FREE REPAIR MANUALS & LABOR GUIDES 1982-2013 Vehicles
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Procedure 2 - Remote Deployment of Air Bags


This procedure is to be used in the event that a vehicle with a live air bag is to be scrapped, but the vehicle does not contain an intact wiring harness or certain system components are inoperative. This procedure can also be used if Step 7 of Procedure 1 was unsuccessful.

WARNING: REMOTE DEPLOYMENT IS TO BE PERFORMED OUTDOORS WITH ALL PERSONNEL AT LEAST 20 FEET AWAY TO ENSURE PERSONAL SAFETY AND DUE TO THE LOUD REPORT WHICH OCCURS WHEN AN AIR BAG IS DEPLOYED.

1. Remove the driver (and passenger, it equipped) air bag from the vehicle.
2. Cut the two air bag connector wires and strip 25 mm (1 inch) of insulation from the ends. Obtain two wires at least 20 feet long. Connect one end of each wire to each of the air bag module wires.
3. Place the air bag with the trim cover facing upward on a flat surface in a remote area such as a parking lot or field.

WARNING: DO NOT PLACE THE AIR BAG WITH THE TRIM COVER FACING DOWN, AS THE FORCES OF THE DEPLOYING AIR BAG MAY CAUSE IT TO RICOCHET AND CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.

4. Remaining at least 20 feet away from the air bag, deploy the air bag by touching the other ends of the two wires to the terminals of a 12 volt vehicle battery.
5. If successful, a loud report will be heard and the air bag material will be visible. Allow at least 10 minutes before approaching the air bag to allow for cooling.

The air bag is now deployed and may be scrapped in accordance with scrap metal procedures.

The diagnostic monitor is responsible for monitoring the air bag system components and connections. A fault code will be displayed when the ignition switch is in the RUN position and the diagnostic monitor detects a system fault. Certain faults may not be displayed until approximately 30 seconds after the ignition has been switched to the RUN position. This is the amount of time required for the diagnostic monitor to test and verify any and all system faults. The codes are produced by a series of air bag indicator flashes. The fault codes are represented by a two digit decimal number. The two digit fault code will be displayed in the following manner: Flash tens digit, one second pause, flash ones digit, three second pause, repeat cycle. For example, a Fault Code 32 will be displayed according to:

flash flash flash, one second pause, flash flash, three second pause,
flash flash flash, one second pause, flash flash, three second pause...

The coded fault feature is prioritized so that if two or more different faults occur at the same time, the highest priority fault indication will be shown until corrected. The fault codes and their associated priorities are listed in the Fault Code Priority Table. The codes are ranked from top to bottom with the fault at the top of the list having the highest priority and the fault at the bottom of the list having the lowest priority. This listing is for information only and should not be used for system diagnosis or troubleshooting. The following deactivation procedure and diagnostic charts should be used to safely diagnose and service the system.

NOTE: If a system fault exists and the indicator is malfunctioning, an audible tone will be heard indicating the need for service. The tone produced is a series of five sets of five beeps. The number of beeps does not indicate the fault code, it means the indicator is out and a fault is present.