Interior - Passenger Air Bag Cover Not Flush With Dash

Classification:
RS03-001

Reference:
NTB03-021

Date:
March 3, 2003

1999-2002 QUEST; PASSENGER'S FRONT AIR BAG
COVER APPEARANCE

APPLIED VEHICLE:
1999-2002 Quest (V41)

IF YOU CONFIRM:

The cover of the front air bag for the passenger's side of an Applied Vehicle is not flush with the surrounding dash,

ACTIONS:

Remove the passenger side front air bag and:

^ Check the rear attaching clips installation.

^ Adjust the left mounting bracket.





PARTS INFORMATION

CLAIMS INFORMATION





Submit a Primary Failed Part (PP) line claim using the claims coding shown.

IMPORTANT:
The purpose of "ACTIONS" (above) is to give you a quick idea of the work you will be performing. You MUST closely follow the entire Service Procedure (starting) as it contains information that is essential to successfully completing this repair.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

Remove the air bag module assembly. Follow all steps below carefully.

1. Write down the radio station presets. These will be used to reprogram the preset buttons at the end of this procedure.

2. Turn the ignition switch OFF, disconnect both battery cables and wait for at least 3 minutes.





3. Remove the glove box assembly-right hand lower dash panel (see Figure 1).

^ Refer to the Service Manual (ESM), section BT, for glove box removal instructions.

4. Disconnect the passenger front air bag module electrical connector.





5. Remove and discard the special nuts that secure the passenger front air bag module (see Figure 2).

NOTE:
In the following steps:

^ Forward or Front = Towards the front of the vehicle.

^ Rearward or Rear = Towards the rear of the vehicle.





6. Push from the underside while moving the air bag module assembly rearward. This will disengage the three (3) cover clips at the front. (see Figure 3).

CAUTION:
Do not pry on the air bag cover. You may damage it.





7. Pull the air bag up and forward enough to release the three (3) cover clips at the rear.





8. Remove the air bag module from it's mounting position (see figure 5).





9. Check the front cover clips; confirm they are installed correctly (see Figure 6).

Adjust the airbag module mounting bracket for better fit.

10. Adjust (bend) the mounting bracket on the left side up about 1/8 of an inch (3 mm).

Two steps:





a. First, bend the bracket up a small amount as shown in Figure 7.





b. Then use pliers and an adjustable wrench to adjust (bend) the outer end of the bracket back to a horizontal position (see Figure 8).

^ Hold the inside part of the bracket with pliers. While holding with pliers,

^ Use an adjustable wrench to bend the outer end of the bracket down, so that it is back to a horizontal position.

Reinstall the air bag module assembly. Follow all steps below carefully.

11. Reinstall the air bag module in its normal mounting position.

12. Loosely install four (4) new special nuts on the air bag mounting studs (see Figure 2).

CAUTION:
The special nuts are for one time use only. Do not use old nuts after removal; replace with new nuts.





13. Push down and hold the left side of the air bag in place with the palm of one hand and tighten the nuts (see Figure 9).

^ Start with the left most nut first, and fully tighten it.

^ Then, work from left to right and tighten the other nuts.

^ Tighten Nuts to 15-25 N-m, (1.5-2.5 kgm, 11-18 ft-lb).

14. Reconnect the air bag electrical connector.

15. Reinstall the glove box.

16. Reconnect the battery cables.

17. Reprogram the radio presets noted in step 1.