XJ6R – Airbag warning debugging

Airbag warning debugging

This post follows on from the last post where I explained the issue I was having when attempting to use the digital display from the XJR6. The display was showing the mileage then FLUID and AIRBAG messages. Having shorted the appropriate input to ground for the engine coolant sensor the FLUID message went away leaving me with the AIRBAG message to resolve. I tried shorting to ground or +B on the appropriate input but nothing seemed to clear the message. A photo of the Airbag circuit diagram is below, click for a larger version.

oldr 593

Since that time I have done a little more debugging. I proved that the feed to the main processor in the instrument circuit was receiving different signals depending on the status of the signal that should come from the Airbag Module. The Instrument display circuit, therefore appears to be receiving the appropriate signals to turn off the error message but it is not. The signals on the “Y” output of the HC151 chips looked like below with the signal grounded or at +B so you can see there is a difference and it was being propagated through the circuit board.

Signal with input high
Signal with input high
Signal with input low
Signal with input low (airbag failure light should be off)

A little more research showed that there is potentially an error message generated due to “No diagnostic module selftest Pass signal”. Does that mean that there is a short signal sequence that is emitted from the Airbag module after power on that the Instrument circuit is expecting? There is no clock signal synchronization between the two modules so it has to be pretty basic pattern. I suspect something like a high signal initially and then low for maybe a second or two in each state. I really don’t want to have to add the Airbag module into the car. Using a test rig is needed to see if I can work out the signal states for the Airbag module in normal operation. Hopefully a very simple workaround can be found other than actually adding yet another module into the car ;-(

 

Airbag error codes
Airbag error codes

The Airbag module has a single output signal (Airbag Failure Warning, connector AB1, pin 4). The manual states this is either ground or +B.  It does not have any other connections to the CAN bus or directly to any other module. The only connections are to the two impact sensors, the Safing sensor and the airbags themselves. Doing a little research, it appears that Airbags have a resistance of around 2-3 Ohms each. This should be replicated rather than actually connecting the Airbags to the module along with the potential safety implications! I still have the full Airbag system wiring loom along with one of the impact sensors and the Safing module. I will use this as the test setup and fake the actual airbag connections to identify what the “Selftest Pass” signal looks like.

This will dictate one of three possible outcomes:

  1.  Replaced the module by a very basic circuit to replicate the required initial signal(s) required to stop the error message
  2. I will fit the Airbag module in the car just to eradicate the error message and allow the use of the XJR6 digital milometer
  3. I will not use the digital display from the XJR6 to provide a milometer and use something else like a GPS based milometer instead.

Next post when I have solved it or given up!

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