B179B

DTC B179B indicates a short-to-power fault in the front passenger seat belt pretensioner second-stage deployment circuit — Qin Plus

Safety System

DTC B179B indicates a short-to-power fault in the front passenger seat belt pretensioner second-stage deployment circuit.

In the BYD SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) architecture, the pretensioner utilizes a dual-stage ignition design: the first stage lightly retracts the seat belt during the initial collision phase, and the second stage forcefully retracts it to secure the occupant as the collision intensifies.

This DTC sets when the SRS control module detects an abnormally low-resistance path (typically <1Ω) between the front passenger pretensioner second-stage ignition circuit (usually marked as terminals P+ and P-) and vehicle power (B+) or ground (GND), causing the control module to identify a short circuit.

This fault results in the following: 1) the front passenger airbag system enters fail-safe mode, and the instrument cluster airbag warning lamp remains illuminated; 2) the second-stage pretensioner may fail to deploy or deploy unintentionally during an actual collision; 3) because the pretensioner is a pyrotechnic device (containing explosive propellant), continuous short-circuit current creates an accidental ignition and deflagration risk.

Therefore, the system classifies the fault as severe (Level 3) and prohibits vehicle operation.

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Cases Logged
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Worn front passenger seat wiring harness causing intermittent B179B fault on Song MAX

A 2020 Song MAX, 32,000 km, instrument cluster intermittently displayed "Check SRS System." Scan tool retrieved intermittent DTC B179B. Inspection found the front passenger seat rail rear mounting bolt pinching the wiring, chafing the pretensioner power supply insulation and partially exposing the copper. With the seat in specific positions, the exposed harness shorted to ground. Repair: Repaired the damaged wiring with double-layer heat-shrink tubing, rerouted the harness clear of the seat rail mounting point, and replaced the mounting bolt with a dedicated part featuring a wire channel. No recurrence after three months.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Tang DM-i front passenger pretensioner internal short circuit caused airbag warning light to stay on.

2022 BYD Tang DM-i. Passenger airbag warning light stayed on after driving through water. Read DTC B179B current fault. Disassembled and inspected; found obvious water stains and verdigris on the SRS connector beneath the passenger seat, but cleaning did not clear the fault. Measured pretensioner resistance at only 0.3Ω (normal 2.5Ω). Diagnosed water ingress into the second-stage pretensioner causing a short in the igniter bridge wire. Replaced the OEM passenger seatbelt assembly (part number: SA-5820100), dried the wiring harness connector, and applied conductive grease. Fault resolved. Replacement of a safety component requires registration with the local vehicle authority.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Yuan EV SRS control unit internal fault misdiagnosed as pretensioner failure

2019 BYD Yuan EV535. DTC B179B set after accident repair (front impact). The shop had replaced the passenger seatbelt assembly but the fault remained. Further inspection revealed collision impact damaged the SRS control unit (located beneath the gear selector), burning out the internal ignition driver chip. We measured 12V continuously at the control unit output terminals in the untriggered state, causing the system to detect a short to power. Replaced the SRS control unit (part number: BYD-3638100) and recoded/configured the airbag system (requires online configuration using a BYD factory account). Fault resolved. Distinguish between a "wiring short" and "control unit false alarm" on these.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Aftermarket seat ventilation installation caused pretensioner wiring interference on Qin PLUS DM-i

2021 BYD Qin PLUS DM-i. After the customer retrofitted a third-party ventilation and heating system to the front passenger seat, DTC B179B set while driving. Inspection found the installer had spliced the ventilation system power line into the SRS pretensioner supply (yellow harness), causing abnormal voltage in the pretensioner circuit. The control unit detected unexpected voltage fluctuations and diagnosed a power short. Repair: Removed the unauthorized wiring and restored factory harness insulation via soldering and heat-shrink tubing. Replaced the contaminated pretensioner connector (terminals deformed). Note: Never connect any loads in parallel to SRS circuits. The system demands strict line impedance tolerance (±0.5Ω).
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.