Dodge Dakota Sport 2001 Service Manual page 532

AN
DRIVER AIRBAG (Continued)
the horn switch and tray unit. Following an airbag
deployment, the airbag cushion quickly deflates by
venting the nitrogen gas towards the instrument
panel through the porous fabric material used on the
steering wheel side of the airbag cushion.
Some of the chemicals used to create the nitrogen
gas may be considered hazardous in their solid state,
before they are burned, but they are securely sealed
within the airbag inflator. However, the nitrogen gas
that is produced when the chemicals are burned is
harmless. A small amount of residue from the burned
chemicals may cause some temporary discomfort if it
contacts the skin, eyes, or breathing passages. If skin
or eye irritation is noticed, rinse the affected area
with plenty of cool, clean water. If breathing pas-
sages are irritated, move to another area where there
is plenty of clean, fresh air to breath. If the irritation
is not alleviated by these actions, contact a physician.
REMOVAL
The following procedure is for replacement of a
faulty or damaged driver airbag. If the driver airbag
has been deployed, the clockspring and the steering
column assembly must also be replaced. (Refer to 8 -
ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS/CLOCKSPRING
REMOVAL) (Refer to 19 - STEERING/COLUMN -
REMOVAL).
WARNING: DISABLE
BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL,
STEERING COLUMN, SEAT BELT TENSIONER, OR
INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR
SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BAT-
TERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN WAIT
TWO MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM CAPAC-
ITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PERFORMING FUR-
THER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY
SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM.
FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS
COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOY-
MENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.
WARNING: WHEN REMOVING A DEPLOYED AIR-
BAG, RUBBER GLOVES, EYE PROTECTION, AND A
LONG-SLEEVED SHIRT SHOULD BE WORN. THERE
MAY BE DEPOSITS ON THE AIRBAG CUSHION AND
OTHER INTERIOR SURFACES. IN LARGE DOSES,
THESE DEPOSITS MAY CAUSE IRRITATION TO THE
SKIN AND EYES.
(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable. If either of the airbags has not been deployed,
wait two minutes for the system capacitor to dis-
charge before further service.
THE AIRBAG SYSTEM
(2) From the underside of the steering wheel,
remove the two screws that secure the driver airbag
to the steering wheel armature (Fig. 12).
(3) Pull the driver airbag away from the steering
wheel far enough to access the two wire harness con-
nectors at the back of the airbag.
(4) Disconnect the steering wheel wire harness
connector for the horn switch from the horn switch
feed pigtail wire connector, which is located at the
back of the driver airbag.
CAUTION: Do not pull on the clockspring pigtail
wire to disengage the connector from the driver air-
bag inflator connector receptacle.
(5) The clockspring driver airbag pigtail wire con-
nector is a tight snap-fit into the airbag inflator con-
nector receptacle, which is located at the back of the
driver airbag. Firmly grasp and pull or gently pry on
the clockspring driver airbag wire harness connector
to disconnect it from the airbag inflator connector
receptacle.
(6) Remove the driver airbag from the steering
wheel.
(7) If the driver airbag has been deployed, the
-
clockspring and the steering column must be
replaced. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS/
CLOCKSPRING - REMOVAL). (Refer to 19 - STEER-
ING/COLUMN - REMOVAL).
DISASSEMBLY
The following procedures can be used to replace
the driver airbag trim cover or the horn switch and
tray unit. If the driver airbag is faulty or deployed,
the entire driver airbag, trim cover, and horn switch
must be replaced as a unit.
WARNING: DISABLE
BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL,
STEERING COLUMN, SEAT BELT TENSIONER, OR
INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR
SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BAT-
TERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN WAIT
TWO MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM CAPAC-
ITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PERFORMING FUR-
THER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY
SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM.
FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS
COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOY-
MENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.
RESTRAINTS 8O - 15
THE AIRBAG SYSTEM