Service of Air Bag Equipped Vehicles Involved In Collisions

While servicing an air bag equipped vehicle that has been involved in a collision, check RH primary crash front air bag sensor and bracket, LH primary crash front air bag sensor and bracket, air bag diagnostic monitor and wiring.

SENSORS
Vehicle sensor orientation is critical for proper air bag 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, ensure that body structure in the area of the sensor mounting is restored to its original condition. Inspect the air bag sensor mounting brackets and air bag sensor wire harness pigtail for damage.

- Damaged air bag sensors should be replaced whether or not the driver side air bag module or passenger side air bag module is deployed.
- Undamaged air bag sensors will reset automatically after a collision and can be reused.

DAMAGED WIRING

CAUTION: Before attempting diagnostic prove out, check for wiring shorts that could cause the air bag diagnostic monitor to blow the 10 amp air bag battery feed fuse, to avoid unnecessary servicing.

Inspect the air bag sensor wiring and the wiring harness for any damage that may have occurred due to the collision. Replace any damaged wiring, terminals, insulation, or connectors as required.

Splices are required in adjacent wiring; the splices should be staggered 50 mm (2 inches) from each other. Service as follows:











- A waterproof butt splice connector should be used on all wiring service in the engine compartment. A heat-shrink nylon splice prevents water, salt, condensation, and heat from affecting the wiring service.

- The inner wall of the splice connector is lined with an adhesive that melts when heated with a heat gun and flows under pressure from the tubing, sealing the splice. The connectors can be crimped with a standard insulated connector crimping tool. The splices are color coded for gauge identification and are transparent to allow inspection of the finished splice.

STEERING COLUMN AND AIR BAG SLIDING CONTACT
If the Collision involved air bag deployment, the steering Column may have been loaded sufficiently to deform steering Column mounting brackets or damage column wiring. An inspection should be made of the column structure and air bag sliding contact wiring to make sure that any damaged components are replaced.

AIR BAG SYSTEM
Prior to attempting diagnostic prove out on a serviced vehicle, thoroughly check RH primary crash front air bag sensor and bracket, LH primary crash front air bag sensor and bracket, air bag diagnostic monitor, and wiring for damaged or pinched wires which may cause the air bag diagnostic monitor to blow the 10 amp air bag battery feed fuse.






After all service, verify the AIR BAG indicator. This means turn the ignition switch to RUN and count the flashes. If the AIR BAG indicator comes on continuously for six seconds and then goes out, and if no DTCs flash within 30 seconds, the air bag system is functioning properly and all malfunctions have been serviced.