Air Bag Systems: Service Precautions

CAUTION: When you are performing service on or near the SIR components or the SIR wiring, you must disable the SIR system. Refer to Air Bag(s) Arming and Disarming. Failure to follow the correct procedure could cause air bag deployment, personal injury, or unnecessary SIR system repairs.

The inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) maintains a reserved energy supply. The reserved energy supply provides deployment power for the air bags. Deployment power is available for as much as one minute after disconnecting the vehicle power. Disabling the SIR system prevents deployment of the air bags from the reserved energy supply.

General Service Instructions
The following are general service instructions which must be followed in order to properly repair the vehicle and return it to its original integrity:
^ Do not expose inflator modules to temperatures above 65°C (150°F).
^ Verify the correct replacement part number. Do not substitute a component from a different vehicle.
^ Use only original GM replacement parts available from your authorized GM dealer. Do not use salvaged parts for repairs to the SIR system.

Discard any of the following components if it has been dropped from a height of 91 cm (3 feet) or greater:
^ Inflatable restraint front end discriminating sensor
^ Inflatable restraint IP module
^ Inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module (SDM)
^ Inflatable restraint steering wheel module
^ Inflatable restraint steering wheel module coil

CAUTION:
^ In order to avoid deploying the air bag when troubleshooting the SIR system, use only the equipment and the instructions. Failure to use the specified equipment as instructed could cause air bag deployment, personal injury to you or someone else, or unnecessary SIR system repairs.
^ If any water enters the vehicle's interior up to the level of the carpet or higher and soaks the carpet, the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) and the SDM harness connector may need to be replaced. The SDM could be activated when powered, which could cause deployment of the air bag(s) and result in personal injury. Before attempting these procedures, the SIR system must be disabled. Refer to Air Bag(s) Arming and Disarming.
With the ignition OFF inspect the SDM mounting area, including the carpet. If any significant soaking or evidence of significant soaking is detected, you must perform the following tasks:
1. Remove all water.
2. Repair the water damage.
3. Replace the SDM harness connector.
4. Replace the SDM.
Failure to follow these tasks could result in possible air bag deployment, personal injury, or otherwise unneeded SIR system repairs.
^ Proper operation of the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) sensing system requires that any repairs to the vehicle structure return the vehicle structure to the original production configuration. Not properly repairing the vehicle structure could cause non-deployment of the air bag(s) in a frontal collision or deployment of the air bag(s) for conditions less severe than intended.