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DTC codes / B00xx · Airbags, seats, doors, lights and comfort systems / B00E0

B00E0Third Row Left Seat Belt Pretensioner B Deployment Control

B00E0 indicates that the restraint control module (RCM) has detected an open circuit, short to ground, or short to voltage in the deployment circuit for the third row left seat belt pretensioner. The module commands a test pulse during self-check and sees an abnormal current or voltage return, so it stores the code and disables that pretensioner.

SystemBody
Code typeGeneric (all makes)
SeverityHigh
Fix difficultyProfessional
AreaAirbags, seats, doors, lights and comfort systems

Symptoms you may notice

  • Supplemental restraint system (SRS) warning light illuminated on the instrument cluster
  • Often no symptoms besides the warning light, with the belt still latching and retracting normally
  • The third row left pretensioner will not fire in a collision, reducing occupant protection
  • A related SRS code may also be stored for the same circuit or a neighbouring pretensioner
  • In some vehicles the RCM may log a history code only after a low-voltage event rather than a hard fault

Common causes, most likely first

  1. Damaged or disconnected electrical connector at the third row left pretensioner
  2. Broken, chafed, or pinched wire in the pretensioner deployment circuit, often at a seat fold or cargo-area pass-through
  3. Corrosion or water intrusion in the connector or wiring harness at the third row seat
  4. Failed pretensioner squib (the internal initiator), which reads open circuit to the module
  5. Faulty restraint control module (RCM) driver circuit, though this is less common than harness faults
  6. Low battery voltage or a recent jump-start that caused the RCM to set a false deployment-circuit code
  7. Aftermarket seat covers, cargo accessories, or audio wiring that disturbed the pretensioner harness

How to diagnose and fix it

  1. Verify battery voltage and charge the battery if low, then clear the code and recheck to rule out a low-voltage false set
  2. Inspect the third row left pretensioner connector for corrosion, loose pins, or a disconnected latch, and reseat it
  3. Trace the deployment circuit wiring from the RCM to the pretensioner, looking for chafing, pinches, or breaks at seat hinges and cargo openings
  4. Measure resistance across the pretensioner squib with a meter only after disabling the SRS system per the manufacturer's procedure, comparing to specification
  5. Check for short-to-ground and short-to-voltage on both circuit legs with the pretensioner disconnected and the RCM connector removed
  6. If wiring and squib test good, substitute a known-good pretensioner or RCM only when the diagnostic flow chart calls for it
  7. After repair, clear codes, perform the SRS verification test, and confirm no codes return with the ignition cycled

Why this code often is not the pretensioner

  • A large share of B00E0 codes are set by a loose connector or chafed wire at the third row seat fold, not by a failed pretensioner, so harness inspection comes before parts replacement.
  • Low battery voltage during cranking or a jump-start can cause the RCM to log a deployment-circuit code that clears after a full charge and a code clear, so always check voltage first.
  • The RCM fires a small test pulse through the squib, so a pretensioner that measures good on a meter can still set the code if the connector pin tension is weak or intermittent.
  • Aftermarket cargo liners, seat covers, or audio wiring routed through the third row area frequently pinch or disturb the pretensioner harness and set this code.
  • This code does not always mean the pretensioner is defective; a fault in the RCM driver or a shared ground can set the same code, so circuit testing must include the module side.

Can I keep driving with B00E0?

The vehicle remains driveable, but the third row left pretensioner is disabled, so avoid carrying passengers in that seating position until the fault is repaired. Do not attempt to test or repair the deployment circuit without first disabling the SRS system per the manufacturer's procedure.

Tools that help

Tools we recommend are in the Auto Veteran shop on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Guidance is general and written for all OBD-II vehicles. Exact tests and values vary by model, so confirm the fault before replacing parts.

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