Ford Ranger 2016 Airbag Issue - Occupancy Sensor and RCM Module

I’m having issues with the passenger seat occupancy sensor in my 2016 Ford Ranger. The sensor was replaced after consulting with a technician, but the problem persists. If I replace the RCM module, will it require programming or is it plug-and-play? Also, I noticed no continuity through the sensor when the seat is unoccupied, but resistance is present when it’s occupied. Could there be another faulty sensor?

It sounds like you’ve done a lot of work already! Replacing the RCM module would require programming with a diagnostic tool. As for the sensor, it might be worth checking the wiring to see if there’s any damage or poor connection.

@Ari
Thanks! I was concerned about the programming part. I’ve already checked the wiring, but I’ll take another look at it just to be sure.

If the sensor shows no continuity when unoccupied but shows resistance when occupied, it could point to a faulty sensor. It’s rare for the module to fail like this, but it’s still a possibility.

Jordan said:
If the sensor shows no continuity when unoccupied but shows resistance when occupied, it could point to a faulty sensor. It’s rare for the module to fail like this, but it’s still a possibility.

I’m hoping it’s just the sensor. I’ll replace it and see if that fixes the issue.

You might also want to test the wiring to the ECU. There could be a broken connection somewhere between the sensor and the module.

Orion said:
You might also want to test the wiring to the ECU. There could be a broken connection somewhere between the sensor and the module.

Good idea! I haven’t checked the ECU wiring yet, so I’ll do that tomorrow.

If you’re dealing with a wiring issue, you might want to verify the pin numbers on the connector. The blue wire with a brown stripe could be correct—it might be a shared wire across multiple sensors.

Damon said:
If you’re dealing with a wiring issue, you might want to verify the pin numbers on the connector. The blue wire with a brown stripe could be correct—it might be a shared wire across multiple sensors.

Thanks! I’ll verify the PIN numbers tomorrow and check the wiring carefully.

Make sure the ground wire is working properly, as sometimes these issues are related to poor grounding. The signal wire to the ECU might be where the issue is too.

Willow said:
Make sure the ground wire is working properly, as sometimes these issues are related to poor grounding. The signal wire to the ECU might be where the issue is too.

I’ll check the ground wire again to make sure it’s properly connected. Appreciate the tip!