DRIVER AIRBAG

The injection molded, thermoplastic driver airbag protective trim cover (2) is the most visible part of the driver airbag. The driver airbag is located in the center of the steering wheel (1), where it is secured with two screws to the two horizontal spokes of the four-spoke steering wheel armature. Two trim covers are used; one for all vehicles except SRT8, and one for SRT8 vehicles only. A stamped, satin polished or bright emblem with the Jeep® logo is applied to the center of the trim cover on all vehicles except SRT8. SRT8 has an injection molded emblem incorporating the Jeep® logo and other decorative features applied to the center of the trim cover.

Concealed beneath the driver air bag trim cover are the horn switch, the folded airbag cushion, the airbag housing, the airbag inflator and the retainers that secure the inflator to the housing. The airbag cushion (1), housing (5), and inflator (4) are secured within an integral receptacle molded into the back of the trim cover. The four vertical walls of this receptacle have numerous small windows with blocking tabs that are engaged by numerous hook formations around the perimeter of the airbag housing. Each hook is inserted through one of the windows and the blocking tab in each window keeps the hook properly engaged with the trim cover, locking the trim cover securely into place on the airbag housing.

The resistive membrane-type horn switch is secured within a plastic tray that is inserted in a pocket or pouch sewn onto the airbag cushion retainer strap, between the trim cover and the folded airbag cushion. The horn switch ground and feed pigtail wires have a molded plastic connector insulator (3) that is secured by an integral retainer in a locator hole near the upper left corner of the airbag housing and is connected to the vehicle electrical system through a dedicated take out and connector of the steering wheel wire harness.

The airbag used in this vehicle is a multistage-type that complies with revised federal airbag standards to deploy with less force than those used in some prior vehicles. A radial deploying fabric airbag cushion with internal tethers is used. The airbag inflator is a dual-initiator, non-azide, pyrotechnic-type unit with four mounting studs and is secured to the stamped metal airbag housing using four flanged hex nuts. Two keyed and color-coded connector receptacles on the driver airbag inflator connect the two inflator initiators to the vehicle electrical system through two yellow-jacketed, two-wire pigtail harnesses of the clockspring.

The driver airbag cannot be repaired, and must be replaced if deployed, ineffective, or in any way damaged. The driver airbag trim cover, the horn switch and the cruise control switches may be disassembled from the driver airbag unit, and are available for individual service replacement.

OPERATION

The multistage driver airbag is deployed by electrical signals generated by the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) through the driver airbag squib 1 and squib 2 circuits to the two initiators in the airbag inflator. By using two initiators, the airbag can be deployed at multiple levels of force. The force level is controlled by the ORC to suit the monitored impact conditions by providing one of four delay intervals between the electrical signals provided to the two initiators. The longer the delay between these signals, the less forcefully the airbag will deploy.

When the ORC sends the proper electrical signals to each initiator, the electrical energy generates enough heat to initiate a small pyrotechnic charge which, in turn ignites chemical pellets within the inflator. Once ignited, these chemical pellets burn rapidly and produce a large quantity of inert gas. The inflator is sealed to the back of the airbag housing and a diffuser in the inflator directs all of the inert gas into the airbag cushion, causing the cushion to inflate. As the cushion inflates, the driver airbag trim cover will split at predetermined breakout lines, then fold back out of the way along with the horn switch and tray unit. Following an airbag deployment, the airbag cushion quickly deflates by venting the inert gas towards the instrument panel through vent holes within the fabric used to construct the back (steering wheel side) panel of the airbag cushion.

NOTE: It will be necessary to rotate the steering wheel to orient each of the two spokes to which the airbag is secured alternately toward the bottom of the steering column in order to access the fasteners.

CAUTION: Do not pull on the horn switch pigtail wires to disengage the connector from the driver airbag housing or to disconnect the horn switch to driver airbag jumper harness connection. Improper pulling on this pigtail wire or connection can result in damage to the horn switch membrane or the feed and ground circuits.

CAUTION: Do not pull on the clockspring pigtail wires or pry on the connector insulator to disengage the connector from the driver airbag inflator connector receptacle. Improper removal of these pigtail wires and their connector insulators can result in damage to the airbag circuits or the connector insulators.

ASSEMBLY

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the supplemental restraint system before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbag, seat belt tensioner, impact sensor, or instrument panel component diagnosis or service. Disconnect 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 precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, service of this unit should be performed only by DaimlerChrysler-trained and authorized dealer service technicians. Failure to take the proper precautions or to follow the proper procedures could result in accidental, incomplete, or improper airbag deployment and possible occupant injuries.

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 trim covers are serviced in the original colors. Paint may change the way in which the material of the trim cover responds to an airbag deployment. Failure to observe this warning could result in occupant injuries upon airbag deployment.

NOTE: The following procedures can be used to replace the driver airbag trim cover or to access the horn switch unit for service. If the driver airbag is ineffective or deployed, the entire driver airbag, trim cover, and horn switch must be replaced as a unit.

NOTE: It will be necessary to rotate the steering wheel to orient each of the two spokes to which the airbag is secured alternately toward the bottom of the steering column in order to access the fasteners.