AU
B170F

DTC B170F indicates a short to power (B+) in the right-hand curtain airbag (SRS Curtain Shield Airbag - RH) ignition circuit — Atto 3

Safety System

DTC B170F indicates a short to power (B+) in the right-hand curtain airbag (SRS Curtain Shield Airbag - RH) ignition circuit.

In the BYD SRS system, the curtain airbag uses an electrically ignited gas generator.

During normal operation, the control unit supplies a momentary high current to trigger ignition.

The diagnostic system triggers this fault when it detects abnormal continuity (resistance below the threshold, typically <10Ω) between the curtain airbag ignition circuit and the vehicle power supply (12V battery positive terminal), or when the circuit voltage remains above the set value (approximately 5V).

This is a hard fault.

The SRS control unit immediately disables the right-hand curtain airbag function and illuminates the instrument cluster airbag warning lamp.

Potential risks include: 1) The right-hand curtain airbag fails to deploy in a collision, resulting in a loss of occupant head protection. 2) In extreme cases, if the short circuit contact resistance fluctuates, vehicle jolts can generate a momentary current, creating a minimal risk of unintended curtain airbag deployment.

Therefore, the system classifies this as a severe fault and prohibits continued vehicle operation.

5
Cases Logged
5
Causes
Likely Causes — Atto 3
  • 1Wiring harness insulation wear inside the right A-pillar or C-pillar trim panel: During extended vehicle use, the right roof curtain airbag wiring harness rubs against sharp metal body edges (such as the roof crossmember mounting bracket). This damages the insulation between the positive and negative wires, or between the power and ignition wires, causing a short circuit to the constant power wire.
  • 2Curtain airbag connector water ingress and oxidation: A blocked sunroof drain tube or poor sealing allows rainwater to seep into the right headliner. Water accumulates between the pins of the curtain airbag connector (typically located at the right D-pillar or right side of the headliner). The electrolyte forms a conductive path, causing a power supply short circuit.
  • 3Incorrect wiring connection after accident repair: After a right-side collision or headliner removal and installation, technicians incorrectly connected the curtain airbag ignition wire (normally a high-resistance circuit) to a constant power wire (such as the reading lamp or sun visor lamp power supply), or missing harness retaining clips caused the harness to shift and contact a power source.
  • 4Damaged internal driver chip in the SRS control unit: Internal ignition driver transistor (IGBT) breakdown or logic circuit fault causes a false short-to-power detection in the curtain airbag circuit, or internal power supply filter capacitor leakage causes an abnormal reference voltage.
  • 5Aftermarket modification damage: During installation of a dash cam, roof ambient lighting, or aftermarket sunroof, mounting screws or harness clips pierce the right-side curtain airbag harness insulation, causing a short circuit to a vehicle power harness (such as the roof lighting circuit).
What To Do
  • 1
    Safety pre-check and fault confirmation: Use the VDS2000/3000 diagnostic tool to read the complete SRS fault codes and confirm B170F is a current fault (Present) rather than a history fault (History). Disconnect the battery negative terminal and wait at least 90 seconds to ensure the SRS backup power supply discharges completely to prevent accidental airbag deployment.
  • 2
    Right curtain airbag wiring harness visual inspection: Remove the right A-pillar, B-pillar, and C-pillar interior trim panels and the right headliner trim panel. Inspect the orange wiring harness of the curtain airbag module (usually marked RCurtain or R CSA) along the roof side rail (standard BYD SRS harness color is orange or yellow). Check for detached harness retaining clips, worn insulation, and water stains or corrosion on the connectors.
  • 3
    Circuit isolation test: Disconnect the 2-way connector between the SRS control unit and the right curtain airbag module. Use a multimeter to measure the resistance from the curtain airbag side wiring harness to body ground and to the 12V power supply. Normal resistance is infinity (OL). If the multimeter shows continuity or resistance <10kΩ, this confirms a short to power in the wiring harness. Locate the short circuit.
  • 4
    Harness circuit tracing: Inspect the harness section by section. Gradually open the corrugated conduit from the curtain airbag module toward the control unit. Check the wiring harness insulation at locations such as body panel holes, the seat mounting bracket, and near the roof lamp socket. Monitor the circuit voltage with an oscilloscope to check for an abnormal 12V voltage.
  • 5
    Component inspection: Disconnect the curtain airbag module connector. Measure the resistance between the two curtain airbag inflator terminals, and between each terminal and the housing. The normal value is 2.0-3.0 Ω (BYD standard). If the resistance is 0 Ω or ∞, or if either positive terminal has continuity to the vehicle body, the curtain airbag has an internal short circuit. Replace the right curtain airbag assembly.
  • 6
    Control unit verification: If the wiring harness test is normal, short the curtain airbag circuit measurement points on the SRS control unit side and use the diagnostic tool to perform the 'Ignition Circuit Self-Test'. If the system still reports a short to power, the SRS ECU has an internal fault. Replace the control unit and perform coding matching.
  • 7
    Repair and replacement: Repair the damaged wiring harness (apply a double layer of high-temperature insulating tape and heat-shrink tubing; rated withstand voltage must be >500V) or replace the curtain airbag module. Never use simple tape wrapping; use a dedicated automotive wiring harness repair kit. When replacing the curtain airbag, record the inflator serial number and synchronize it with the diagnostic tool.
  • 8
    System reset and verification: Reconnect all connectors and the battery, then clear fault codes. Perform 'SRS system initialisation' (coding match) and 'ignition circuit resistance learning'. Perform three key cycles (OFF-ON). Confirm the instrument cluster airbag warning lamp turns off and the diagnostic tool shows no current fault codes. Finally, perform a right-side curtain airbag simulated deployment test (using the dedicated load tool, not a live deployment test) to verify circuit resistance is within the normal range.
Real-World Cases
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Repaired right-side curtain airbag short circuit after wading in Song Pro DM

✓
2020 BYD Song Pro DM. After heavy rain, the instrument cluster displayed 'Please Check SRS System'. Diagnostic tool reported DTC B170F. Inspection found the sunroof drain hose blocked. Rainwater flowed down the right A‑pillar into the curtain airbag connector located inside the headliner above the right front seat, causing electrolytic corrosion between the pins that created a conductive bridge. Removed the right side headliner and found green oxide deposits inside the connector. Repair: Replaced the right curtain airbag wiring harness assembly (including connector), cleared the sunroof drain hose, applied waterproof silicone grease to the curtain airbag connector, and fitted a waterproof cover. After repair, a 30‑minute simulated water spray test using compressed air confirmed no recurrence.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Misconnected wiring harness after accident repair on Tang EV caused curtain airbag power supply short circuit

✓
2021 Tang EV. DTC B170F appeared one week after right-side accident repairs. The repair history showed the right-side headliner had been replaced. Inspection found that during the accident repair at the dealership, the right curtain airbag harness (orange) and headliner reading lamp power wire (white) were incorrectly inserted into the same pin at the B-pillar connector, causing the airbag circuit to connect directly to 12V constant power. Further inspection revealed missing harness retaining clips, and harness movement accelerated wear. Resolution: Rerouted the harness, replaced the damaged curtain airbag igniter harness section (from B-pillar to airbag module), restored correct wiring, and installed the missing retaining clips. Wrapped the harness with specialized harness tape (TESA 51036) for protection.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Aftermarket panoramic sunroof retrofit on Yuan EV causing curtain airbag fault

✓
2019 BYD Yuan EV. Owner fitted a panoramic sunroof at an auto accessory market. The next day, a B170F fault code appeared, accompanied by headliner noise. Inspection found the installer used over-long self-tapping screws to secure the sunroof frame, which pierced the right curtain airbag harness (at the right roof rail). This shorted the curtain airbag igniter (+) wire to the sunroof motor’s constant 12V supply. Repair: Due to the extended short-circuit duration, the curtain airbag module may have sustained internal damage. Replaced the right curtain airbag assembly (P/N: MEF-5856020). Repaired the damaged harness by recrimping with Delphi 15304720 waterproof terminals and insulating with double-layer heat shrink tubing. Advised the owner to revert to the original sunroof configuration to avoid safety system risks.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

BYD Qin Pro (Petrol): SRS control unit false fault

✓
2020 BYD Qin Pro, no accident or modification history. Intermittent B170F DTC; sometimes reappears after clearing and driving 100 km. Wiring harness insulation: good. Curtain airbag resistance: 2.3 Ω (normal). No short to power in wiring. Oscilloscope monitoring revealed instantaneous high-voltage spikes (>20 V) at the SRS control unit ignition driver terminal when driving on rough roads. Determined faulty internal voltage regulation circuit in SRS control unit, causing false short-to-power detection. Solution: Replaced SRS control unit (P/N: ECU-3636100), performed online coding (VIN match) and sensor calibration. Executed 'Crash Record Clear' and 'System Configuration Write' with diagnostic tool. Fault resolved.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Song MAX headlining incorrectly fitted, chafing wiring harness

✓
2019 Song MAX, 30,000 km. Intermittent DTC B170F appeared, especially after high summer temperatures. Inspection found a fractured right-side headliner trim panel clip. The failed clip allowed the trim to sag and compress the curtain airbag harness. The harness chafed against the sharp edge of the roof crossbeam, damaging the insulation and exposing the copper wire. The exposed wire contacted the interior light power wire. Repair: Replaced the right curtain airbag harness (A-pillar to C-pillar section). Replaced all headliner plastic clips with improved metal-reinforced clips. Installed rubber grommets where the harness passes through sheet metal holes. Rerouted the harness to avoid contact with sharp metal edges.
Other Atto 3 Fault Codes
P0A0DBattery Energy Control Module Requested MIL IlluminationP0AA6Hybrid Battery Voltage System Isolation FaultP1A00Drive Motor "A" Performance — BYD proprietaryB1108For the BYD Song MAX (2017–2019), DTC B1108 indicates a short circuit in the PM2.5 air quality detection module (dust sensor) or its wiring harness. The sensor uses laser scattering to detect in-cabin and outside PM2.5 concentrations and transmits data to the HVAC ECU via the LIN bus or an analog signal. Short circuit conditions include: 1) Sensor power supply wire (+5V/+12V) shorted to ground 2) Signal wire shorted to power or ground 3) Short circuit in the sensor's internal photoelectric detection circuit This fault prevents the automatic climate control from switching between fresh air and recirculation based on air quality. The system enters fail-safe mode (typically forced recirculation). Severe short-circuit current can destroy the HVAC ECU sampling circuit. The system classifies this as a Level 3 severe fault and restricts vehicle operation to prevent electrical fires or controller damage. For other BYD models (such as the Qin EV, E5, and Song DM), B1108 indicates a driver-side sunload sensor fault, reflecting differences in DTC definitions across models.B110811This DTC indicates a short circuit in the air conditioning system PM2.5 air quality sensor (rapid detector). Specifically, abnormal continuity exists between the sensor power supply circuit or signal output circuit and body ground or battery positive. This causes the control module (ACU/air conditioning controller) to detect abnormal current or a voltage signal outside the valid range (typically 0V or supply voltage). The PM2.5 sensor monitors internal and external particulate concentrations, providing the data the automatic air conditioning system uses to switch between fresh air and recirculation modes. A short circuit disables the air quality monitoring function. This fault may force the air conditioning system into recirculation protection mode and trigger related thermal management system faults, as the air conditioning system acts as a key actuator in vehicle thermal management. In severe cases, the short circuit current can damage the internal sampling circuit of the air conditioning controller or overheat the wiring harness.
Data confidence: Official This information is for reference only. Always consult a qualified technician for diagnosis and repair. Do not attempt high-voltage system repairs yourself.