Passenger Airbag

Fig. 33 Passenger Airbag Door:

PASSENGER AIRBAG
The rearward facing surface of the injection molded, thermoplastic passenger airbag door is the most visible part of the passenger airbag.

The passenger airbag door is located above the glove box opening in front of the front seat passenger seating position on the instrument panel. The upper and outboard edges of the airbag door are secured with seven integral snap features to the instrument panel base trim, while two screws secure the integral inboard mounting flange to the base trim, and four screws secure the lower mounting flange to the upper glove box opening reinforcement integral to the instrument panel structural support. The passenger airbag door includes two air conditioning panel outlets and their housings. Each of the panel outlet housings feature four snap features that secure them to the back of the airbag door and two mounting tabs that are also secured with one screw each to the upper glove box opening reinforcement.

Fig. 34 Passenger Airbag Unit:

Located behind the passenger airbag door within the instrument panel is the passenger airbag unit. The passenger airbag housing fits into a molded receptacle on the back of the airbag door, where six stamped hook formations on the upper and lower edges of the airbag housing are engaged in six small window openings on the upper and lower flanges of the receptacle to secure the airbag door to the airbag housing. The inboard airbag door fasteners and mounting flange are concealed beneath the instrument panel center bezel, while the lower fasteners and mounting flange are concealed beneath the instrument panel lower surround. The passenger airbag unit is secured by four screws through four brackets (two front and two rear) that are integral to the base of the airbag housing to the instrument panel structural support.

The passenger airbag unit 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. The passenger airbag unit consists of a stamped and welded metal housing, the airbag cushion, the airbag inflator, and a stamped metal airbag and inflator retainer plate that is secured to the airbag housing with six studs and nuts. The airbag housing contains the airbag inflator and the folded airbag cushion. An approximately 80 centimeter (31.5 inch) wide by 90 centimeter (35.5 inch) high rectangular fabric cushion is used. The airbag inflator is a non-azide, pyrotechnic- type unit that is secured to and sealed within the airbag housing. The inflator initiator is connected to the vehicle electrical system through a dedicated take out and connector of the instrument panel wire harness.

The passenger airbag includes the airbag door and the two panel outlet housings. This unit cannot be repaired, and must be replaced if deployed, faulty or in any way damaged.

The passenger airbag is deployed by an electrical signal generated by the Airbag Control Module (ACM) through the passenger airbag squib circuits to the initiator in the airbag inflator. The hybrid-type inflator assembly includes a small canister of highly compressed inert gas.

When the ACM sends the proper electrical signal to the airbag inflator, the initiator converts the electrical energy into chemical energy. This chemical energy opens up a burst disk to allow the inert gas to flow into the airbag cushion. The inflator is sealed to the airbag cushion so that all of the released inert gas is directed into the airbag cushion, causing the cushion to inflate. As the cushion inflates, the passenger airbag door will split at predetermined tear seam lines concealed on the inside surface of the door, then the door will pivot up over the top of the instrument panel and out of the way Following a passenger airbag deployment, the airbag cushion quickly deflates by venting the inert gas through vent holes within the fabric used to construct the back (instrument panel side) of the airbag cushion.