Body, generic

B001A Center Frontal Stage 3 Deployment Control

Check engine lightUsually off
EmissionsNot relevant
Drive cycleNot required
Limp modeNo

B001A closes the first-row center frontal series and stands for a third stage of a middle-seat frontal airbag, matching B0003 for the driver and B0012 for the passenger. No carmaker documents it publicly in this sense. At General Motors the number belongs to the anchor-mounted belt pretensioner on the driver side, a second pretensioner at the belt end fitting that works next to the retractor unit coded B0015. Its limits match the other GM squib loops: a pretensioner loop reading beyond 4.2 ohms or beneath 1.4 ohms for two seconds sets the code, as do shorts and opens. GM bulletins report it on the 2009-11 Impala with a pinched or misrouted pretensioner harness (PIC5396A, 15-NA-074) and on Equinox and Traverse 2018 (PIE0438). On GM vehicles look at the lower belt anchor first. The airbag lamp is on.

Likely causes

On GM vehicles pinched, misrouted or corroded anchor pretensioner harness
Fault in the third stage loop of a first-row center frontal airbag (J2012 meaning)
Internal fault in the pretensioner

Symptoms

  • Airbag warning lamp on
  • On GM the driver anchor pretensioner may not fire
  • Safety note: do not probe the airbag circuit yourself; unplug airbag connectors only with the battery disconnected and the stated wait time observed

Repair estimate

DifficultyShop_onlyWorkshop job
Parts and labour€80–600
Time0.5–2.5 h

Typical range across vehicles; the real cost depends on what the testing finds.

Parts involved

center frontal airbagdriver seatbelt pretensionersquib circuitsrs control module

Related codes

B0018B0019B0015

References: saabwisonline.com, static.nhtsa.gov, static.nhtsa.gov.