What does it mean?
B1714 is a Body (airbags, seat belts, body electronics) fault code. It indicates: Knee airbag – Driver resistance circuit short to Battery .
Symptoms
- Airbag warning lamp stays lit from the moment the ignition is switched on
- Driver knee airbag is disabled and will not fire in a crash
- Code returns straight after clearing, often together with other SRS codes
- Cluster message or chime about the restraint system on some vehicles
- Fault can be intermittent and set when the pedals area is knocked or the dash flexes over bumps
Likely causes
- Chafed or pinched wiring in the lower dash and knee bolster area touching a powered wire or a live bracket
- Corroded, spread or pushed-back terminals in the knee airbag connector under the steering column
- Connector not fully latched or its shorting bar damaged after dash, column or fuse box work
- Aftermarket accessory wiring tapped into a hot feed and routed through the SRS loom
- Knee airbag inflator with an internally shorted heating element
- Damaged harness section left over from previous front-end or interior repair
- Internal driver fault inside the airbag control module
How to fix it
- Read all SRS codes and note the freeze frame; decide whether the fault is present now or historic
- Switch off, disconnect the battery and wait the manufacturer's stand-down time before touching any squib connector
- Inspect the knee airbag connector under the column for corrosion, moisture, bent pins and a fully seated latch
- Follow the harness along the lower dash and bolster bracket looking for chafe against sharp metal edges
- With the squib unplugged and an approved load tool fitted, check both circuit wires for voltage or continuity to a powered circuit
- Repair the damaged harness section with SRS-rated repair leads instead of ordinary splices
- Replace the knee airbag module if wiring and connector test clean; suspect the control module only after that