Airbag and steering issues

PCDJ64

MEMBER
1999 CADILLAC SEVILLE
4.6L
V8
FWD
AUTOMATIC
75,000 MILES

I have a few codes

B1161 for airbag lamp failure, the red airbag light on the dash is lit so I do not understand how it could be a failure.
there is also a DTC B1126 Driver Deployment Loop Open which I believe to be a bad clock spring.

the other codes are
DTC C1241 Variable Effort Steering Circuit Malfunction and DTC C1281 VSES Sensors Uncorrelated.

the engine was out of the car to have the inserts done to fix the head bolt issue before I got it and I think they may have forgotten to plug the electrical connector back into the rack, I am not sure if that could cause both codes.

3 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

If engine was out check grounds to engine and check connector that may be code problem along with battery to engine ground may just not making good contact the abs unit grounds at lh front and rear of engine as well as sends signals to electronic steering.

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Sunday, March 5th, 2017 AT 8:25 AM

PCDJ64

MEMBER
127 POSTS

Thank you for the reply.
I will check everything and hopefully it is just a few connections.
The one code that I don't know how to go about fixing is the B1161 for airbag lamp failure.
How do you diagnose a failure when the lamp works? The light is lit.

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Sunday, March 5th, 2017 AT 1:49 PM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

That may tie in with the ground for the abs unit ungrounded causes all kinds of cute problems. Having worked on cars with bad body grounds like old Camaros and firebirds they wouldn't connect ground wire from engine to body after like pulling a head off so when blower was turned to high it got ground through trans cable, melted it and people would put it in park. Start the car and it took off forward because cable was bad.

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Sunday, March 5th, 2017 AT 3:39 PM