Air Bag, Passenger: 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, 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 becoming entrapped between the passenger airbag cushion and the instrument panel top pad. Failure to observe this warning could result in occupant injuries upon airbag deployment.
To avoid serious or fatal injury, the instrument panel top pad must never be painted. Replacement top pads are serviced in the original colors. Paint may change the way in which the material of the top pad 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 AirBag (PAB). If the airbag 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 airbag from the vehicle. Refer to SERVICE AFTER A SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM DEPLOYMENT .
- Place the instrument panel cover (1) on a suitable work surface with the receptacle of the PAB retainer or chute (2) facing up. Be certain to take the proper precautions to prevent the cover from receiving cosmetic damage during the following procedures.
- Carefully position the PAB housing into the PAB retainer receptacle.
- Engage the hooks (2) on the PAB housing (1) through the windows in the forward flange of the PAB retainer or chute on the underside of the instrument panel cover.
- Roll the bottom of the PAB housing rearward to engage the two PAB housing mounting tabs (3) over the retainer studs on each side of the PAB retainer on the underside of the cover.
- Install and tighten the nuts that secure the PAB mounting tabs to the retainer studs. Tighten the nuts to the proper torque specification. Refer to TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .
- Install the PAB and instrument panel cover onto the instrument panel structural support or armature as a unit. Refer to COVER, INSTRUMENT PANEL, INSTALLATION .
- 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 .