Driver Airbag: Description

Fig 1: Driver Airbag Trim Cover

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

The color-keyed, injection molded, thermoplastic driver airbag protective trim cover is the most visible part of the driver airbag. See Fig 1. The driver airbag is located in the center of the steering wheel, where it is secured with two screws to the two horizontal spokes of the four-spoke steering wheel armature. All models have a Jeep logo embossed in the center of the trim cover. Concealed beneath the driver airbag trim cover are the horn switch, the folded airbag cushion, the airbag cushion retainer, the airbag housing, the airbag inflator and the retainers that secure the inflator to the airbag housing.

The airbag cushion, housing and inflator unit is secured within an integral receptacle on the back of the trim cover. See Fig 2. The driver airbag trim cover has locking blocks molded into the back side of it that engage a lip formed around the perimeter of the airbag housing. Two stamped metal retainers then fit over the inflator mounting studs on the back of the airbag housing and tabs on the retainers are engaged in slots within the upper and lower trim cover locking blocks, securely locking the cover into place. The stamped metal retainers are secured to the four airbag inflator mounting studs with nuts.

Fig 2: Driver Airbag Trim Cover

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

The resistive membrane-type horn switch is secured within a plastic tray that is inserted into a pocket or pouch sewn onto the airbag cushion retainer strap, between the trim cover and the folded airbag cushion. The horn switch ground pigtail wire has an eyelet terminal connector that is captured on the upper right inflator mounting stud between the inflator and the upper trim cover retainer. The horn switch feed pigtail wire has a white, molded plastic insulator that is secured by an integral retainer to a mounting hole located in the upper trim cover retainer near the upper left corner on the back of the airbag housing and is connected to the vehicle electrical system through a dedicated pigtail wire and connector from the clockspring.

The airbag used in this model is a Next Generation-type that complies with revised federal airbag standards to deploy with less force than those used in some prior models. A radial deploying fabric cushion with internal tethers is used. The airbag inflator is a conventional pyrotechnic-type unit that is secured by four hex nuts to four studs that extend through the back of the stamped metal airbag housing from the airbag cushion retainer ring. A keyed connector receptacle on the driver airbag inflator connects the inflator initiator to the vehicle electrical system through a yellow-jacketed, two-wire pigtail harness of the clockspring. The driver airbag cannot be repaired and must be replaced if deployed or in any way damaged. The driver airbag trim cover and the horn switch are available individually and may be disassembled from the driver airbag for service replacement.