What does it mean?
B1493 is a Body (airbags, seat belts, body electronics) fault code. It indicates: Passenger’s (front) air bag module (2nd squib) system fault for power supply circuit (short-circuited to power supply) .
Symptoms
- Airbag warning lamp on continuously
- Hard fault that will not clear until the short is removed
- Sometimes accompanied by a blown accessory fuse or an accessory that stops working
- Second stage passenger inflator disabled in a crash
Likely causes
- Restraint harness chafed against a live feed such as a lighter socket, seat heater or accessory wire
- Damaged insulation where the harness crosses the dash carrier after a previous repair
- Aftermarket radio, alarm or camera wiring spliced or taped into the airbag harness bundle
- Water and corrosion inside a shared connector bridging a switched feed to the squib line
- Terminal backed out and contacting an adjacent powered pin in the same connector
- Fault in the airbag control module output stage holding the line high
How to fix it
- Look first for recent aftermarket electrical work and remove any splice made into or near the airbag harness
- Unplug the passenger airbag and check the harness side for voltage present with the key on
- Trace the harness behind the glovebox and along the dash carrier for chafe against powered wiring
- Inspect the connector for pushed-back terminals contacting a live pin and for moisture damage
- Repair or replace the damaged harness section with correct terminals and reroute it clear of powered leads
- Suspect the airbag control module only after the harness and connector have been proven clean
- Clear the code and verify with a wiggle test and a full road test