Air Bag, Driver: Installation
To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbag, Occupant Classification System (OCS), seat belt tensioner, impact sensor or instrument panel component diagnosis or service. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative (ground) cable, then wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before performing further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure way to disable the SRS. Failure to follow these instructions may result in accidental airbag deployment.
To avoid serious or fatal injury, use extreme care to prevent any foreign material from entering the Driver AirBag (DAB), or becoming entrapped between the DAB cushion and the DAB trim cover. Failure to observe this warning could result in occupant injuries upon airbag deployment.
The following procedure is for replacement of an ineffective or damaged DAB. If the airbag is ineffective or damaged, but not deployed, review the recommended procedures for Handling Non-Deployed Supplemental Restraints. Refer to HANDLING NON-DEPLOYED SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINTS . If the DAB has been deployed, review the recommended procedures for Service After A Supplemental Restraint Deployment before removing the airbag from the vehicle. Refer to SERVICE AFTER A SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM DEPLOYMENT .
- Position the DAB and floating horn switch unit close enough to the steering wheel to access the clockspring pigtail wire connections to the horn switch (1), the active vent (2 - domestic market vehicles only) and the DAB inflator initiators (3).
- Connect the clockspring pigtail wire connectors to the airbag inflator initiator connector receptacles by pressing straight in on the connector insulator. Be certain to engage each keyed and color-coded connector to the matching connector receptacle. Be certain that each connector is fully engaged in its receptacle, then push the Connector Position Assurance (CPA) lock straight into the connector to lock it into place.
- For domestic market vehicles only, connect the clockspring pigtail wire connector to the DAB active vent connector receptacle on the back of the mounting and horn switch plate. Be certain that the connector is fully engaged in its receptacle, then slide the CPA lock straight into the connector to lock it into place.
- Connect the clockspring wire harness connector to the floating horn switch connector on the back of the mounting/horn switch plate.
- Carefully position the DAB and floating horn switch unit into the steering wheel hub cavity while tugging lightly upward on the clockspring pigtail wires for the airbag and tucking the wires into the upper hub cavity of the steering wheel. Be certain that none of the steering wheel wiring is pinched between the airbag housing or the horn switch and the steering wheel armature.
- Using both hands, push firmly and evenly on both sides of the DAB trim cover until both ends of the spring retainer have snapped into place under the hooks within the hub cavity of the steering wheel.
- Do not connect the negative battery cable at this time. The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Verification Test procedure should be performed following service of any SRS component. Refer to SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM VERIFICATION TEST .