Air Bag Systems: Service and Repair

SERVICE OF AIR BAG EQUIPPED VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION
While servicing an air bag-equipped vehicle that has been involved in a collision, check upper radiator support (LH side) LH front air bag sensor and bracket, RH air bag sensor and bracket. air bag diagnostic monitor and wiring.

Sensors
Vehicle air bag 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. make sure that body structure in the area of the air bag sensor mounting is restored to its original condition. Inspect the air bag sensor mounting brackets and air bag sensor 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 dedicated air bag fuse to open, 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.

If splices are required in adjacent wiring, the splices should be staggered approximately 50 mm (2 inches) apart 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 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.

Install splice as follows:




1. Strip wires 7.6 mm (0.3 inch) and insert into crimp barrel.




2. Crimp using crimp tool for pre-insulated crimps.




3. Heat splice with heat gun until tubing shrinks and adhesive flows from each end.

Steering Column and Air Bag Sliding Contact
If the collision involved a driver side air bag module or passenger side air bag module deployment, the steering column may have been loaded sufficiently to deform steering column mounting brackets or damage column wiring. Inspect column structure and air bag sliding contact wiring to make sure that any damaged components are replaced.