WARNING:
• THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS A SENSITIVE, COM-
PLEX ELECTROMECHANICAL UNIT. BEFORE
ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE OR SERVICE ANY AIR-
BAG SYSTEM OR RELATED STEERING WHEEL,
STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL
COMPONENTS YOU MUST FIRST DISCONNECT
AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND)
CABLE. THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE SYS-
TEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE FUR-
THER SYSTEM SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE
WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAILURE
TO DO THIS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIR-
BAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL
INJURY.
• WHEN REMOVING A DEPLOYED AIRBAG MOD-
ULE, RUBBER GLOVES, EYE PROTECTION, AND A
LONG-SLEEVED SHIRT SHOULD BE WORN. THERE
MAY BE DEPOSITS ON THE AIRBAG MODULE AND
OTHER INTERIOR SURFACES. IN LARGE DOSES,
THESE DEPOSITS MAY CAUSE IRRITATION TO THE
SKIN AND EYES.
REMOVAL
(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable. If either of the airbags has not been deployed,
wait two minutes for the system capacitor to dis-
charge before further service.
(2) Remove the instrument panel top cover and the
passenger side airbag module from the instrument
panel as a unit. Refer to Instrument Panel Top
Cover in the Removal and Installation section of
Group 8E - Instrument Panel Systems for the proce-
dures.
(3) Place the instrument panel top cover assembly
on a suitable work surface. Be certain to take the
proper precautions to protect the top cover from any
possible cosmetic damage.
(4) Apply masking tape over the passenger side
airbag module vents on each end of the module (Fig.
9). The tape will help to prevent foreign material
from entering the airbag module through the vents
during removal and installation of the module from
the upper airbag door flange and bracket.
WARNING: USE EXTREME CARE TO PREVENT
ANY FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM ENTERING THE
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE, OR BECOM-
ING ENTRAPPED BETWEEN THE INSTRUMENT
PANEL TOP COVER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE
AIRBAG MODULE. FAILURE TO OBSERVE THIS
WARNING COULD RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURIES
UPON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.
(5) Using a suitable center punch, carefully drive
out the mandrels from the four rivets that secure the
passenger side airbag module upper mounting
bracket to the upper airbag door flange and bracket
on the instrument panel top cover (Fig. 10).
(6) Use a suitable pair of rivet cutters or a large
pair of side cutters to cut the rims or heads off of the
four rivets that secure the passenger side airbag
module upper mounting bracket to the upper airbag
door flange and bracket on the underside of the
instrument panel top cover.
Fig. 9 Passenger Side Airbag Module Vents
1 – LOWER BRACKET
2 – PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE
3 – UPPER BRACKET
4 – VENTS
5 – CONNECTOR
Fig. 10 Passenger Side Airbag Module Rivets
1 – RIVETS
2 – PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE
8M - 10 PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS DN
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)
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