Side Air Bag: Service and Repair
SIDE AIR BAG MODULEWorldwide Diagnostic System (WDS):
Special Tool(s)
Removal
WARNING:
- Always wear safety glasses when repairing an air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) vehicle and when handling an air bag module. This will reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accidental deployment.
- Carry a live side air bag module with the air bag and tear seam pointed away from your body. This will reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accidental deployment.
- Do not set a live side air bag module down on the cover tear seam. This will reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accidental deployment.
- After deployment, the air bag surface can contain deposits of sodium hydroxide, a product of the gas generant combustion that is irritating to the skin. Wash your hands with soap and water afterwards.
- Never probe the connectors on the air bag module. Doing so can result in air bag deployment, which can result in personal injury.
- Side air bag modules with damaged covers must be replaced.
- Front seat back trim covers installed on seats equipped with side air bags cannot be repaired, they are to be replaced. Cleaning is permissible.
- To reduce the risk of personal injury, do not use any memory saver devices.
CAUTION: It is necessary to rezero the occupant classification sensor (OCS) system when a front passenger seat cushion is disassembled, a new trim cover is installed, or an OCS service kit is installed. A diagnostic tool is used to trigger the active command to carry out rezeroing of the OCS system.
NOTE:
- If a side air bag deployment took place, a new seat back pad, trim cover, and side air bag module must be installed. The seat back frame should be replaced if necessary.
- When replacing the side air bag after deployment, refer to Seats for additional information concerning the installation of a new side air bag.
- The SRS must be fully operational and free of faults before releasing the vehicle to the customer.
- The driver seat side air bag module is shown, the passenger side is similar.
- Repair is made by installing a new part only. If the new part does not correct the condition, install the original part and carry out the diagnostic procedure again.
All seats
1. Position the seat to access all the seat track-to-floor pan bolts and the safety belt anchor.
2. Depower the system.
3. Remove the front seat.
Seats with manual recline
4. Pull out and remove the manual recline handle.
Seats with power
5. Remove the power seat switch knobs.
All seats
6. Remove the rear screw, pull out on the side and front and separate the side shield.
- Vehicles with manual seats, remove the side shield.
Seats with power
7. Remove the power seat control switch and remove the side shield.
All seats
8. Release the rear seat cushion trim cover J-clip.
9. Release the hook and loop strip at the rear of the seat cushion trim cover.
10. Disconnect the side air bag module electrical connector.
11. Release the side air bag module wire routing clips.
Seats with manual lumbar adjust
12. Remove the manual lumbar handle.
- On driver seat, remove the clip and manual lumbar handle.
- On passenger seat, remove the screw and the manual lumbar handle.
All seats
13. Release the seat back lower trim cover J-clip.
14. WARNING: Front seat back trim covers installed on seats equipped with side air bags cannot be repaired; they are to be replaced (cleaning is permissible).
CAUTION: Use care when separating the seat cushion trim cover from the hook and loop strip. The hook and loop strip can be torn from the seat cushion foam.
Place a hand between the seat backrest trim cover and foam pad and carefully separate the hook and loop strips, then carefully roll up the seat back trim cover in an inside out fashion to the first row of hog rings in the front.
- On passenger seat, pull the backrest fold flat nylon release strap through the trim cover bezel opening.
15. Remove the first row of hog rings.
16. Release the hook and loop strips and carefully roll up the seat back trim cover to the second row of hog rings in the front.
17. Release the J-clips at the back of the trim cover.
18. Release the side air bag module backrest trim cover chute J-clip from around the side air bag module cover.
19. Feed the side air bag module backrest trim cover chute and J-clip retainer out through the side air bag module backrest foam pad opening.
20. Release the hook and loop strip, and then invert the trim cover to the third row of hog rings front and rear and remove the hog rings (backside hog rings shown).
21. NOTE: Vehicles with manual lumbar adjust shown.
Remove the hog rings attaching the lumbar basket (if equipped) or backrest support (if equipped) and foam pad to the backrest frame and then position the foam pad aside.
22. NOTE:
- Seat backrest trim cover and foam are removed for clarity.
- Note the routing of the side air bag module wiring for installation.
Release the side air bag module wire routing clips.
23. Remove the 2 nuts and the side air bag module.
Installation
WARNING:
- Inspect the mounting surfaces of the side air bag module and the seat back frame mounting bracket for any foreign objects before installing the side air bag module. If any foreign objects are found, remove them. Failure to do so may result in personal injury, in the event of an air bag deployment.
- Before installing the side air bag module, check it for damage and foreign objects. If the air bag module is damaged, replace it. If any foreign objects are found, remove them. Failure to do so may result in personal injury, in the event of an air bag deployment.
- If the air bag cover has separated or the air bag material has been exposed, install a new side air bag module. Do not attempt to repair the air bag module. Failure to do so may result in personal injury in the event of an air bag deployment.
CAUTION: Make sure the side air bag module wiring harness is not pinched between the side air bag module and the backrest frame.
All seats
1. Install the side air bag module and nuts onto the seat backrest frame.
- To install, tighten to 10 Nm (89 lb-in).
2. NOTE: Seat backrest trim cover and foam are removed for clarity.
Attach the side air bag module wire routing clips.
3. Install the hog rings attaching the lumbar basket (if equipped) or backrest support (if equipped) to the foam pad and the backrest frame.
4. Roll down the trim cover and install the third row of hog rings front and rear (backside hog rings shown).
5. Roll down the seat trim cover to the side air bag module.
6. Feed the side air bag module backrest trim cover chute and J-clip retainer back through the side air bag module backrest foam pad opening.
7. Install the side air bag module backrest trim cover chute and attach the J-clip retainers.
8. Attach the J-clips at the back of the trim cover.
9. Attach the hook and loop strips, and roll the seat back trim cover down and install the second row of hog rings.
10. Attach the hook and loop strips, and roll the seat back trim cover down and install the first row of hog rings.
Passenger seat
11. Pull the backrest fold flat nylon release strap through the trim cover bezel opening.
All seats
12. Attach the seat back lower trim cover J-clip.
Seats with manual lumbar adjust
13. Install the manual lumbar handle.
1 On driver seat, install the clip and manual lumbar handle.
2 On passenger seat, install the screw and the manual lumbar handle.
All seats
14. Attach the side air bag module wire routing clips.
15. Connect the side air bag module electrical connector.
16. Attach the hook and loop strip at the rear of the seat cushion.
17. Attach the rear seat cushion trim cover J-clip.
Seats with power
18. Install the power seat control switch to the side shield.
All seats
19. Install the side shield and rear screw.
Seats with power
20. Install the power seat switch knobs.
Seats with manual recline
21. Install the recline handle.
All seats
22. Install the front seat.
23. Repower the SRS. If a passenger seat has been serviced, do not prove out the SRS at this time.
Passenger seat only
24. WARNING: Do not separate components.
CAUTION:
- It is necessary to rezero the OCS system when a front passenger seat cushion is disassembled, a new trim cover installed or an OCS service kit is installed. A diagnostic tool is used to trigger the active command to carry out rezeroing of the OCS system.
- Make sure the seat is completely assembled before rezeroing.
- The following precautions must be taken before rezeroing the OCS system.
- Make sure the OCS system components are connected and no faults are present.
- Make sure the OCS system is not at a temperature below 0°C (32°F) or above 45°C (113°F) when initiating the rezeroing process. If the vehicle has been exposed to extreme cold or hot temperatures, the vehicle must be exposed and kept at a temperature within the limits, 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F) for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- Make sure nothing is present on the passenger seat before rezeroing and nothing is placed on the seat during the rezeroing process.
- Make sure a minimum eight second time period has passed after cycling the ignition switch ON before the rezeroing process.
NOTE:
- For best results in rezeroing, the OCS system should be at or near room temperature, 10°C to 29°C (50°F to 85°F).
- If the first attempt to rezero the OCS system is unsuccessful, a second attempt must be made.
Rezero the occupant classification sensor.
- With the front passenger seat empty, use a diagnostic tool to trigger the active command and rezero the OCS.
25. NOTE: The ignition switch must be cycled after rezeroing the OCS system.
Cycle the ignition switch from ON to OFF.
All seats
26. Prove out the supplemental restraint system (SRS) as follows:
Turn the ignition key from ON to OFF. Wait 10 seconds, then turn the key back to ON and visually monitor the air bag indicator with the air bag modules installed. The air bag indicator will light continuously for approximately six seconds and then turn off. If an air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) fault is present, the air bag indicator will:
- fail to light.
- remain lit continuously.
- flash.
The flashing might not occur until approximately 30 seconds after the ignition switch has been turned from the OFF to the ON position. This is the time required for the restraints control module (RCM) to complete the testing of the SRS. If the air bag indicator is inoperative and a SRS fault exists, a chime will sound in a pattern of 5 sets of 5 beeps. If this occurs, the air bag indicator and any SRS fault discovered must be diagnosed and repaired.
Clear all continuous DTCs from the restraints control module using a diagnostic tool.
27. Check the active restraint system for correct operation.