Airbag Control Module: Removal

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the supplemental restraint system before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbag, seat belt tensioner, impact sensor, or instrument panel component diagnosis or service. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative (ground) cable, 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 supplemental restraint system. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, never strike or drop the airbag control module as it can damage the impact sensor or affect its calibration. The airbag control module contains the impact sensor, which enables the system to deploy the supplemental restraints. If an airbag control module is accidentally dropped during service, the module must be scrapped and replaced with a new unit. Failure to observe this warning could result in accidental, incomplete, or improper supplemental restraint deployment.

Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before further service.

Move the driver side front seat to its most forward position for easiest access to the seat riser cover panel. See Fig 1.

Fig 1: Airbag Control Module Location

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - DRIVER SEAT

2 - AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE

3 - SEAT RISER

Remove the two screws that secure the cover panel to the top of the seat riser under the driver side front seat. See Fig 2.

Fig 2: Seat Riser Cover

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - DRIVER SEAT BACK

2 - COVER PANEL

3 - SCREW (2)

4 - SEAT RISER

Remove the cover panel from the top of the driver side seat riser.

Remove the two screws that secure the control module bracket to the top of the seat riser under the driver side front seat. See Fig 3.

Fig 3: Control Module Bracket

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - SEAT RISER

2 - SCREW (2)

3 - CONTROL MODULE BRACKET

Remove the control module bracket from the top of the driver side seat riser.
Locate the Airbag Control Module (ACM) in the right rear corner of the area within the driver side seat riser. Firmly grasp and pull upward on the molded plastic cover to unsnap it from over the ACM. See Fig 4.

Fig 4: ACM Cover
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - SEAT RISER

2 - COVER

3 - ACM

Remove the three screws that secure the ACM to the bracket that is welded onto the floor panel under the driver side front seat. See Fig 5.

Fig 5: Airbag Control Module Remove/Install

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - ACM LABEL

2 - ACM

3 - SCREW (3)

4 - GROUND EYELET

5 - CONNECTOR

Lift the ACM upward far enough to access the ACM wiring connection. Depress the release and lift the lever arm to disconnect the vehicle wire harness connector for the ACM from the ACM connector receptacle located on the left facing side of the module.
Remove the ACM from within the driver side front seat riser.