Special Care During Mechanical Repairs

WARNING: To avoid injury from accidental air bag deployment, read and carefully follow all SERVICE PRECAUTIONS and DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM procedures.

WARNING: In an effort to create safer air bags, manufacturers are using dual stage inflator modules with 2 deployment stages. Some models use 2 stage deployment inflators on driver and passenger air bag modules. If stage one was used to deploy a dual stage inflator module, stage 2 may still be active. Therefore, a deployed 2 stage air bag inflator module must be treated as an active module. When deactivating an air bag system with deployed air bags, a deployed 2 stage air bag may still be active. If disposal of a deployed or undeployed dual stage module is required, both deployment loops must be energized to deploy the air bag.

In some instances, it may be necessary to remove the steering column or instrument panel to access electrical components. Observe specific manufacturer SERVICE PRECAUTIONS when working on a vehicle with an air bag system.

Electrical power sources should NEVER be allowed to contact the inflator on the back of the air bag module. NEVER probe air bag system electrical wires with an analog volt-ohmmeter or test light. Always disable air bag system before servicing vehicle. See appropriate DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM procedure. Failure to disable system properly may result in accidental air bag deployment and possible personal injury.

If air bag system is not fully functional for any reason, DO NOT drive vehicle until system is repaired and functions properly. DO NOT remove bulbs, modules, sensors, or other air bag components which will prevent air bag system from operating as designed. If air bag system is not functional, park vehicle until system is repaired and functions properly.