What does it mean?
B1996 is a Body (airbags, seat belts, body electronics) fault code. It indicates: Passenger-side Side Air Bag Module Circuit Short To Power Supply .
Symptoms
- Airbag warning lamp stays on and the passenger side airbag is disabled
- Fault is present continuously and returns as soon as it is cleared
- Passenger airbag status indicator behaving abnormally
- Other restraint codes stored when the same harness area is affected
- Warning appears after work was carried out on the seats or interior trim
Likely causes
- Squib wire chafed against a live feed inside the seat or sill harness
- Water in a connector bridging a power pin to the airbag circuit
- Wiring damaged during seat, heater, trim or audio installation and shorted to a feed
- Terminal pushed into the wrong cavity after a connector repair
- Aftermarket wiring routed alongside or spliced into the restraint harness
- Internal fault inside the passenger side airbag module
- Faulty squib circuit inside the restraint control module
How to fix it
- Read and record all restraint codes and note which ones are current
- Switch off the ignition, disconnect the battery and observe the manufacturer waiting time before unplugging any squib connector
- Fit an approved squib load substitute instead of measuring the inflator, then see whether the code stays
- With the airbag and the control module both disconnected, check the squib wires for battery voltage, any voltage proves an external short
- Inspect the connectors for water, corrosion and terminals in the wrong cavity
- Trace the harness under the seat and along the sill for chafe against feed wires and for accessory splices
- Repair the shorted section or replace the airbag module, then clear the code and confirm the lamp completes its self check and stays off