Air Bag Systems: Service Precautions
CAUTION- When servicing a vehicle, be sure to turn the ignition switch to OFF, disconnect the ground cable from battery, and wait for more than 20 seconds before starting work.
- The airbag system is fitted with a backup power source. After disconnecting the battery ground cable, the airbag may deploy if you do not wait for more than 20 seconds before starting the service of airbag system.
- If the airbag warning light illuminates, repair the vehicle immediately. Otherwise, the airbag or pretensioner may activate incorrectly, or not inflate in an actual collision.
- If sensors, airbag module, airbag control module, pretensioner or harness is deformed or damaged, replace with new parts.
- When checking the airbag system, be sure to use a digital circuit tester. Use of an analog circuit tester may cause the airbag to activate erroneously due to a minimal current inside tester.
- When checking, use a test harness (1). Damage to connector terminal cause malfunction. Do not directly apply the tester probe to connector terminal of airbag.
- Do not allow water or oil to come in contact with the connector terminals. Also, do not touch the connector terminals.
- Do not check continuity of the airbag modules for driver's side, passenger's side, or pretensioner.
- If damage, open circuit or rust is found on airbag system wiring harness, do not use a soldering equipment to repair. Replace the faulty harness with a new genuine part.
- When painting or performing sheet metal work on the front part of the vehicle, including the front wheel apron, front fender and front side frame, remove the front sub sensors and wiring harness of airbag system.
- When painting or performing sheet metal work on the side of the vehicle, including the side sill, center pillar and front and rear doors, remove the side airbag sensors and wiring harness of the airbag system.
- Do not use the airbag or pretensioner parts from other vehicles. Always replace the defective parts with new parts.
- Never reuse a deployed airbag module and pretensioner.
- Do not discard an undeployed airbag module or pretensioner.
- When airbag control module, front sub sensor and side airbag sensor are removed, do not reuse the bolts and nuts. Always use new bolts and nuts.
- Do not drop the each airbag module, airbag control module and each sensor or keep them at high temperature over 93 °C (199 °F), or let water, oil or grease get on them; the internal parts may be damaged and reliability greatly lowered.
- After removing the parts of airbag system, keep them with the pad facing upward on a dry, clean, and flat surface away from heat and light sources, and moisture and dust.
- Either of the airbag modules for driver's, passenger's and side or the pretensioner must not be disassembled.
- When performing attachment of the steering wheel and steering roll connector, make sure to perform adjustment of the steering roll connector.
- The removed front seat with airbag module must be kept at least 200 mm (8 in) away from walls and other objects.
- When storing the removed airbag module, do not place with the pad side facing down. Do not place any objects on top of the airbag module. Do not stack other airbag modules on top of each other. If the airbag module pads are in contact with other objects, it may lead to a major accident when the airbag is deployed unexpectedly.
