Air Bag, Knee Blocker: Installation: Installation
To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) 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 SRS. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.
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 knee blocker airbag (also known as the Knee AirBag/KAB or Inflatable Knee Blocker/IKB) deployment door must never be painted. Replacement deployment doors are serviced in the original colors. Paint may change the way in which the material of the deployment door 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 Knee AirBag (KAB) (also known as the Inflatable Knee Blocker/IKB). If the airbag is ineffective or damaged, but not deployed, review the recommended procedures for Handling Non-Deployed Supplemental Restraints. Refer to STANDARD PROCEDURE . If the KAB has been deployed, review the recommended procedures for Service After A Supplemental Restraint Deployment before removing the airbag from the vehicle. Refer to STANDARD PROCEDURE .
- Position the Knee AirBag (KAB) (also known as the Inflatable Knee Blocker/IKB) and trim cover unit to the opening in the instrument panel steering column opening cover.
- Reconnect the connector insulator of the instrument panel wire harness take out to the KAB inflator initiator connector receptacle on the right end of the KAB housing by pressing straight in on the connector. You can be certain that the connector is fully engaged in its receptacle by listening carefully for a distinct, audible click as the connector latches snap into place.
- Carefully position the KAB housing through the opening in the steering column opening cover far enough to engage the two outboard studs on the KAB housing through the holes in the instrument panel support structure.
- Reach up under and behind the KAB housing and instrument panel support structure to install and tighten the two nuts that secure the outer studs of the KAB housing to the instrument panel. Tighten the nuts to 10.5 N.m (93 in. lbs.). It was not necessary to remove the smaller nut from the center stud. This nut secures the KAB cushion retainer and inflator within the KAB housing. If it was removed inadvertently, it is a smaller flanged nut than those on the outer studs allowing it to pass through the center hole of the instrument panel support structure without interference.
- Using hand pressure, press on the KAB trim cover over each of the integral latch features on the back of the upper and lower edges of the cover until it engages behind the steering column opening cover.
- Install and tighten the two screws that secure the KAB trim cover to the instrument panel support structure. Tighten the screws securely.
- Do not reconnect the negative cable to the battery at this time. The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Verification Test procedure should be performed following service of any SRS component. Refer to STANDARD PROCEDURE .