B1705

DTC B1705 indicates the airbag control module (SRS ECU) detects a short to ground in the left curtain shield airbag ignition circuit — Qin Plus

Safety System

DTC B1705 indicates the airbag control module (SRS ECU) detects a short to ground in the left curtain shield airbag ignition circuit.

During self-diagnostics or real-time monitoring, the ECU detects the insulation resistance between the left curtain airbag ignition line (typically designated as pins FL- or F5) and body ground falls below the threshold (typically <2Ω).

This indicates a short-to-ground path in the ignition circuit, which may cause: 1) Curtain airbag fails to deploy during a collision (current shorts to ground and cannot ignite the gas generator). 2) Risk of unintended curtain airbag deployment under abnormal conditions (intermittent poor contact at the short point generates sparks).

This constitutes a hard fault in the active safety system.

The ECU immediately illuminates the SRS warning light and disables the entire airbag system (including driver, passenger, and side airbags), eliminating side-impact protection.

5
Cases Logged
5
Causes
  • 1Physical wiring harness damage: The left curtain airbag wiring harness (usually routed along the A-pillar, B-pillar, and roof side rail) rubs against sharp metal body edges, damaging the insulation and allowing the copper core to directly contact the vehicle frame. This commonly occurs after vehicle wading, interior trim removal/installation, or accident repairs.
  • 2Connector water ingress and corrosion: A poorly sealed airbag wiring harness connector inside the left front door sill trim panel or below the B-pillar allows water ingress during car washing, wading, or high-humidity conditions. This causes a short circuit between pins or from the pins to the housing (ground), forming an oxide layer that creates abnormal resistance to ground.
  • 3Internal gas generator fault: Igniter (squib) insulation failure inside the left curtain airbag assembly shorts the igniter pins to the curtain airbag metal bracket or vehicle body. Curtain airbag aging, previous impacts, or manufacturing defects typically cause this.
  • 4SRS ECU internal monitoring circuit fault: A damaged voltage monitoring chip or sampling resistor inside the airbag control module causes a false short-to-ground report. This condition typically occurs intermittently or alongside related fault codes for other airbag circuits.
  • 5Ground interference or incorrect wiring: During installation of dash cams, ambient lighting, or audio modifications, installers mistakenly use the curtain airbag wiring harness as a ground wire, or tie the curtain airbag wiring harness too tightly to the ground wire during routing, causing insulation damage.
  • 1
    Safety Preparation: Move the vehicle to a well-ventilated area, turn off the ignition switch, disconnect the 12V battery negative terminal, and wait at least 90 seconds (to fully discharge the SRS ECU energy storage capacitor, preventing accidental airbag deployment and personal injury).
  • 2
    Initial visual inspection: Remove the left A-pillar, B-pillar, and left roof trim panels. Carefully inspect the left curtain airbag wiring harness along its routing (from the SRS ECU to the left C-pillar). Focus on contact points with the metal frame, harness retaining clips, and pass-through holes. Look for insulation damage, burn marks, or crush marks.
  • 3
    Electrical isolation test: Disconnect the SRS ECU connector (located under the center console or inside the center armrest) and the left curtain airbag connector (usually located at the C-pillar or roof side rail). Use a multimeter to measure the resistance between the curtain airbag-side wiring harness and body ground. Normal resistance is infinity (OL). A continuity reading (<1Ω) confirms the wiring harness is shorted to ground.
  • 4
    Sectional fault location method: To troubleshoot a confirmed short circuit, use the sectional isolation method. Measure the curtain airbag resistance at the curtain airbag connector (normal: 2.0-3.0Ω). If normal, the short circuit is in the wiring harness. Check intermediate connectors (such as the B-pillar mating connector) and troubleshoot each section sequentially until locating the short circuit.
  • 5
    Repair or replace: For damaged wiring harnesses, repair the insulation with heat-shrink tubing or waterproof tape and reroute the harness to avoid contact with sharp edges. For corroded connectors, clean the terminals and apply conductive grease; replace the connector if necessary. If the curtain airbag has a short circuit, replace the entire left-side curtain airbag assembly (non-repairable).
  • 6
    System verification: After repair, reconnect all connectors and the battery. Use the VDS or X431 diagnostic tool to clear the fault code and perform an SRS system self-check (Active Test). Confirm B1705 does not return and the SRS warning light turns off. Finally, perform a road test to confirm the fault does not recur during vehicle vibration.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Left curtain airbag connector corroded and short-circuited after water ingress.

A 2020 BYD Song MAX came in with the SRS warning light on after driving through deep water during heavy rain. Diagnostics pulled fault code B1705. Removing the left front sill trim exposed the airbag harness connector beneath the B-pillar, which contained a significant amount of muddy water. Green corrosion was present between pin 3 (curtain airbag negative) and the metal connector shell, with a measured resistance of 0.8 ohms. The cause was traced to aged door seals that allowed water to enter through the B-pillar when wading. Repair involved cleaning the connector thoroughly, drying the harness with compressed air, fitting a waterproof replacement connector, and resealing the area. The fault cleared.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Wiring harness pinched after accident repair, causing intermittent short circuit

After a left-side collision repair, the SRS warning lamp illuminated intermittently on a 2019 BYD Yuan EV. The diagnostic scan tool showed historic fault code B1705. Inspection revealed that when the left rear quarter panel was replaced, the technician had not clipped the curtain airbag wiring harness into its retaining channel correctly. The harness was trapped between the C-pillar trim clip and the bodywork, causing intermittent shorts to ground during vibration. Solution: Rerouted the harness, repaired damaged insulation, and secured the harness using genuine clips to maintain adequate clearance from the body. The fault has not recurred.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

A-pillar modification caused the curtain airbag circuit to short to ground

A 2021 BYD Tang triggered a B1705 fault immediately on startup after installing A-pillar tweeters. Inspection found the modification shop had incorrectly connected the speaker ground wire to the curtain airbag harness shield, and poor insulation caused it to contact the chassis. Since the curtain airbag ignition circuit has extremely low resistance to ground (normally it should be floating), the ECU judged this as a short circuit. Solution: remove the improper wiring, restore the factory harness, reroute the speaker wiring to a proper body ground point, and clear the fault codes. The system returned to normal.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Igniter insulation failure inside the curtain airbag assembly

2019 BYD Qin petrol, no accident or modification history. At 80,000 km, the SRS warning light illuminated intermittently, and DTC B1705 would not clear. Wiring harness measurements showed normal continuity from the ECU to the curtain airbag connector, but the resistance between the left curtain airbag igniter pin and the airbag's metal bracket was 0.3Ω (should be infinite). Diagnosed as an internal short in the inflator. Replaced the left curtain airbag assembly (part number must match vehicle VIN) and performed system configuration and coding. Fault resolved.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

SRS ECU software false positive (false fault)

A 2021 BYD Tang displayed an SRS warning on the instrument cluster after an infotainment system upgrade. The scan retrieved DTC B1705 along with several unrelated airbag codes. The left curtain airbag harness resistance was normal at 2.3 Ω, with good insulation to ground. The problem was traced to 12V power fluctuations during the upgrade, which corrupted data in the SRS ECU. Performed an SRS ECU initialisation/reset using VDS, refreshed calibration data, and cleared the codes. The fault did not return—a confirmed software false alarm.
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.