Possible Causes

A right seat belt buckle switch short to ground fault could be caused by damaged wiring, terminals, connectors, faulty seat belt buckle switch or a faulty RCM.

1. Check for hard or intermittent DTC
   
   Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Connect scan tool to Data Link Connector (DLC). See USING SCAN TOOL  under DIAGNOSTICS. Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Retrieve and record any continuous DTCs. See RETRIEVING FAULT CODES  under DIAGNOSTICS. Perform on-demand self-test. See ON-DEMAND SELF-TEST  under DIAGNOSTICS. If DTC B2438 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, fault is hard. Go to next step. If DTC B2438 was not retrieved, fault is intermittent. Go to step  6 .
2. Check circuit for short to ground between right front seat & RCM
   
   Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM  under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Access RCM and disconnect connector C310A. See RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Disconnect right front seat floor connector C312. Measure resistance between ground and vehicle harness side of right seat floor connector C312, terminal No. 10 (Red/Black wire, circuit No. 1514). See Figure . If resistance is more than one megohm, go to next step. If resistance is less than one megohm, repair short to ground in Red/Black wire. See WIRING DIAGRAMS  . Go to step  7 .
3. Check circuit for short to ground between right front seat belt buckle switch & RCM
   
   Reconnect right front seat floor harness connector C312. Disconnect right front seat belt buckle switch connector. Measure resistance in Red/Black wire between ground and seat harness side of right seat belt buckle connector. If resistance is less than one megohm, go to next step. If resistance is more than one megohm, repair short to ground in Red/Black wire. Go to step  7 .
4. Check seat belt buckle switch
   
   Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Reconnect RCM connector C310A. Install known-good right seat belt buckle. See SEAT BELT BUCKLE  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Position front seat in vehicle. Reconnect right front seat floor connector C312. Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Perform on-demand self-test. If DTC B2438 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, go to next step. If DTC B2438 was not retrieved during on-demand self-test, fault is corrected. Go to step  7 .
   NOTE: Ensure all air bag system simulators, sensor electrical connectors and RCM electrical connectors are connected prior to carrying out on-demand self-test or erroneous faults may be set.
5. Confirm RCM Fault
   
   Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Reinstall original right seat belt buckle. Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Perform on-demand self-test. If DTC B2438 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, replace RCM. Go to step  7 . If DTC B2438 was not retrieved during on-demand self-test, fault is corrected. Go to step  7 .
6. Check for intermittent fault
   
   Turn ignition switch to OFF position. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM  under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Perform on-demand self-test. If DTC B2438 was retrieved during on-demand self-test, go to step  2 . If DTC B2438 was not retrieved during on-demand self-test, check for cause of intermittent fault. Attempt to recreate fault by flexing wire harness and cycling ignition switch frequently. Repair any intermittent problems found. Go to next step.
7. Check for additional DTCs
   
   Refer to continuous DTCs recorded in step  1 . If any continuous DTCs were retrieved, go to diagnostic trouble code identification table for direction to appropriate test. See DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE IDENTIFICATION  table. DO NOT clear any DTCs until all DTCs have been resolved. If no DTCs were retrieved, reconnect air bag system. Activate air bag system. See ACTIVATING SYSTEM  under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM. Clear all DTCs. See CLEARING FAULT CODES  under DIAGNOSTICS.