Air bag code 33 - High resistance or open circuit in passenger air bag circuit

jruppert

Founding Member
Oct 20, 2001
294
1
19
Michigan
The other night I was out driving around and my check engine light came on them came off. About 5 seconds later my air bag light started flashing. It brought up a 33. So I do a search on google and it brings up,
High resistance or open circuit in passenger air bag circuit

Anyone know where I should start with this problem? I dont really know why the check engine light came on yet. I have a tweecer and have had it come on before but it usually had something to do with egr not being turned off. Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks
 
A 33? WTF?

Are you sure it was a 33 and not a 32? 32 is the most common. That's often caused by a bad clock-spring.

It's "possible" that your pass-side air bag went bad, but it's Very Unlikely.

Double check the error code. If it is a 33, say so, and I'll send you a PM on how to proceed.
 
Shakerhood said:
Mine is a Code 12, "Loss of Battery Power" I have never figured out the problem yet.
It's a 94/95 Stang, right? (I have the sigs turned off).

If so, see:

http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/airBag/airBag95.html#CODE12

For 94/95 Stangs, if you replace the battery, or if the battery gets Very low, the air bag diagnostic unit will throw a code 12. Then, you need to "clear the memory". Can you PLEASE, PLEASE take some decent pictures of where the "diag clear connector" is and what it looks like?? Over the years, I've had a few people send pics. But, the digital cameras weren't that good 3+ years ago and the pics weren't that great.

If you take some pics, reply in this thread and I'll send you a PM.
 
stang&2Birds said:
It's a 94/95 Stang, right? (I have the sigs turned off).

If so, see:

http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/airBag/airBag95.html#CODE12

For 94/95 Stangs, if you replace the battery, or if the battery gets Very low, the air bag diagnostic unit will throw a code 12. Then, you need to "clear the memory". Can you PLEASE, PLEASE take some decent pictures of where the "diag clear connector" is and what it looks like?? Over the years, I've had a few people send pics. But, the digital cameras weren't that good 3+ years ago and the pics weren't that great.

If you take some pics, reply in this thread and I'll send you a PM.

Nope its a 92 and kicks out a Code 12. I have tried disconnecting the Baterry for an extended period to reset the memory and that did not help. Never heard of the Diag. Clear Connector.
 
stang&2Birds said:
For 94/95 Stangs, if you replace the battery, or if the battery gets Very low, the air bag diagnostic unit will throw a code 12. Then, you need to "clear the memory". Can you PLEASE, PLEASE take some decent pictures of where the "diag clear connector" is and what it looks like?? Over the years, I've had a few people send pics. But, the digital cameras weren't that good 3+ years ago and the pics weren't that great.

If you take some pics, reply in this thread and I'll send you a PM.

I'm not sure if it's what you're lookin for, but Chris (CmanT1914) took a pretty good picture of the 1994-1995 connector just under the glovebox (that's the hinge you're seeing in his pic).
 
Shakerhood said:
Nope its a 92 and kicks out a Code 12. I have tried disconnecting the Battery for an extended period to reset the memory and that did not help. Never heard of the Diag. Clear Connector.
Weird! I didn't think the Stang's would throw that code.

It's 3:11am on the East coast now and I have to go to work tomorrow. I'll check my Ford Air Bag manual (up to ?93?) on Monday night and let you know. That manual is much better than the Ford Service manual or the Ford Service CDs.
 
stang&2Birds said:
THANKS! It's hard to get a good picture and angle of that connector! I'll ask him if I can use the photo.

Thanks again!
Chris is a real nice guy so I don't foresee an issue. If you can't get ahold of him, I can take a picture of it for ya. My connector dangles in the same location.
 
stang&2Birds said:
Weird! I didn't think the Stang's would throw that code.

It's 3:11am on the East coast now and I have to go to work tomorrow. I'll check my Ford Air Bag manual (up to ?93?) on Monday night and let you know. That manual is much better than the Ford Service manual or the Ford Service CDs.


Thanks, I appreciate that as my Ford Service Manual pretty much sucks on helping with the problem.
 
Thanks for the replies. I am actually getting 2 codes. The first code that comes out is a 32. It flashes 32 once then flashes 33 and continues flashing 33 around 3 times. Then the light stays on solid. btw, I have a 94 Mustang
 
stang&2Birds said:
Weird! I didn't think the Stang's would throw that code.

It's 3:11am on the East coast now and I have to go to work tomorrow. I'll check my Ford Air Bag manual (up to ?93?) on Monday night and let you know. That manual is much better than the Ford Service manual or the Ford Service CDs.

I looked at my Service Manual again last night on the "12" Code and it seems to be pointing to the Diagnostic Moniter.
 
I know this thread is old but maybe someonecan help. I have a 95 mustang that has a cose of a 33 for the air bag. How do I fix the problem of the open circut or high resistance in the passanger air bag?