Driver Air Bag - Removal

REMOVAL

WARNING: To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the supplemental restraint system before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbag, seat belt tensioner, impact sensor, or instrument panel component diagnosis or service. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative (ground) cable, 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 supplemental restraint system. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.

WARNING: 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 cushion and other interior surfaces. In large doses, these deposits may cause irritation to the skin and eyes.

NOTE: The following procedure is for replacement of an ineffective or damaged driver airbag. If the airbag is ineffective or damaged, but not deployed, review the recommended procedures for handling non-deployed supplemental restraints. . If the driver airbag has been deployed, review the recommended procedures for service after a supplemental restraint deployment before removing the airbag from the vehicle. .





1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before further service.
2. From the underside of the steering wheel (1), remove the two screws (2) that secure the driver airbag (5) to the steering wheel armature.

CAUTION: Do not pull on the clockspring pigtail wires to disengage the connectors from the driver airbag inflator, horn switch or steering wheel switch connector receptacles. Improper pulling on these pigtail wires and their connector insulators can result in damage to the airbag circuits or the connector insulators.

3. Pull the driver airbag away from the steering wheel far enough to access the electrical connections at the back of the airbag housing.
4. Disconnect the clockspring horn and steering wheel switch pigtail wire harness (3) connector from the receptacle on the back of the driver airbag housing.
5. Disconnect the clockspring driver airbag pigtail wire harness connector (4) from the airbag inflator connector receptacle, which is located on the back of the driver airbag housing. To disconnect the connector:
a. Slide the orange Connector Position Assurance (CPA) lock on the connector toward the top of the connector.
b. Depress the connector latch tab and pull the connector straight away from the inflator initiator.
6. Remove the driver airbag from the steering wheel.
7. If the driver airbag has been deployed, the clockspring and the steering wheel must also be replaced. and .