What it means
B0024 indicates the SRS/airbag module has detected that the driver frontal airbag Stage-1 deployment loop voltage is outside its calibrated window (too high or too low). OEM service literature ties this to short-to-ground, short-to-battery, or other electrical faults in the steering-wheel airbag high/low control circuits; some manuals explicitly instruct testing those two circuits for shorts when B0024 is present. Charm+1
Several OEM references document numeric criteria. For example, Saab WIS specifies B0024 when the control-module pin voltage is >4.1 ± 0.15 V or <1.0 ± 0.15 V for 2 s, and related loop-resistance thresholds for companion codes (B0022 low resistance, B0026 open/high resistance). While thresholds vary by make, the fault class is consistent: the Stage-1 loop’s electrical parameters are out of range. Saab Wisonline
Typical symptoms
- AIR BAG/SRS warning lamp on; SDM/RCM stores B0024 and may request the cluster to illuminate the indicator.
- Airbag system inhibited until the fault is corrected and cleared.
- No engine drivability symptoms. Charm
Severity / priority
High (safety-critical). A deployment-loop electrical fault can lead to non-deployment or improper deployment of the driver airbag in a crash. Address immediately. Charm
Common causes
- Short-to-ground or short-to-battery in the steering-wheel airbag high/low control circuits.
- Clockspring (spiral cable) damage or internal open/short from wear/rotation.
- Connector/terminal issues (backed-out pins, corrosion, poor tension) at the wheel, column, or SDM.
- Less common: faulty driver airbag module or SRS control module (SDM/RCM). Charm+2ALLDATA+2
Diagnostic notes (process highlights)
- Use an SRS-capable scan tool to confirm B0024, capture freeze-frame, and check for companion loop codes (e.g., B0022, B0026). Follow all OEM SRS safety procedures (battery disconnect/wait times; do not probe live inflator circuits). Charm
- Inspect the clockspring and steering-column harness for damage; flex wiring while monitoring data to expose intermittents. ALLDATA
- Perform circuit tests per the service manual: check for short-to-ground/voltage on the steering-wheel module high/low control circuits; verify loop resistance against spec (with the airbag safely disconnected as directed). Charm+1
- Some OEM criteria document voltage and resistance thresholds (example values noted above) that help pinpoint whether you’re chasing a short, open, or high-resistance condition. Saab Wisonline
Possible fixes
- Repair wiring where a short-to-ground/voltage is found; restore insulation, routing, and strain relief. Charm
- Replace a failed clockspring and perform any required initialization/calibration. ALLDATA
- Correct connector/terminal issues (retension, clean corrosion, replace terminals/housings as needed). Charm
- Replace the driver airbag module only if it fails tests per OEM procedure; evaluate SDM/RCM last, after the loop proves good. Charm
- Clear DTCs, cycle ignition, and verify with a re-scan/functional check. Charm
Sources
- GM/chevy service-manual extracts describing B0024 diagnostics (test for short to ground or voltage on steering-wheel module high/low circuits; SDM indicator request). Charm+1
- GM diagnostic table PDF for DTC B0022/B0024/B0026 (step-by-step circuit checks, intermittent/poor-connection guidance). JustAnswer
- Saab WIS (example numeric thresholds for B0022/B0024/B0026). Saab Wisonline
- ALLDATA Tech-Assist case note referencing B0024 voltage out of range and B0026 open with clockspring diagnosis. ALLDATA
- Practitioner/tech discussions corroborating common failure points (clockspring, connectors). Diesel Place