Ford Falcon. Manual - part 448

501-20b-7 

Occupant Restraints — Passive 

501-20b-7

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)

Airbag and Safety Belt Pretensioner Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Sensor Components

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501-20b-8 

Occupant Restraints — Passive 

501-20b-8

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)

is equipped on Commercial vehicles without

Item

Description

passenger airbag module.

1

Front impact severity sensor

must not be removed during deactivation.

2

First row, B-pillar side impact sensor

is located in the passenger airbag cover

3

Driver seat position sensor

assembly.

4

First row, B-pillar side impact sensor

Safety Belt Pretensioners

5

Restraints control module (RCM)

As part of the SRS the safety belt buckles are

Side Airbag Bridge Resistor

equipped with pretensioners. The safety belt buckle

pretensioners remove excess slack from the safety

belt webbing. The pretensioners are activated by the

 CAUTION: Do not deactivate the side airbag

restraints control module (RCM) when the module

module circuit by removing the bridge resistor

detects a crash event force exceeding a programmed

from the electrical connector.

limit.

If the side airbag bridge resistor is removed, an open

circuit fault will be generated by the restraints control

Safety Belt Buckle Switches

module (RCM).

Both driver and front outboard passenger safety belt

If a restraint system diagnostic tool is installed at the

buckles are equipped with a switch. The safety belt

side airbag electrical connector, a low resistance fault

buckle switch indicates to the restraints control

will be generated.

module (RCM) whether the driver and front outboard

The side airbag bridge resistor:

passenger safety belt buckles are connected or

is equipped on vehicles without side airbag

disconnected.

modules.

Seat Track Position Sensor

must not be removed during deactivation.

The seat track position sensor is a hall-effect sensor

is located on the seat.

located on the driver seat track. The seat track

Driver Airbag Module

position sensor informs the restraints control module

(RCM) of the driver seat position. The RCM uses this

The driver airbag module:

information in determining the deployment rate of the

is installed new as an assembly.

dual-stage driver airbag module.

is mounted in the center of the steering wheel.

Restraints Control Module (RCM)

Clockspring

 WARNING: The restraints control module

The clockspring:

(RCM) orientation is critical for correct system

is mounted on the steering column, behind the

operation. If a vehicle equipped with an airbag

steering wheel.

supplemental restraint system (SRS) has been

continuously transfers electrical signals from the

involved in a collision in which the center tunnel

driver airbag module to the restraints control

area has been damaged, inspect the mounting

module (RCM).

and bracket for deformation. If damaged, the RCM

must be replaced whether or not the airbags have

Passenger Airbag Module

deployed. In addition, make sure the area of the

RCM mounting is restored to its original

The passenger airbag module:

condition.

is installed new as an assembly.

The restraints control module carries out the following

is mounted in the passenger side of the

functions:

instrument panel.

deploys the airbag(s) in the event of a deployable

Passenger Airbag Bridge Resistor

crash.
activates the safety belt buckle pretensioners to

 CAUTION: Do not deactivate this passenger

remove slack from the safety belt.

airbag module circuit by removing the bridge

monitors the SRS for faults.

resistor from the electrical connector.

illuminates the airbag indicator if a fault is

If the passenger airbag bridge resistor is

detected.

removed, an open circuit fault will be generated

flashes the airbag indicator to indicate the lamp

by the RCM.

fault code (LFC) detected.

If a restraint system diagnostic tool is installed at

the PAB electrical connector, a low resistance

communicates through the data link connector

fault will be generated.

(DLC) the current or historical Diagnostic Trouble

Codes (DTCs).

The PAB bridge sensor:

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Occupant Restraints — Passive 

501-20b-9

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)

signals the instrument cluster module to activate a and bracket for deformation. If damaged, the RCM

chime to remind the driver to buckle up.

must be replaced whether or not the airbags have

deployed. In addition, make sure the area of the

signals the instrument cluster module to activate a

RCM mounting is restored to its original

chime if the airbag indicator is not available and

condition.

another SRS fault exists.

The RCM monitors the SRS for possible faults. If a

 WARNING: Vehicle sensor orientation is

fault is detected while the ignition switch is in the ON

critical for correct system operation. If a vehicle

position, the RCM will illuminate the airbag indicator

equipped with an airbag supplemental restraint

located in the instrument cluster.

system (SRS) is involved in a collision, inspect

When the ignition is cycled (turned off and then on),

the sensor mounting bracket and wiring pigtail for

the airbag indicator will prove out by lighting for six

deformation. Replace and correctly position the

seconds. After the prove out, the airbag indicator will

sensor or any other damaged supplemental

then flash the two-digit LFC. If a SRS fault exists, the

restraint system (SRS) components whether or

airbag indicator will flash the LFC five times, then it

not the airbag is deployed.

will remain illuminated for the rest of the key cycle.

The SRS uses up to five sensors. Within the RCM is

The RCM will also communicate the current and

one safing sensors which is not separately serviced.

historical DTCs through the DLC, to the scan tool. If

The RCM has one safing sensor for front impact. The

the airbag indicator does not function, and the system

RCM is mounted to the center tunnel beneath the

detects a fault condition, the RCM will signal the

console. All vehicles will have a front impact severity

instrument cluster module to activate an audible

sensor and it is located in the front-center of the

chime. The chime is a series of five sets of five tone

vehicle, mounted under the lower radiator support. If

bursts. If the chime is heard, the SRS and the airbag

the vehicle is equipped with side airbags, there are

indicator require repair.

two additional side impact sensors. The two additional

LFCs are prioritized. If two or more faults occur at the sensors are located on each B-pillar. Mounting

same time, the fault having the highest priority will be

orientation is critical for correct operation of all impact

displayed. After that fault has been corrected, the next sensors.

highest priority fault will be displayed.
The RCM includes a backup power supply. This

feature provides sufficient backup power to deploy the

airbags in the event that the ignition circuit is lost or

damaged during impact. The backup power supply

will deplete its stored energy approximately one

minute after the battery ground cable is disconnected.

Electrical System

The electrical system that supports the airbag SRS:

is powered from the battery through the ignition

circuit.
provides the electrical path from the restraints

control module (RCM) to the SRS components.
provides the electrical path from the RCM to the

airbag indicator.
provides the electrical path from the RCM to the

belt minder indicator.
provides the electrical path from the RCM to the

data link connector (DLC).
provides the electrical path from the RCM to the

generic electronic module (GEM) or instrument

cluster module.

Sensors

 WARNING: The restraints control module

(RCM) orientation is critical for correct system

operation. If a vehicle equipped with an airbag

supplemental restraint system (SRS) has been

involved in a collision in which the center tunnel

area has been damaged, inspect the mounting

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Occupant Restraints — Passive 

501-20b-10

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

Airbag and Safety Belt Pretensioner

Restraint System Diagnostic Tool

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)

Warning

Refer to Wiring Diagram Section 000-00 for schematic

and connector information.

 WARNING: Restraint system diagnostic tools

are for service only. Remove from vehicle prior to

Special Tool(s)

road use. Failure to remove could result in

personal injury and possible violation of vehicle

FLUKE 73III Automotive Meter

safety standards.

105-R0057 or equivalent

Diagnosing Customer Concerns Without

Hard DTCs

If a lamp fault code (LFC) is reported by the customer

but is not present when the vehicle comes in for

service, follow the Diagnostic Instruction procedures

Diagnostic Tool, Restraint DAB

in this section to identify the intermittent DTC.

System, (2 Req’d)

Once the DTC is known, read the Normal Operation

418-F395 (014-R1079)

section of the pinpoint test for the DTC involved.

418-F403, (1 Req’d)

Follow the deactivation procedure in this section.
Determine the location of components involved in

creating the DTC.
Carry out a thorough visual inspection of:

components.
connectors.
splices and wiring harnesses.
insulation on conductors.

Refer to the Possible Causes section of the pinpoint

test for the DTC involved, which lists the common

Diagnostic Tool, Restraint PAB

concerns that relate to the DTC. Concerns are listed

System, (1 Req’d)

according to priority.

418-F403

Diagnosing Customer Concerns with

Hard DTCs

Most Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)

diagnostic procedures will require deactivation and

Diagnostic Tool, Restraint P/T

reactivation of the system. Deactivation and

System, (2 Req’d)

reactivation require the disconnection of most SRS

418-F403

components and the installation of restraint system

diagnostic tools. This reduces the risk of inadvertent

deployment of SRS components while diagnostic

procedures are being carried out.
Restraint system diagnostic tools are required for the

diagnosis and testing of the SRS. It is not acceptable

Diagnostic Tool, Restraint SAB

to short-circuit the airbag module connections with a

System

jumper wire. If a jumper wire is used to short-circuit

418-F088 (105-R0012)

the airbag module connections, a lamp fault code

2 Req’d

(LFC) will be displayed.

Deactivation Procedure

Worldwide Diagnostic System

 WARNING: If the supplemental restraint

(WDS)

system (SRS) is being serviced, the system must

418-FS317,

be deactivated and restraint system diagnostic

or equivalent scan tool

tools must be installed. Refer to Airbag and Safety

Belt Pretensioner Supplemental Restraint System

(SRS) in this section.

The airbag restraint system diagnostic tools must

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