Driver Air Bag Module, Passenger Air Bag Module, Knee Air Bag Module and Seat Side Air Bag Module - Remote Deployment

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 Ford Mustang. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

WARNING: Never probe the electrical connectors on airbag, Safety Canopy or side air curtain assemblies. Failure to follow this instruction may result in the accidental deployment of these assemblies, which increases the risk of serious personal injury or death.

WARNING: Always carry a live airbag with the deployment door, trim cover or tear seam pointed away from the body. Do not place a live airbag down with the deployment door, trim cover or tear seam facing down. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious personal injury in the event of an accidental deployment.

WARNING: Always carry a live Safety Canopy or side air curtain assembly with the tear seam pointed away from your body. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury or death in the event of an accidental deployment.

WARNING: Deploy all supplemental restraint system (SRS) devices (airbags, pretensioners, load limiters, etc.) outdoors with all personnel at least 9 meters (30 feet) away to make sure of personal safety. Due to the loud report which occurs when an SRS device is deployed, hearing protection is required. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious personal injury.

NOTE: For air bag modules with multiple loops, deploy all of the loops on the air bag module.

NOTE: Some driver and passenger front air bags have 2 deployment stages and an active canister vent. After a collision it is possible that Stage 1 has deployed and Stage 2 and the active canister vent have not.
If a front air bag module has deployed, it is mandatory that the front air bag module be remotely deployed using the appropriate air bag disposal procedure.

NOTE: A typical air bag disposal is shown that is similar for all vehicles.

All driver, passenger, knee and seat side air bag modules

Make a container to house the air bag module for deployment.
- NOTE: The tires must be of sufficient size to accommodate the air bag module.
  
  Obtain a tire and wheel assembly and an additional 4 tires (without wheels) of the same size.
- With the tire and wheel assembly on the bottom, stack the tires.
- Securely tie all of the tires together.
  
  Fig 1: Placing Air Bag Modules Inside Tires For Deployment
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Depower the SRS. Refer to SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) DEPOWERING AND REPOWERING in the General Procedures portion.
Remove the air bag module. Refer to the appropriate procedure in this article.
NOTE: If the air bag module does not have a hard-wired pigtail, cut the wires and connector(s) from the vehicle wire harness and reconnect to the air bag module.

Cut each of the air bag module wires near the electrical connector that connects to the vehicle wire harness.
Remove any sheathing (if present) and strip the insulation from the ends of the cut wires.
NOTE: Typical driver air bag module with 2 loops shown, other air bag modules with multiple loops or multiple features (canister vent, active tether) similar.

For air bag modules with multiple loops, twist together a wire from each loop then repeat for the remaining wires from each loop.

Fig 2: Locating Air Bag Module Wire Loops
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Make a jumper harness to deploy the air bag module.
- Obtain 2 wires (20 gauge minimum) at least 9.14 m (30 ft) long and strip both ends of each wire.
- At one end of the jumper harness, connect the wires together.
Using the end of the jumper harness where the wires are not connected together, attach each wire of the jumper harness to each wire of the air bag module or to the twisted-together wires if multiple loops. Use tape or other insulating material to make sure that the leads do not make contact with each other.

Fig 3: Attaching Wire Of Jumper Harness To Wire Of Air Bag Module
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Driver air bag modules
NOTE: Make sure the air bag connections are maintained.

For driver air bag modules, with the stack of tires upright and the wheel on the bottom, carefully place the driver air bag module, with the trim cover facing up, on the wheel.

Fig 4: Placing Driver Air Bag Module With Trim Cover Facing Up, On Wheel
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Passenger, knee and seat side air bag modules
NOTE: Make sure the air bag connections are maintained.

Tip the stack of tires on its side and place the air bag module inside the center tire, making sure that there are 2 tires beneath the tire containing the air bag module and 2 tires (including the tire and wheel assembly) above the tire containing the air bag module.
Place the tire stack upright, with the wheel on top.

Fig 5: Placing Tire Stack Upright, With Wheel On Top
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

All driver, passenger, knee and seat side air bag modules
Remain at least 9.14 m (30 ft) away from the air bag module.
From the end of the jumper harness that is not connected to the air bag module, disconnect the 2 wires of the jumper harness from each other.
Deploy the air bag module by touching the ends of the 2 wires of the jumper harness to the terminals of a 12-volt battery.
To allow for cooling, wait at least 10 minutes before approaching the deployed air bag module.
Dispose of the deployed air bag module in the same manner as any other part to be scrapped.