Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Air Bag Disarming and Arming






Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Deactivation and Reactivation Deactivation Procedure

WARNING: Always wear safety glasses when repairing an air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) vehicle and when handling an air bag module. This will reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accidental deployment.

WARNING: Carry a live air bag module with the air bag and trim cover pointed away from your body. This will reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accidental deployment.

WARNING: Do not set a live air bag module down with the trim cover face down. This will reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accidental deployment.

WARNING: After deployment, the air bag surface can contain deposits of sodium hydroxide, a product of the gas generant combustion that is irritating to the skin. Wash your hands with soap and water afterwards.

WARNING: Air bag modules with discolored or damaged trim covers must be replaced, not repainted.

WARNING: Never probe the connectors on the air bag module. Doing so can result in air bag deployment, which can result in personal injury.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of personal injury, do not use any memory saver devices.

NOTE: If a seat equipped with a seat mounted side air bag and/or a safety belt pretensioner (if equipped) system is being serviced, the supplemental restraint system (SRS) must be depowered.

NOTE: The air bag warning lamp illuminates when the RCM fuse is removed and the ignition switch is ON. This is normal operation and does not indicate a supplemental restraint system (SRS) fault.

NOTE: The SRS must be fully operational and free of faults before releasing the vehicle to the customer.

All vehicles
1. Turn all vehicle accessories OFF.
2. Turn the ignition switch to OFF.
3. At the central junction box (CJB), located on the LH end of the instrument panel, open the kick panel cover and remove the restraints control module (RCM) fuse F2 (7.5A) from the CJB. For additional information, refer to the Wiring Diagram Air Bag Systems.
4. Turn the ignition ON and visually monitor the air bag indicator for at least 30 seconds. The air bag indicator will remain lit continuously (no flashing) if the correct RCM fuse has been removed. If the air bag indicator does not remain lit continuously, remove the correct RCM fuse before proceeding.
5. Turn the ignition OFF.

6. WARNING: To avoid accidental deployment and possible personal injury, the backup power supply must be depleted before repairing or replacing any front or side air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) components and before servicing, replacing, adjusting or striking components near the front or side air bag sensors, such as doors, instrument panel, console, door latches, strikers, seats and hood latches. The first row side impact sensors (if equipped) are located at or near the base of the B-pillars. To deplete the backup power supply energy, disconnect the battery ground cable and wait at least one minute. Be sure to disconnect auxiliary batteries and power supplies (if equipped).

Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301) and wait at least one minute. For additional information, refer to Battery.






7. Remove the two steering wheel back cover plugs.






8. Remove the two driver air bag module retaining bolts.






9. Remove the driver air bag module.
1. Disconnect the driver air bag module electrical connector.
2. Remove the driver air bag module.
10. Connect the restraint system diagnostic tool 418-F088 to the driver air bag module electrical connector at the clockspring.






11. Open the glove compartment door to access the passenger air bag module mounting screws.






12. Remove the two screws.

13. CAUTION: Do not handle the passenger air bag module by grabbing the edges of the deployment door.


Reaching one hand into the glove box opening, push out on the passenger air bag module and separate it from the instrument panel.






14. Disconnect the electrical connector and remove the passenger air bag module.






15. Connect the restraint system diagnostic tool 418-F088 to the body harness side of the passenger air bag module electrical connector.

Vehicles equipped with seat side air bags

16. Disconnect the passenger seat side air bag module electrical connector located under the passenger seat.
17. Connect the restraint system diagnostic tool 418-133 to the body harness side of the passenger seat side air bag module electrical connector.
18. Disconnect the driver seat side air bag module electrical connector located under the driver seat.
19. Connect the restraint system diagnostic tool 418-133 to the body harness side of the driver seat side air bag module electrical connector.

All vehicles

20. Install the RCM fuse F2 (7.5A) to the CJB and close the cover.
21. Connect the battery ground cable.

Reactivation Procedure

All vehicles


1. Remove the RCM fuse F2 (7.5A) from the CJB and close the cover.
2. Disconnect the battery ground cable and wait at least one minute.

Vehicles equipped with seat side air bags

3. Disconnect the restraint system diagnostic tool from the body harness side of the driver seat side air bag module electrical connector located under the driver seat.
4. Connect the driver seat side air bag module electrical connector.
5. Disconnect the restraint system diagnostic tool from the body harness side of the passenger seat side air bag module electrical connector located under the passenger seat.
6. Connect the passenger seat side air bag module electrical connector

All vehicles

7. Disconnect the restraint system diagnostic tool from the body harness side of the passenger air bag module electrical connector.






8. Install the passenger air bag module.






9. Connect the passenger air bag module electrical connector.
10. Disconnect the restraint system diagnostic tool from the driver air bag module electrical connector at the clockspring.






11. Position the driver air bag module to the steering wheel.

1. Connect the driver air bag module electrical connector.
2. Align and position the driver air bag module to the steering wheel.






12. Install the two driver air bag module retaining bolts.






13. Install the two steering wheel back cover plugs.
14. Turn the ignition switch from OFF to ON.
15. Install the RCM fuse F2 (7.5A) to the CJB and close the cover.

16. WARNING: Be sure that nobody is in the vehicle and that there is nothing blocking or set in front of any air bag module when the battery ground cable is connected.

Connect the battery ground cable.

17. Prove out the supplemental restraint system (SRS) as follows:
Turn the ignition key from ON to OFF. Wait 10 seconds, then turn the key back to ON and visually monitor the air bag indicator with the air bag modules installed. The air bag indicator will light continuously for approximately six seconds and then turn off. If an air bag supplemental

The flashing might not occur until approximately 30 seconds after the ignition switch has been turned from the OFF to the ON position. This is the time required for the restraints control module (RCM) to complete the testing of the SRS. If the air bag indicator is inoperative and a SRS fault exists, a chime will sound in a pattern of five sets of five beeps. If this occurs, the air bag indicator and any SRS fault discovered must be diagnosed and repaired.

Clear all continuous DTCs from the restraints control module using a scan tool.