Occupant Restraint Controller - Removal

REMOVAL

WARNING: To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with side curtain or seat airbags, disable the supplemental restraint system before attempting any occupant restraint controller diagnosis or service. The occupant restraint controller contains a rollover sensor, which enables the system to deploy the side curtain and seat airbags in the event of a vehicle rollover event. If an occupant restraint controller is accidentally rolled during service while still connected to battery power, the side curtain and seat airbags will deploy. 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 supplemental restraint system. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.

WARNING: To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the supplemental restraint system before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbag, occupant classification system, 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 supplemental restraint system. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.

WARNING: To avoid serious or fatal injury, never strike or drop the occupant restraint controller, as it can damage the impact sensor or affect its calibration. The occupant restraint controller contains the impact sensor, which enables the system to deploy the supplemental restraints. If an occupant restraint controller is accidentally dropped during service, the module must be scrapped and replaced with a new unit. Failure to observe this warning could result in accidental, incomplete, or improper supplemental restraint deployment.

CAUTION: On vehicles equipped with the Occupant Classification System (OCS), never replace both the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) and the Occupant Classification Module (OCM) at the same time. If both require replacement, replace one. Then perform the supplemental restraint verification test before replacing the other. Both the ORC and the OCM store OCS calibration data, which they transfer to one another when one of them is replaced. If both are replaced at the same time, an irreversible fault will be set in both modules.

NOTE: Several different Occupant Restraint Controllers (ORC) are available for this vehicle. For vehicles equipped with the optional side curtain or seat airbags the ORC contains a second bi-directional safing sensor.




1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before further service.

2. Remove the center console shifter housing from the top of the floor panel transmission tunnel..

3. Lift, but do not remove, the jute covered panel (1) over the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) (2) between the dash panel and the gearshift mechanism as necessary to access the ORC connections and fasteners.




4. Remove the three nuts (2) that secure the ORC (3) to the three studs (1) on the ORC mount welded onto the top of the floor panel transmission tunnel (5).

5. Unlatch and disconnect the two instrument panel wire harness connectors (4) from the ORC connector receptacles located on the rearward facing side of the module. To disconnect the wire harness connectors from the ORC, depress the release tab and lift the lever arm on each connector.

6. Remove the ORC from the ORC mount.