Airbag help.. Code 32

[Shoman594]

Hey Guys I have a code 32 on the 95.

Looked it up on the forum and only 2 other people had it and did not have a solution.

The code reads, Driver Side Air Bag Circuit High Resistance or Open.

I was thinking the clockspring but the horn and cruise works. I guess it is still possible for the clockspring to be bad. I am not sure how to test it though. I do not really understand the trouble shooting steps below. It says i can check the resistance in ohm's.



Pinpoint Tests

PINPOINT TESTS: DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 32


Driver Side Air Bag Circuit High Resistance or Open


Normal Operation

The 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 the ON position. Normal resistance across these circuits is between 1.5 ohms and 2.0 ohms. This resistance comes from the air bag itself (approximately 1.0 ohm) and the clockspring windings (approximately 0.25 to 0.5 ohm per winding, two windings in all). If the resistance across these two circuits exceeds 4.0 ohms, the diagnostic monitor will flash code 32.

NOTE:
The connectors for the air bag and the clockspring 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 and 615 together when the connectors are not mated. DO NOT attempt to remove the air bag shorting bar and measure the resistance of the air bag.

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


Possible Causes

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

1. A poor connection where the clockspring connects into the main wiring harness. The clockspring connector at the base of the steering column may have excessive resistance between the male and female terminals in the connector or across the terminal crimps.

2. An open circuit or high resistance in the clockspring windings inside the clockspring assembly.

3. An open circuit or high resistance in the wiring harness in either Circuit 614 (GY/O) or Circuit 615 (GY/W).

4. An open circuit or high resistance in the driver side air bag. DO NOT attempt a direct resistance measurement of the air bag. Follow the diagnostic procedures to determine if the air bag resistance is higher than normal.

 

[Shoman594]

Any one?

Could it be the airbag its self?

 

[SHOCH]

Crank cancer?

 

[jonheese]

You can test the airbag wiring, but it requires removing the airbag and probing for continuity on all of the wires from the steering column connector to the airbag connector.

Unless you've been screwing around with wiring in the car, or smashing something against the airbag regularly, I'd say the clockspring is still your #1 suspect, even if the horn and cruise work. Remember that it gets fiddled with every time you turn the wheel, so it's the only piece of the puzzle that gets a regular workout-- and it's probably getting pretty tired after doing it for 16 years.

They can usually be had pretty cheaply on eBay, and the only special tool you'll need is a steering wheel puller, which are <$10 at the parts store last time I checked. Be sure to pull the + battery cable first, and push the brake pedal to discharge any capacitance in the system.

 

[Shoman594]

Thanks for the reply Jon,

I just picked up a clock spring off of ebay. We will see how it goes!