Installation - Dodge RAM 1500 1998 Owner's Manual

8O - 28 RESTRAINTS
DRIVER AIRBAG (Continued)
driver airbag housing. Tighten the nut to 7 N·m (65
in. lbs.).
(11) Using hand pressure, push the integral
retainer of the horn switch feed pigtail wire connec-
tor into the locator hole just above the upper right
inflator mounting stud on the back of the driver air-
bag.
(12) Reinstall the driver airbag onto the steering
wheel (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS/
DRIVER AIRBAG - INSTALLATION).

INSTALLATION

The following procedure is for replacement of a
faulty or damaged driver airbag. If the airbag is
faulty or damaged, but not deployed, review the rec-
ommended procedures for handling non-deployed
supplemental restraints. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PROCEDURE - HAN-
DLING NON-DEPLOYED
RESTRAINTS). If the driver airbag has been
deployed, review the recommended procedures for
service after a supplemental restraint deployment
before removing the airbag from the vehicle. (Refer to
8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PRO-
CEDURE - SERVICE AFTER A SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT DEPLOYMENT).
WARNING: TO AVOID PERSONAL INJURY OR
DEATH, ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS,
DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYS-
TEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING
WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, AIRBAG, SEAT BELT
TENSIONER, IMPACT SENSOR, OR INSTRUMENT
PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE.
DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGA-
TIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES
FOR THE SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE
BEFORE PERFORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR
SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DIS-
ABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM.
FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS
COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOY-
MENT.
WARNING: TO AVOID PERSONAL INJURY OR
DEATH, USE EXTREME CARE TO PREVENT ANY
FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM ENTERING THE DRIVER
AIRBAG, OR BECOMING ENTRAPPED BETWEEN
THE DRIVER AIRBAG CUSHION AND THE DRIVER
AIRBAG TRIM COVER. FAILURE TO OBSERVE THIS
WARNING COULD RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURIES
UPON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.
WARNING: TO AVOID PERSONAL INJURY OR
DEATH, THE DRIVER AIRBAG TRIM COVER MUST
NEVER BE PAINTED. REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS
ARE SERVICED WITH TRIM COVERS IN THE ORIG-
INAL COLORS. PAINT MAY CHANGE THE WAY IN
WHICH THE MATERIAL OF THE TRIM COVER
RESPONDS TO AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. FAIL-
URE TO OBSERVE THIS WARNING COULD RESULT
IN OCCUPANT INJURIES UPON AIRBAG DEPLOY-
MENT.
steering wheel to reconnect the three electrical con-
nections on the back of the airbag housing (Fig. 24).
the two clockspring driver airbag pigtail wire connec-
tors to the airbag inflator connector receptacles by
pressing straight in on the connector. Be certain to
engage each keyed and color-coded connector to the
SUPPLEMENTAL
matching connector receptacle. You can be certain
that each connector is fully engaged in its receptacle
by listening carefully for a distinct, audible click as
the connector latches snap into place.
nector for the horn switch to the horn switch feed
pigtail wire connector, which is located on the back of
the driver airbag housing.
steering wheel (Fig. 23). Be certain that the clock-
spring pigtail wires and the steering wheel wire har-
ness in the steering wheel hub area are not pinched
ANY STEERING
between the driver airbag and the steering wheel
armature.
install and tighten the two screws that secure the
driver airbag to the steering wheel armature.
Tighten the screws to 10 N·m (90 in. lbs.).
this time. The supplemental restraint system verifi-
cation test procedure should be performed following
service of any supplemental restraint system compo-
nent. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS -
STANDARD PROCEDURE - VERIFICATION TEST).
(1) Position the driver airbag close enough to the
(2) When installing the driver airbag, reconnect
(3) Reconnect the steering wheel wire harness con-
(4) Carefully position the driver airbag in the
(5) From the underside of the steering wheel,
(6) Do not reconnect the battery negative cable at
DR