NO
AU
B1601-00

DTC B1601-00 indicates the airbag control unit (SRS ECU) detects an abnormally low-resistance path to body ground in the driver frontal airbag (DAB) ignition circuit — Atto 3

Safety System

DTC B1601-00 indicates the airbag control unit (SRS ECU) detects an abnormally low-resistance path to body ground in the driver frontal airbag (DAB) ignition circuit.

Under normal conditions, the airbag igniter circuit resistance measures 2.0-3.0 Ω, and the insulation resistance to ground exceeds 10 MΩ.

Damaged wiring harness insulation, an internal clock spring short circuit, or a grounded connector terminal significantly reduces circuit resistance (typically below 1 Ω), causing the ECU to register a short-to-ground fault.

This fault prevents the driver airbag from deploying during a collision (fail-safe mode) or, in extreme cases, causes unexpected deployment due to false triggering.

As a critical passive safety hard fault, immediately remove the vehicle from service for repair.

4
Cases Logged
Real-World Cases
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Internal short circuit in the Qin EV300 clock spring caused the airbag warning light to illuminate.

✓
A 2017 Qin EV300 with 82,000 km displayed "Please check SRS system" on the dashboard. The technician retrieved DTC B1601-00. After disconnecting the battery and removing the steering wheel, the technician found slight burn marks at the bottom of the clock spring. Using a multimeter, the technician measured the upstream wiring harness resistance to earth as normal (infinite), but the downstream (airbag side) resistance to earth was 0.3 Ω. The technician replaced the clock spring (Part No.: EG-4121100), cleared the fault code, and the fault did not recur. The root cause was prolonged steering lock usage causing fatigue fracture of the clock spring's internal ribbon cable; the core wire contacted the metal housing, creating a short to earth.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Water-damaged vehicle: driver airbag connector corroded and short-circuited

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A 2018 Qin EV450 previously had water ingress due to a blocked sunroof drain. One month after the repair, DTC B1601-00 appeared. Inspection found green copper corrosion inside the yellow airbag connector under the steering wheel; pin 2 (airbag low side) was shorted to the connector housing. Cleaning the terminals, applying dielectric grease, and repairing the wiring harness waterproof boot cleared the fault. Water ingress faults like this often trigger multiple SRS DTCs at once. Carefully check the sealing of all yellow connectors.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Improperly installed dashboard wiring harness caused a short circuit after accident repair

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A 2017 Qin 100 had its instrument panel assembly replaced at a non-authorised repair shop following a front-end collision. One week after handover, the airbag warning light came on. Diagnosis revealed active DTC B1601-00. Removing the instrument panel showed the driver's airbag harness had been trapped by a mounting bolt as it passed through the cross-member. The insulation wore through, exposing the copper core and creating a short to ground. The harness was rerouted and secured with dedicated clips, maintaining more than 20 mm clearance from sharp edges. After repairing the damaged wiring, the fault cleared. This case highlights the importance of correct wiring harness routing in accident repairs.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

SRS ECU internal monitoring circuit false positive (false short circuit)

✓
A 2017 BYD Qin 80 intermittently set DTC B1601-00. When the fault occurred, the airbag harness showed normal resistance to ground. The DTC could be cleared, but it would randomly recur while driving. Disconnecting the airbag module and connecting a 2.7Ω resistor across the harness side to simulate a normal airbag load did not eliminate the fault. The root cause was an internal monitoring chip failure in the SRS control unit, causing false short-to-ground detection. Replacing the SRS ECU beneath the centre console (which required immobiliser matching and airbag configuration coding) permanently fixed the fault. After ruling out the harness and airbag module, consider these types of false faults.
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: Community This information is for reference only. Always consult a qualified technician for diagnosis and repair. Do not attempt high-voltage system repairs yourself.