Dodge dakota 2002 Service Manual page 637

8O - 36 RESTRAINTS
PASSENGER AIRBAG (Continued)
before removing the airbag from the vehicle. (Refer to
8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PRO-
CEDURE - SERVICE AFTER A SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT DEPLOYMENT).
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING
WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, DRIVER AIRBAG,
PASSENGER AIRBAG, SEAT BELT TENSIONER,
SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL
COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCON-
NECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE
(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 DISABLE THE
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FAILURE TO
TAKE THE PROPER
RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT
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. Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to
discharge before further service.
(2) Remove the lower surround from the instru-
ment panel. (Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT
PANEL/LOWER SURROUND - REMOVAL).
(3) Remove the two screws that secure the mount-
ing tabs of the two panel outlet housings to the
upper glove box opening reinforcement (Fig. 32).
Fig. 32 Passenger Airbag Door Screws
1 - PASSENGER AIRBAG DOOR
2 - PANEL OUTLET SCREW (2)
3 - GLOVE BOX OPENING UPPER REINFORCEMENT
4 - DOOR SCREW (6)
PRECAUTIONS COULD
(4) Remove the six screws that secure the inboard
and lower flanges of the passenger airbag door to the
instrument panel.
(5) Reach through and above the glove box opening
to access and remove the two screws that secure the
passenger airbag rear brackets to the upper glove
box opening reinforcement (Fig. 33).
Fig. 33 Passenger Airbag Remove/Install
1 - PASSENGER AIRBAG DOOR
2 - UPPER GLOVE BOX OPENING REINFORCEMENT
3 - FRONT BRACKET SCREW (2)
4 - REAR BRACKET SCREW (2)
(6) Reach through and above the glove box opening
to access and remove the two screws that secure the
passenger airbag front brackets to the instrument
panel structural support.
(7) Using a trim stick or another suitable wide
flat-bladed tool, gently pry the upper and outboard
edges of the passenger airbag door away from the
instrument panel far enough to disengage the seven
snap features on the door from the receptacles in the
instrument panel base trim (Fig. 34).
Fig. 34 Passenger Airbag Door Disengage
1 - TRIM STICK
2 - PASSENGER AIRBAG DOOR
3 - INSTRUMENT PANEL
(8) Pull the passenger airbag housing and door
unit straight back from the instrument panel far
enough to access the instrument panel wire harness
DR