Missing A Fuse

[EquatorHeat00]

Looked at my fuse box today, and noticed that I was missing 1 fuse. A crank(3A) fuse. Is that important? Can I get a replacement anywhere if it is?

[Injuneer]

Looked at my fuse box today, and noticed that I was missing 1 fuse. A crank(3A) fuse. Is that important? Can I get a replacement anywhere if it is?

According to the 94 Owner's Manual, fuse #16 is for the Diagnostic Energy Reserve Module (DERM), which I believe is related to the Air Bag system. Is the "AIRBAG" light on?

If you don't have your Owner's Manual, you can access one here:

https://www.mygmlink.com/pdf/go2cont...94firebird.pdf

Its a standard 3A fuse, available at any auto parts store. You should keep a couple replacements of each size fuse in the car at all times.

[EquatorHeat00]

No. Its labeled crank on the fuse board. How do you know when a fuse is bad?

[EquatorHeat00]

Fuse 1 - 15A is air bag on my fuse box. Well I'm off to get a fuse.

[EquatorHeat00]

I got a new 3A fuse put back in. Had to buy a pack of 5 for 3.00 dollars. It says fuse 16 is crank on cover- in the manual it says diagnostice energy reserve module, so what does this do? I might have not had this in my car the 7+ years I have owned it not sure. Save gas what?

[Injuneer]

I've seen instructions for working on the airbags, and one of the steps it to remove the fuse for 20 minutes so the power to the "DERM" module can bleed off, and prevent an accidental airbag deployment. My 94 Formula has the fuse in place????

[Injuneer]

This site appears to confirm that:

http://aarc.epnet.com/application/91...COMPONENTS.htm

Isn't necessarily a writeup for the 4th Gen F-Body, but its consistant with what I've seen other places.

[EquatorHeat00]

Ok................................

[EquatorHeat00]

The air bag light flashes 7 times at start up which its suppose to do. I guess its all good, or should I remove the air bag fuse #1 for 20 minutes anyways.

[dochidalgo]

The energy reserve module provides electricity to radio, power windows and the vent fan..for 5 minutes (I'm not sure) after you set the ignition key to one of the 4 options:O-Run-Crank....the one i refer to is set with the engine is off and the key is turn towards yourself....in that position you can be seated in your car listening music, up or down your windows and receive the ouside air from the car vents without waste electricity from the battery..

Hope you understand, I apologize from my bad english grammar!!!
Dochidalgo

[EquatorHeat00]

Ok, that makes sense.

[Injuneer]

That's the RAP (retained accessory power) module, not the DERM. Courtesy of Shoebox:

[Injuneer]

Yet another description of the DERM:

(From: http://www.american-stitches.com/ams...Electrical.htm )

SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (SIR) SYSTEM

General Information

See Figures 1 and 2

All models covered by this manual are equipped with an airbag system. The Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) system helps supplement the protection offered by the seat belts by deploying an air bag from the center of the steering wheel and from the top of the right side of the instrument panel. The air bag deploys when the vehicle is involved in a frontal crash of sufficient force up to 30 degrees off the centerline of the vehicle. To further absorb the crash energy, there is a knee bolster located beneath the instrument panel and the steering column is collapsible.


Fig. 1: Your vehicle should have an SIR system sticker located in the engine compartment



Fig. 2: SIR system deployment window



SYSTEM OPERATION

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The main portions of the SIR system are the deployment loops and the Diagnostic Energy Reserve Module (DERM) or Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM). The main function of the deployment loops is to supply current through the inflator module(s), which will cause deployment of the air bag(s) in the event of a frontal crash of sufficient force. The arming sensor, SIR coil assembly (driver side only), passenger inflator module jumper (passenger side only), inflator module(s), passenger compartment discriminating sensor and forward discriminating sensor make up the deployment loops.

The DERM/SDM has two functions. One to supply the deployment loops with a 23 or 36 (depending upon the year of the vehicle) volt reserve to ensure sufficient energy is available to deploy the airbag(s) if the battery voltage feed to the arming sensor is lost during a frontal crash. Another function is SIR electrical system diagnostics.

The arming sensor switches power to the inflator module(s) on the high side (power side) of the deployment loops. Either of the discriminating sensors can supply ground to the inflator module(s) on the low side (ground side) of the loop. The inflator module(s) are only supplied sufficient current to deploy when the arming sensor and at least one of the two discriminating sensors are closed simultaneously.