Side Curtain 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 unit and other interior surfaces. In large doses, these deposits may cause irritation to the skin and eyes.

WARNING: To avoid serious or fatal injury, use extreme care to prevent any foreign material from entering the side curtain airbag, or becoming entrapped between the side curtain airbag cushion and the garnish molding. Failure to observe this warning could result in occupant injuries upon airbag deployment.

NOTE: The following procedure is for replacement of an ineffective or damaged side curtain airbag. If the airbag is ineffective or damaged, but not deployed, review the recommended procedures for handling non-deployed supplemental restraints. . If the side curtain 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. Remove the trim from the inside of the A-pillar (1). .
3. Remove the screw that secures the tether on the back of the A-pillar trim to the inside of the upper A-pillar and set the trim aside.

CAUTION: Do not pull on the wires to disengage the connector from the curtain airbag inflator connector receptacle. Improper removal of the connector insulator can result in damage to the airbag circuits or the connector insulator.

4. Disconnect the wire harness connector (5) for the curtain airbag from the inflator initiator (6). 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.
5. Remove the two screws (3) that secure the curtain airbag inflator bracket (2) to the inside of the A-pillar.





6. Remove the screw (1) that secures the curtain airbag (3) and garnish molding front bracket (2) to the inside of the upper A-pillar (4).





7. Disengage the upper end of the trim (4) from the inside of the upper B-pillar (3). .
8. Pull the top of the B-pillar trim away from the curtain airbag garnish molding (1) far enough to access and remove the screw (2) that secures the rear bracket to the inside of the roof rail.
9. Grasp both ends of the curtain airbag garnish molding and pull it firmly and evenly downward far enough to disengage it from between the headliner and the roof rail.
10. Pull the curtain airbag inflator upward far enough to disengage it from between the A-pillar and the instrument panel and remove the curtain airbag from the vehicle as a unit.