Driver Airbag

The injection molded, thermoplastic driver airbag protective trim cover is the most visible part of the driver airbag. The driver airbag is located in the center of the steering wheel, where it is secured to the steering wheel armature. 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 are secured within an integral receptacle molded into the back of the trim cover.

The resistive membrane-type horn switch is secured with heat stakes to the inside surface of the driver airbag trim cover, between the trim cover and the folded airbag cushion. The horn switch ground pigtail wire has a female spade terminal connector that receives a path to ground through a male spade terminal that is integral to the driver airbag housing stamping and is located near the upper right corner on the back of the housing. The horn switch feed pigtail wire has a white, molded plastic insulator that is secured by an integral retainer to a mounting hole located near the lower left corner on the back of the housing, and is connected to the vehicle electrical system through a take out and connector of the steering wheel wire harness.

The airbag is a multistage unit that deploys with less force than those previously used. The airbag inflator is a dual-initiator, non-azide, pyrotechnic-type unit with four mounting studs and is secured to the stamped metal airbag housing using four hex nuts with washers. Two keyed and color-coded connector receptacles on the driver airbag inflator connect the two inflator initiators to the vehicle electrical system through two yellow or black-jacketed, two-wire pigtail harnesses of the clockspring. The driver airbag, trim cover, and horn switch unit cannot be repaired, and must be replaced if deployed or in any way damaged.

The Driver Airbag Trim Cover contains the horn switch, inflator device, and a fabric bag. The driver airbag trim cover/horn switch is not serviced separately from the driver airbag components.

When the front airbag system is deployed, the following MUST be replaced:
- Complete Steering Column Assembly
- Lower Steering Column Coupler
- Steering Wheel.
- Clockspring.
- Driver Airbag
- Passenger Airbag
- Knee Blocker Airbag
- Upper Instrument Panel with Pad
- Front Seat Belt Buckles, both driver and passenger with integral tensioners.

CARE OF UNDEPLOYED AIRBAGS

WARNING: AIRBAGS MUST BE STORED IN THEIR ORIGINAL SPECIAL CONTAINER UNTIL USED FOR SERVICE. AT NO TIME SHOULD A SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY BE PERMITTED NEAR THE INFLATOR ON THE BACK OF AN AIRBAG. WHEN CARRYING OR HANDLING AN UNDEPLOYED AIRBAG, THE TRIM SIDE OF THE AIRBAG SHOULD BE POINTING TOWARD THE BODY TO MINIMIZE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY IF ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT OCCURS. DO NOT PLACE UNDEPLOYED AIRBAG FACE DOWN ON A SOLID SURFACE, THE AIRBAG WILL PROPEL INTO THE AIR IF ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT OCCURS.