Service of Air Bag Equipped Vehicles Involved In Collisions

While servicing an air bag equipped vehicle that has been involved in a collision, check center cowl primary crash front air bag sensor and bracket, center radiator primary crash front air bag sensor and bracket, LH kick panel safing rear air bag sensor and bracket and wiring.

Sensors
Vehicle air bag sensor orientation is critical for proper system operation. An arrow indicating the forward direction is located on each air bag sensor. If a vehicle equipped with driver side air bag module or passenger side air bag module is involved in a crash where the fenders or grille area have been damaged, ensure that body structure in the area of the air bag sensor mounting is restored to its original condition. Inspect the air bag sensor mounting brackets and air bag sensor pigtail for damage.
- If damaged, the air bag sensor should be replaced whether or not the driver side air bag module or passenger side air bag module is deployed.
- Undamaged air bag sensors will reset automatically after a collision and can be reused.

Damaged Wiring

CAUTION: Before attempting diagnostic prove out, check for wiring shorts that could cause the diagnostic monitor thermal fuse to open, to avoid unnecessary replacement.

Inspect the air bag sensor wiring and the wiring harness for any damage that may have occurred due to the collision. Replace any damaged wiring, terminals, insulation or connectors, as required.

If splices are required in adjacent wiring, the splices should be staggered approximately 50 mm (2 inches) apart from each other.









A waterproof butt splice connector should be used on all wiring service in the engine compartment. A heat shrink nylon splice prevents water, salt, condensation and heat from affecting the wiring service.

The inner wail of the splice connector is lined with an adhesive that melts when heated with a heat gun and flows under pressure from the tubing, sealing the splice. The connectors can be crimped with a standard insulated connector crimping tool. The splices are color-coded for gauge identification and are transparent to allow inspection of the finished splice.

Steering Column and Air Bag Sliding Contact
If the collision involved a driver side air bag module or passenger side air bag module deployment, the steering column may have been loaded sufficiently to deform steering column mounting brackets or damage column wiring. An inspection should be made of the column structure and air bag sliding contact wiring to ensure that any damaged components are replaced.

Air Bag System
Prior to attempting diagnostic prove out on a serviced vehicle, thoroughly check center cowl primary crash front air bag sensor and bracket, center radiator primary crash front air bag sensor and bracket, LH kick panel safing rear air bag sensor and bracket and wiring for damaged or pinched wires which may cause the air bag diagnostic monitor internal fuse to blow.

After all service, verify the air bag warning indicator. Turn the ignition switch to RUN and count the flashes only after the code (series of flashes) has cycled twice. If the air bag warning indicator comes on continuously for six seconds and then goes out, the system is functioning properly and all faults have been corrected.