few hours troubleshooting every now and then, but couldn't find anything wrong. I'd read in another forum that leaky capacitors on a circuit board can cause those intermittent problems so I just replaced the blue airbag control module and it's been fine ever since.

 

[Grindhouse]

I have code 34 also flashing. Where is that blue module located? I really can't stand that damn light flashing with the CEL on as well due to stupid EGR valve which i am really not looking forward to replacing.

 

[_95badbird]

I have code 34 also flashing. Where is that blue module located? I really can't stand that damn light flashing with the CEL on as well due to stupid EGR valve which i am really not looking forward to replacing.

first off, welcome.

If i remember corrrectly, it is located behind the passenger side kick panel, sorta behind the glove box.

 

[Grindhouse]

thanks for that info badbird, I got to get behind that passenger side kick panel anyways so I guess it will all work out.