Air Bag: Description and Operation

Passenger Air Bag Module Electrical Connector, Vehicles Built Up To 03/2002







Passenger Air Bag Module Electrical Connector, Vehicles Built 03/2002 Onward







- With the glove compartment open past its stops and looking up into the opening, a vehicle built up to 03/2002 will have a two wire connector for the passenger air bag module and accept restraint system diagnostic tool 418-F088 (105-R0012). A vehicle built 03/2002 onward will have a larger four wire connector for the passenger air bag module and accept restraint system diagnostic tool 418-133 (014-R1076).


Side Air Curtain And Safety Canopy

NOTE: When a side air curtain module needs to be installed and the replacement part is a safety canopy, safety canopies must be installed in place of both side air curtain modules; also, new C-pillar trim panels designed for use with safety canopies must be installed in place of the C-pillar trim panels designed for use with the side air curtains. A vehicle must not have a side air curtain and a safety canopy present on the same vehicle.

Vehicles built up to 03/2002 can be equipped with optional side air curtains for protection during side impacts. Vehicles built 03/2002 onward can be equipped with optional safety canopies for protection during side impacts or rollovers. A safety canopy can be installed in place of a side air curtain but a side air curtain must never be installed in place of a safety canopy.

Vehicles equipped with side air curtains or safety canopies require a specific headliner and C-pillar trim panels. When installing a new headliner on a vehicle equipped with side air curtains or safety canopies, make sure a headliner and C-pillar trim panels for side air curtains or safety canopies are being used. The word "AIRBAG" will appear on the headliner where it meets each B and C-pillar trim panel.

The side air curtain module or safety canopy:
- is installed as an assembly.
- is mounted above the headliner.
- attaches from the A-pillar frame to the C-pillar frame.


Safety Canopies

Safety Canopy, Vehicles Built 03/2002 Onward:

A safety canopy will have a C-pillar tether cord slide mechanism as shown in the illustration above (vehicles built 03/2002 onward). A side air curtain will not have a C-pillar tether cord slide mechanism (vehicles built up to 03/2002). A side air curtain module must never be installed in place of a safety canopy module.

If a vehicle built up to 03/2002 is to receive a safety canopy, it will be necessary that a C-pillar trim panel designed for use with a safety canopy must be installed onto a vehicle built up to 03/2002. There is only one style of C-pillar trim panel to be installed on a vehicle with safety canopies. If not, the safety canopy may not deploy correctly.

Driver Air Bag Module
The driver air bag module:
- is installed new as an assembly.
- is mounted in the center of the steering wheel.
- is not interchangeable between vehicles built up to 03/2002 and vehicles built 03/2002 onward.

Passenger Air Bag Module
The passenger air bag module:
- is installed new as an assembly.
- is mounted in the passenger side of the instrument panel.
- is not interchangeable between vehicles built up to 03/2002 and vehicles built 03/2002 onward.