FREE REPAIR MANUALS & LABOR GUIDES 1982-2013 Vehicles
Courtesy of Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Air Bag Systems: Service Precautions

WARNINGS:
- THIS SYSTEM IS A SENSITIVE, COMPLEX ELECTRONIC UNIT. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE REMOTE CABLE BEFORE BEGINNING AIRBAG SYSTEM COMPONENT REMOVAL OR INSTALLATION PROCEDURES. THIS WILL DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAILURE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY. ALLOW SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE FOR TWO MINUTES BEFORE REMOVING AIRBAG COMPONENTS.

- DO NOT PLACE AN INTACT UNDEPLOYED AIRBAG FACE DOWN ON A SOLID SURFACE, THE AIRBAG WILL PROPEL INTO THE AIR IF ACCIDENTALLY DEPLOYED AND COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY. WHEN CARRYING OR HANDLING AN UNDEPLOYED AIRBAG, THE TRIM SIDE OF THE AIRBAG SHOULD BE POINTING AWAY FROM THE BODY TO MINIMIZE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY IF ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT OCCURS. REPLACE AIRBAG SYSTEM COMPONENTS WITH MOPAR� REPLACEMENT PARTS ONLY. SUBSTITUTE PARTS MAY APPEAR INTERCHANGEABLE, BUT INTERNAL DIFFERENCES MAY RESULT IN INFERIOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION.

- WEAR SAFETY GLASSES, RUBBER GLOVES, AND LONG SLEEVED CLOTHING WHEN CLEANING POWDER RESIDUE FROM THE VEHICLE AFTER AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. SODIUM HYDROXIDE POWDER RESIDUE EMITTED FROM A DEPLOYED AIRBAG CAN CAUSE SKIN IRRITATION. FLUSH AFFECTED AREA WITH COOL WATER IF IRRITATION IS EXPERIENCED. IF NASAL OR THROAT IRRITATION IS EXPERIENCED, EXIT THE VEHICLE FOR FRESH AIR UNTIL THE IRRITATION CEASES. IF IRRITATION CONTINUES, SEE A PHYSICIAN. DO NOT USE A REPLACEMENT AIRBAG THAT IS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL PACKAGING, IMPROPER DEPLOYMENT AND PERSONAL INJURY CAN RESULT.

- THE FACTORY INSTALLED FASTENERS, SCREWS AND BOLTS USED TO FASTEN AIRBAG COMPONENTS HAVE A SPECIAL COATING AND ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. DO NOT USE SUBSTITUTE FASTENERS, USE ONLY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FASTENERS LISTED IN THE PARTS CATALOG WHEN FASTENER REPLACEMENT IS REQUIRED. AIRBAGS SHOULD BE STORED IN A COOL, DRY PLACE, AWAY FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT AND STATIC ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY WITH THE FABRIC AIRBAG FACING OR IF NOT, A PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT.

- THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG SYSTEM CONTAINS SENSITIVE, COMPLEX ELECTRO-MECHANICAL UNITS. BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE OR SERVICE ANY SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG SYSTEM COMPONENTS, YOU MUST FIRST DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAILURE TO DO THIS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG MODULE DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

- DO NOT PLACE A NON-DEPLOYED SIDE AIRBAG FACE DOWN ON A HARD SURFACE, THE AIRBAG WILL PROPEL INTO THE AIR IF ACCIDENTALLY DEPLOYED, AND COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURY.

- BEFORE SERVICING A SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE (SIACM), ALWAYS DISCONNECT THE APPROPRIATE (LEFT OR RIGHT) SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG CONNECTOR UNDER THE SEAT TO ENGAGE THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG SYSTEM SHORTING BAR TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT.

- DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DISMANTLE A SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG MODULE OR TAMPER WITH ITS INFLATOR. DO NOT PUNCTURE, INCINERATE, OR BRING NTO CONTACT WITH ELECTRICITY. DO NOT STORE AT TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING 93 °C (200 °F).

- REPLACE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG SYSTEM COMPONENTS ONLY WITH PARTS SPECIFIED IN THE MOPAR PARTS CATALOG. SUBSTITUTE PARTS MAY APPEAR INTERCHANGEABLE, BUT INTERNAL DIFFERENCES MAY RESULT IN INFERIOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION.