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Air bag light

Sent to Car Experts April 8 2006 at 4:44 AM
   

1998 Prisim - during driving the airbag light blinks for awhile and then goes out. Any ideas?
Also if you turn the key on shouldn't the idiot lights do a self ck and go off when started?
Thanks,
~Steve

 

Optional Information:
1998 Chevrolet prisim

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Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $5
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April 8 2006 at 4:52 AM (8 minutes and 4 seconds later)
         
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I'll HT know you are requesting him.

"It is much wiser and cost efficient to ask a question than to stumble blindly through your auto repairs".Please Click Accept if my answer was helpful.
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Michael -- Auto Service Technician -- 99% Positive Feedback on 599 Car Accepts
21yrs.Foreign and domestic driveability diagnosis and repair/ ASE Cert./Fuel Injection Specialist.
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April 8 2006 at 5:33 AM (41 minutes and 7 seconds later)
         
Reply to Michael's Post: Anyone will do with answer.
~Steve
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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April 8 2006 at 12:47 PM (7 hours and 13 minutes and 46 seconds later)
         
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Yes they should start with a self test.

When are these lights coming on?

You say is does go out after flashing though?



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Hammer Time -- L1 Master Technician -- 98% Positive Feedback on 2720 Car Accepts
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April 8 2006 at 3:18 PM (2 hours and 31 minutes and 14 seconds later)
         
Reply to Hammer Time's Post: In the triangle on the dash only the airbag light comes on. It then goes out, as normal, the it will start flashing later while driving.
~Steve
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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April 8 2006 at 3:21 PM (3 minutes and 16 seconds later)
         
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When it comes back on later, does it stay on or go back out?

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Hammer Time -- L1 Master Technician -- 98% Positive Feedback on 2720 Car Accepts
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April 8 2006 at 4:04 PM (43 minutes and 23 seconds later)
         
Reply to Hammer Time's Post: My mother in law says it binks for awhile and goes out.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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April 8 2006 at 4:22 PM (17 minutes and 56 seconds later)
         
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If it goes back out, that means the problem went away at that time. Your going to have to get the ABS module scanned to retreive the codes before your going to have any idea where the problem is coming from. The code numbers will refer to a specific situation or finding and that will get you pointed in the right direction.

here are the diagnostic instructions.

DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS
When servicing the Antilock Brake System (ABS) follow, in order, the following steps. Failure to follow these steps may result in the loss of important diagnostic data and may lead to difficult and time-consuming diagnosis procedures:

  1. Perform a vehicle preliminary diagnosis inspection. This should include the following:
    • Inspect the master cylinder fluid reservoir for proper brake fluid level.
    • Inspect the brake pressure modulator valve assembly for any leaks or wiring damage.
    • Inspect the brake components at all four wheels. Verify that no drag exists. Verify the proper operation of the base brake apply.
    • Inspect for worn or damaged wheel bearings that may allow a wheel to wobble.
    • Inspect all wheel speed sensors and their wiring:
    • Verify proper sensor attachment
    • Verify that the sensor toothed ring is undamaged
    • Verify that the wiring is undamaged, especially at the vehicle attachment points
  1. Perform the ABS Diagnostic System Check.

SELF DIAGNOSTICS
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) contains sophisticated on-board diagnostics. When accessed with a scan tool connected to the OBD2 Data Link Connector (DLC) , these diagnostics identify the source of any system malfunction as specifically as possible.

The scan tool allows the technician to perform the following tasks:

  • Access Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) which were set in previous ignition cycles (also referred as history DTCs) and access an actual DTC set (also known as a current DTC).
  • Obtain SNAP SHOT data for the last DTC code set. The SNAP SHOT data includes the following:
  • The wheel speeds
  • The ABS status
  • The stoplamp switch status at the time when the last DTC set

This information is called Enhanced DTC Data.

  • Monitor the ABS inputs and the outputs with a scan tool. This confirms the malfunction confirmation and verifies the repair.
  • Perform manual control of ABS components.


Edited by Hammer Time on April 8 2006 at 4:24 PM

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April 8 2006 at 6:34 PM (2 hours and 11 minutes and 11 seconds later)
         
Reply to Hammer Time's Post: Are the ABS and air bag the same system?
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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April 9 2006 at 1:31 AM (6 hours and 57 minutes and 48 seconds later)
         
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I'm sorry. It was a real long day.

No they are not the same but they do work the same when it comes to the meaning of the light.

The difference here is that the current codes get erased when you shut the key off so they have to be read before shutting it off.

Here's the procedure to retreive the air bag codes manually.

Flash DTC diagnostics read current DTCs. You can enable FLASH DTC diagnostics by jumping the Data Link Connector (Underhood) terminal 11 (Tc) and terminal 3 (E1) with the ignition switch set to the ON position. This action pulls the SDM connector C2 terminal 15 to ground and signals the SDM to enter the FLASH DTC diagnostic display mode.

The SDM displays the DTCs by flashing the AIR BAG warning lamp. Each DTC that is displayed consists of the following:

  1. A series of flashes which represent the tens (first) DTC digit.
  2. A 2.5 second pause.
  3. A series of flashes which represent the ones (second) DTC digit.

Each DTC is flashed once before moving on to the next DTC. After all the DTCs are displayed, the entire DTC sequence is continually repeated until you remove the jumper from the DLC.

If there are no DTCs present, the SDM will flash the AIR BAG warning lamp continuously. This indicates that FLASH DTC diagnostics have been enabled. The SDM will continue to flash the AIR BAG warning lamp until the jumper wire is removed from the DLC.

Images available only to Customers.

DTC 11 Driver Air Bag Deployment Loop Short to Ground
DTC 12 Driver Air Bag Deployment Loop Short to Voltage
DTC 13 Driver Air Bag Deployment Loop Resistance Low
DTC 14 Driver Air Bag Deployment Loop Resistance high
DTC 15 RH Discriminating Sensor Malfunction
DTC 16 LH Discriminating Sensor Malfunction
DTC 31 Internal SDM Malfunction
DTC 32 RH Side Air Bag Sensor Malfunction
DTC 33 LH Side Air Bag Sensor Malfunction
DTC 41 RH Side Air Bag Deployment Loop Short to Ground
DTC 42 RH Side Air Bag Deployment Loop Short to Voltage
DTC 43 RH Side Air Bag Deployment Loop Resistance Low
DTC 44 RH Side Air Bag Deployment Loop Resistance High
DTC 45 LH Side Air Bag Deployment Loop Short to Ground
DTC 46 LH Side Air Bag Deployment Loop Short to Voltage
DTC 47 LH Side Air Bag Deployment Loop Resistance Low
DTC 48 LH Side Air Bag Deployment Loop Resistance High
DTC 51 Passenger Air Bag Deployment Short to Ground
DTC 52 Passenger Air Bag Deployment Short to Voltage
DTC 53 Passenger Air Bag Deployment Resistance Low
DTC 54 Passenger Air Bag Deployment Resistance High
DTC 61 RH Pretensioner Deployment Loop Short to Ground
DTC 62 RH Pretensioner Deployment Loop Short to Voltage
DTC 63 RH Pretensioner Deployment Loop Resistance Low
DTC 64 RH Pretensioner Deployment Loop Resistance High
DTC 71 LH Pretensioner Deployment Loop Short to Ground
DTC 72 LH Pretensioner Deployment Loop Short to Voltage
DTC 73 LH Pretensioner Deployment Loop Resistance Low
DTC 74 LH Pretensioner Deployment Loop Resistance High

I found a TSB that could apply to you also. Here it is.

SIR Telltale Light Illuminating/Flashing, Code 48
Stored (Replace Wiring Harness) # 00-09-41-005
- (11/29/2000)

1998-2001 Chevrolet Prizm

Condition

Some customers may comment that the SIR Telltale Light is illuminated, flashing or comes on intermittently.

Cause

This condition may be caused by high terminal/wiring harness resistance.

Correction
Check for stored codes. If the codes are for high resistance detected by the Sensing & Diagnostic Module (SDM) for the side air bags and/or the pretensioners, install a new floor wiring harness. To install the new floor wiring harness will require removal of the seats, console, carpet, body control module and various interior moldings/trim


Part # for harness 15315649



Edited by Hammer Time on April 9 2006 at 1:32 AM

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