Airbag System: Notes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2001 Dodge Viper and 2000 Dodge Viper. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

WARNING: The airbag system is a sensitive, complex electromechanical unit. Before attempting to diagnose or service any airbag system or, related steering wheel, steering column, or instrument panel components you must first disconnect and isolate the negative battery cable. Then wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before further system service. This is the only sure way to disable the airbag system. Failure to do so could result in accidental deployment and possible personal injury.

WARNING: Never strike or kick the airbag control module, as it can damage the impact sensor or affect its calibration. If an airbag control module is accidentally dropped during service, the module has to be scrapped and replaced with a new unit.

The Airbag Control Module (ACM) is secured to a bracket on the floor panel transmission tunnel below the instrument panel inside the vehicle. The ACM mounting bracket also serves as the instrument panel center support. The ACM's microprocessor determines when the deceleration rate signaled by the impact sensor indicates that the impact is severe enough to require airbag protection. When the programmed conditions are met, the ACM sends an electrical signal to deploy the airbag system components.

Only one impact sensor is used in this airbag system. The impact sensor is an accelerometer that senses the rate of vehicle deceleration, which provides verification of the direction and severity of the impact. The impact sensor is calibrated for the specific vehicle, and is only serviced as a unit with the ACM.

The ACM also contains an energy storage capacitor. This capacitor stores enough electrical energy, to deploy the airbags, for one second following a battery disconnect or failure during an impact. The purpose of the capacitor is to provide the airbag system protection in a severe secondary impact if the initial impact has damaged or disconnected the battery, but was not severe enough to deploy the airbags.

The airbag warning lamp is the only point at which the customer can observe "symptoms" of a system malfunction. The warning lamp is hardwired to the ACM. Whenever the ignition key is turned to the "start" or "run" position, the ACM performs a lamp check by turning the AIRBAG warning lamp on for 6-8 seconds. If the lamp remains off, it means that the ACM has checked the system and found it to be free of discernible malfunctions. If the lamp remains on, there could be an active fault in the system or the message center lamp circuit may be internally shorted to ground. If the lamp comes on and stays on for a period longer than 6-8 seconds than goes off, there is usually in intermittent problem in the system.

Perform the WARNING LAMP OPEN/SHORTED procedure to find the cause of any customer complaint regarding the airbag warning lamp, such as:

Warning Lamp Does Not Illuminate
Warning Lamp Stays Illuminated With No Active DTC's

The ACM cannot be repaired or adjusted and, if damaged or faulty, it must be replaced.