Dodge Dakota Sport 2001 Service Manual page 541

8O - 24 RESTRAINTS
PASSENGER AIRBAG (Continued)
deployment, the passenger airbag and airbag door
unit must be replaced. The passenger airbag cannot
be repaired, and must be replaced if faulty or in any
way damaged. The passenger airbag door is serviced
only as a unit with the passenger airbag.
OPERATION
The passenger airbag is deployed by an electrical
signal generated by the Airbag Control Module
(ACM) through the passenger airbag line 1 and line 2
(or squib) circuits. The hybrid-type inflator assembly
includes a small canister of highly compressed argon
gas. When the ACM sends the proper electrical signal
to the airbag inflator, the electrical energy generates
enough heat to ignite chemical pellets within the
inflator. Once ignited, these chemical pellets burn
rapidly and produce the pressure necessary to rup-
ture a containment disk in the argon gas canister.
The inflator and argon gas canister are sealed to the
airbag cushion so that all of the released argon gas is
directed into the airbag cushion, causing the cushion
to inflate. As the cushion inflates, the passenger air-
bag door will split at the breakout line and the two
halves of the door will pivot out of the way. Following
an airbag deployment, the airbag cushion quickly
deflates by venting the argon gas through vents on
the instrument panel side of the airbag cushion.
Some of the chemicals used to create the pressure
to burst the argon gas containment disk are consid-
ered hazardous in their solid state, before they are
burned, but they are securely sealed within the air-
bag inflator. However, the 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 irri-
tation is noticed, rinse the affected area with plenty
of cool, clean water. If breathing passages are irri-
tated, move to another area where there is plenty of
clean, fresh air to breath. If the irritation is not alle-
viated by these actions, contact a physician immedi-
ately.
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
THE AIRBAG SYSTEM
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 UNIT 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.
(2) Remove the glove box module from the instru-
ment panel (Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT
PANEL/GLOVE BOX - REMOVAL).
(3) Remove the radio from the instrument panel
(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/AUDIO/RADIO
REMOVAL).
(4) Reach through the radio opening in the instru-
ment panel to access and disconnect the instrument
panel wire harness connector for the passenger air-
bag from the passenger airbag pigtail wire connector
on the instrument panel armature to the left of the
glove box opening (Fig. 21).
Fig. 21 Passenger Airbag Connector
1 - GLOVE BOX
2 - PASSENGER AIRBAG PIGTAIL WIRE CONNECTOR
3 - INSTRUMENT PANEL WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR
4 - RETAINER (2)
(5) Disengage the passenger airbag pigtail wire
connector retainers from the instrument panel arma-
ture.
(6) Working through the glove box opening, remove
the two screws that secure the passenger airbag
front brackets to the instrument panel armature
(Fig. 22).
AN
-