Air Bag Systems: Service and Repair: General Procedures

WARNING: ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES WHEN SERVICING AN AIR BAG VEHICLE AND WHEN HANDLING AN AIR BAG TO AVOID PERSONAL INJURY.

Safe handling of air bags requires following the procedures described for both live and deployed air bags:

Air Bags, Live
- Carry a live air bag with the bag and trim cover pointed away from your body. An accidental deployment will then deploy with a minimal chance of injury.
- Place a live air bag on a bench or other surface with the trim cover up, away from the surface. This will reduce the motion of the air bag if it is accidentally deployed.

Air Bags, Deployed

WARNING: SAFETY PRECAUTIONS MUST ALSO BE OBSERVED WHEN HANDLING A DEPLOYED AIR BAG. WEAR GLOVES AND SAFETY GLASSES WHEN HANDLING A DEPLOYED AIR BAG. AFTER DEPLOYMENT, THE AIR BAG SURFACE MAY CONTAIN DEPOSITS OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE, A PRODUCT OF THE GAS GENERANT COMBUSTION, THAT IS IRRITATING TO THE SKIN. WASH YOUR HANDS WITH MILD SOAP AND WATER AFTERWARDS.

Air Bag Instructions

WARNING: SERVICE IS MADE BY REPLACEMENT ONLY. DO NOT ATTEMPT REPAIR OF:
- CRASH SENSORS.
- AIR BAG SLIDING CONTACT.
- AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR.
- AIR BAG MODULES.

NOTE: If a part is replaced and the new part does not correct the condition, install the original part and perform the diagnostic procedure again.

WARNING: THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULES WITH DISCOLORED OR DAMAGED TRIM COVER DEPLOYMENT DOORS MUST BE REPLACED, NOT REPAINTED. ANY APPLIED PAINT MAY DAMAGE THE COVER MATERIAL. THIS COULD AFFECT AIR BAG PERFORMANCE DURING DEPLOYMENT AND MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY DURING A COLLISION.

WARNING: NEVER PROBE THE CONNECTORS ON THE AIR BAGS. DOING SO MAY RESULT IN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.

WARNING: ALL COMPONENT REPLACEMENTS AND WIRING BEING SERVICED MUST BE MADE WITH THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE DISCONNECTED FOR A MINIMUM OF ONE MINUTE BEFORE SERVICE OR REPLACEMENT IS ATTEMPTED.

NOTE: The instruction "disconnect" always refers to a connector. Never detach a component from the vehicle when instructed to "disconnect."

WARNING: VEHICLE SENSOR ORIENTATION IS CRITICAL FOR PROPER SYSTEM OPERATION. IF A VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH AN AIR BAG SYSTEM IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE THE FENDERS OR GRILLE AREA HAVE BEEN DAMAGED, INSPECT THE SENSOR MOUNTING BRACKETS FOR DEFORMATION. IF DAMAGED, THE SENSOR SHOULD BE REPLACED WHETHER OR NOT THE AIR BAG IS DEPLOYED. IN ADDITION, ENSURE THAT BODY STRUCTURE IN THE AREA OF SENSOR MOUNTING IS RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION.