Caution: To avoid injury if air bags or seat belt pretensioners deploy inside the vehicle, take the following precautions:
- Before deploying the air bags, remove all loose objects from the air bag expansion area.
- Deploy air bags with the vehicle doors closed and side windows open.
- Deploy air bags with people clear of the work area. Personnel who must be present when air bags are deployed should be at least 10 meters (33 feet) in front of the vehicle.
- Do not connect the power source until all other air bag deployment procedures have been completed.
- Allow the deployed air bag module or seat belt pretensioner to cool for 30 minutes before handling it.
- Wear gloves and safety glasses when disposing.
- If the airbag does not deploy, disconnect the power source and wait 5 minutes before approaching the vehicle.
Triggering procedure
Attention! The Sensor and Diagnostic Module (SDM) can maintain sufficient voltage to activate the airbags and tensioners for 1 minute after turning off the ignition and removing the fuse. If the airbags and tensioners are not disconnected, do not start maintenance until one minute after the SDM power is disconnected. If the airbags are disconnected, maintenance can be started immediately, without a one-minute waiting period. Failure to temporarily disable the airbag system (SIR) may result in unexpected activation of the airbags, personal injury, and unnecessary maintenance of the airbag system.
1. Disconnect both battery cables and position the battery at least 10 meters (33 feet) away from the vehicle.
2. Remove the driver's side knee bolster or lower instrument panel cover from the steering column. See Section 9G, Interior Trim.
3. At the bottom of the steering column, cut the two wires leading from the Airbag system (SIR) wiring harness to the watch spring.
4. Strip 13mm (0.5 in) off the ends of the wires going to the clock spring.
5. Use two additional wires, each at least 10 meters (33 feet) long, to connect the airbag module to the battery that will be used to deploy the airbags.
6. Strip the ends of these additional wires by 13 mm (0.5 in).
7. Connect these two wires together at one end with a twist.
8. Place the twisted ends of these wires near the battery that will be used to deploy the airbag. Do not connect the wires to the battery at this point.
9. Splice the free ends of the specified 10 m (33 ft) wires to the free ends of the wires going to the clock spring, one end to each wire from the air bag module.
10. Wrap the spliced wires with electrical tape.
11. The free ends of the 10 meters (33 feet) of wires are now spliced to the wires from the airbag module, and the twisted ends of these wires are located near the battery that will be used to deploy the airbag. Keep people away from the work area.
12. Untwist the ends of the wires located near the battery that will be used for activation.
13. Touch one wire to the positive battery terminal and the other wire to the negative battery terminal. The airbag will deploy.
14. Repeat this procedure for the passenger airbag, side airbags and seat belt pretensioners, and roof rail airbag.
15. Dispose of deployed air bags and seat belt pretensioners with proper precautions. See "Procedure for disposal of a deployed airbag module" in this section.