Operation - Dodge dakota 2002 Service Manual

8O - 4 RESTRAINTS
RESTRAINTS (Continued)
Fig. 2 SRS Logo
• Clockspring - The clockspring is located near
the top of the steering column, directly beneath the
steering wheel.
• Driver Airbag - The driver airbag is located in
the center of the steering wheel, beneath the driver
airbag trim cover.
• Driver Knee Blocker - The driver knee blocker
is a structural unit secured to the back side of and
integral to the instrument panel steering column
opening cover.
• Passenger Airbag - The passenger airbag is
located on the instrument panel, beneath the passen-
ger airbag door on the instrument panel above the
glove box on the passenger side of the vehicle.
• Passenger Airbag On/Off Switch - Standard
cab models without a rear seat are equipped with a
passenger airbag on/off switch, which is located on
the right side of the instrument panel center bezel.
• Passenger Knee Blocker - The passenger knee
blocker is a structural reinforcement that is integral
to and concealed within the glove box door.
• Seat Belt Tensioner - The seat belt tensioner
is integral to the front outboard seat belt retractor
units on vehicles equipped with dual front airbags.
• Side Impact Airbag Control Module - Two
Side Impact Airbag Control Modules (SIACM) are
used on vehicles with the optional side curtain air-
bags, one left side and one right side. One SIACM is
located behind the B-pillar trim above the outboard
front seat belt retractor within each B-pillar.
• Side Curtain Airbag - In vehicles equipped
with this option, a side curtain airbag is located on
each inside roof side rail above the headliner, and
extends from the A-pillar to the B-pillar on standard
cab models, and from the A-pillar to the C-pillar on
quad cab models.
The ACM, both SIACMs, and the EMIC each con-
tain a central processing unit and programming that
allow them to communicate with each other using
the Programmable Communications Interface (PCI)
data bus network. This method of communication is
used by the ACM for control of the airbag indicator
on all models equipped with dual front airbags.
(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC CON-
TROL MODULES/COMMUNICATION - DESCRIP-
TION).
Hard wired circuitry connects the supplemental
restraint system components to each other through
the electrical system of the vehicle. These hard wired
circuits are integral to several wire harnesses, which
are routed throughout the vehicle and retained by
many different methods. These circuits may be con-
nected to each other, to the vehicle electrical system,
and to the supplemental restraint system compo-
nents through the use of a combination of soldered
splices, splice block connectors, and many different
types of wire harness terminal connectors and insu-
lators. Refer to the appropriate wiring information.
The wiring information includes wiring diagrams,
proper wire and connector repair procedures, further
details on wire harness routing and retention, as well
as pin-out and location views for the various wire
harness connectors, splices and grounds.

OPERATION

ACTIVE RESTRAINTS
The primary passenger restraints in this or any
other vehicle are the standard equipment factory-in-
stalled seat belts and child restraint anchors. Seat
belts and child restraint anchors are referred to as
an active restraint because the vehicle occupants are
required to physically fasten and properly adjust
these restraints in order to benefit from them. See
the owner's manual in the vehicle glove box for more
information on the features, use and operation of all
of the factory-installed active restraints.
PASSIVE RESTRAINTS
The passive restraints are referred to as a supple-
mental restraint system because they were designed
and are intended to enhance the protection for the
occupants of the vehicle only when used in conjunc-
tion with the seat belts. They are referred to as pas-
sive restraints because the vehicle occupants are not
required to do anything to make them operate; how-
ever, the vehicle occupants must be wearing their
seat belts in order to obtain the maximum safety
benefit from the factory-installed
restraint system.
The supplemental restraint system electrical cir-
cuits are continuously monitored and controlled by a
microprocessor and software contained within the
Airbag Control Module (ACM) and, on vehicles
equipped with the side curtain airbags, both Side
DR
supplemental