Passenger Air Bag
To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbags, airbag curtains, knee blocker, seat belt tensioner, impact sensor or instrument panel component diagnosis or service. Disconnect the Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS)/negative battery cable assembly from the negative battery post, then wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before performing further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure way to disable the SRS. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.
To avoid serious or fatal injury when removing a deployed airbag, rubber gloves, eye protection, and a long-sleeved shirt should be worn. There may be deposits on the airbag unit and other interior surfaces. In large doses, these deposits may cause irritation to the skin and eyes.
To avoid serious or fatal injury, use extreme care to prevent any foreign material from entering the passenger airbag, or from becoming entrapped between the airbag cushion and the deployment door. Failure to observe this warning could result in occupant injuries upon airbag deployment.
To avoid serious or fatal injury, the instrument panel cover must never be painted. Replacement covers are serviced in the original colors. Paint may change the way in which the material of the cover responds to an airbag deployment. Failure to observe this warning could result in occupant injuries upon airbag deployment.
The following procedure is for replacement of an ineffective or damaged Passenger Air Bag (PAB). If the air bag is ineffective or damaged, but not deployed, review the recommended procedures for Handling Non-Deployed Supplemental Restraints. Refer to HANDLING NON-DEPLOYED SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINTS . If the PAB has been deployed, review the recommended procedures for Service After A Supplemental Restraint Deployment before removing the air bag from the vehicle. Refer to SERVICE AFTER A SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM DEPLOYMENT .
REMOVAL
- Disconnect and isolate the negative battery cable(s). Refer to BATTERY DISCONNECT - DUAL 12 VOLT BATTERY SYSTEM, 3.0L , BATTERY DISCONNECT AND CONNECT - SINGLE 12V BATTERY SYSTEM, 6.4L or BATTERY DISCONNECT AND CONNECT - ETORQUE SYSTEM, 5.7L . Wait 2 minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before continuing service.
- Remove the instrument panel pad. Refer to PAD, INSTRUMENT PANEL, REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION .
- Place the instrument panel cover on a suitable work surface with the top facing down. If the cover will be reused, be certain to take the proper precautions to prevent the cover from receiving cosmetic damage during the following procedures.
1 - Passenger Air Bag - Disengage each of the hooks on one side of the PAB housing from the windows in the forward or rearward vertical walls of the PAB chute on the underside of the cover. To disengage the hooks, use a suitable prying tool to pull the upper edge of the receptacle wall outward far enough to disengage the hooks on the adjacent edge of the PAB chute.NOTE:
By pressing the PAB down into the chute it is much easier to disengage the hooks. Also, it is easier to unhook the rearward side (five hook side) first.
- With all of the hooks on one side of the PAB housing disengaged from the chute, rotate that side of the housing upward far enough to disengage the hooks on the opposite side of the housing from the chute.
- With all of the hooks disengaged, lift the PAB housing, inflator and cushion as a unit from the receptacle of the PAB chute on the underside of the instrument panel cover.NOTE:
For a list of all components that must be inspected or replaced after an air bag deployment. Refer to SERVICE AFTER A SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM DEPLOYMENT .
INSTALLATION
Follow the removal procedure in reverse for general reassembly of the components on the vehicle. The steps listed below are calling out specific procedures that should be followed during installation.
- Engage all of the hooks on one side of the PAB housing through the windows on the same side of the PAB chute, then rotate the opposite side of the PAB housing downward toward the chute.
- It is easier to secure the forward side first (six hook side).
- Inspect around the perimeter of the PAB making certain each of the hooks on the PAB housing is fully engaged through the windows in the forward and rearward vertical walls of the PAB chute.
- There are four anti-rattle tabs on the inside of the chute that need to be pointed toward the inflator - they can be engaged using a suitable tool.
- Do not connect the negative battery cable at this time. The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Verification Test procedure should be performed following service of any SRS component. Refer to SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM VERIFICATION TEST .