Passenger Air Bag - Description

DESCRIPTION





The horizontal surface of the injection molded, thermoplastic Passenger Air Bag (PAB) door (1) is the most visible part of the passenger airbag. The PAB door is located above the glove box (2) opening on the top of the instrument panel in front of the front seat passenger seating position.





The edges of the PAB door (4) are secured with integral snap features to the instrument panel base trim. Located below the PAB airbag door within the instrument panel is the passenger airbag unit. The PAB unit is secured through two studs (6) on a stamped mounting bracket to the die cast instrument panel structural support armature.

The PAB housing (3) fits into a molded receptacle on the back of the PAB door, where several stamped hook formations (5) on the forward and rearward edges of the PAB housing are engaged in mating small window openings on the forward and rearward flanges of the receptacle to secure the PAB door to the PAB housing. These PAB door fasteners and mounting provisions are all concealed beneath the instrument panel base trim.

The PAB unit used in this vehicle is a multistage, Next Generation-type that complies with revised federal airbag standards to deploy with less force than those used in some prior vehicles. The PAB unit consists of a stamped and welded metal housing, the airbag cushion, and the airbag inflator (2). The PAB housing contains the airbag inflator and the folded airbag cushion. An approximately 80 centimeter (31.5 inch) wide by 90 centimeter (35.5 inch) high rectangular fabric cushion is used.

The airbag inflator is a non-azide, pyrotechnic-type unit that is secured to and sealed within the PAB housing. Two inflator initiators (1) are connected to the vehicle electrical system through dedicated take outs and connectors of the instrument panel wire harness.

A service replacement PAB does not include the PAB door. The PAB door may be disassembled from the PAB unit and is available for individual service replacement. The PAB unit cannot be repaired and must be replaced if deployed, ineffective, or in any way damaged.