Prowler V6-3.5L VIN G (2002)
Body Control Module: Description and Operation
Functional Operation
Part 1 of 3
AIRBAG SYSTEM
The airbag system was designed to provide increased driver and passenger protection if the vehicle is involved in a front-end collision. The system
was designed to be, and is most effective when used in conjunction with the seat belt system. The passenger side airbag assembly utilizes a canister
of compressed, inert gas to inflate the bag. This gas is expanded at a very high rate through a heating process, that allows a small quantity of gas
under a very high pressure to inflate the large passenger airbag.
The Prowler utilizes two front impact sensors, located on each side of the battery and a safing sensor located in the ACM to control the
deployment of the airbags. Diagnosis of the system is done through the Data Link Connector (DLC) located under and just to the left of the
steering column.
The airbag lamp is located in the cluster. Whenever the ignition key is turned to the "run" position, the cluster illuminates the bulb for 7 seconds.
This illumination is called bulb prove-out. After the 7 seconds, the bulb will normally extinguish. The bulb will illuminate if the ACM senses a
fault in the Airbag system and communicates this message to the cluster via the CCD bus. The cluster will also light the light if the ACM fails to
communicate with it for 5 consecutive seconds. If for some reason the cluster illuminates the airbag lamp, it will keep the lamp illuminated for a
minimum of 12 seconds. This lamp is not dimmable.
The ACM monitors critical input and output circuits within the airbag system, making sure they are operating correctly. Some circuits are tested
continuously; others are checked only under certain circumstances. The ACM provides diagnostic information about the airbag system to the
technician through the DRB III via the CCD bus.
The deceleration or g-force resulting from the impact of a front-end collision causes the front sensors to close. The safing sensor is designed to
close from much lower g-forces than the front sensors. As soon as one of the front impact sensors and the safing sensor are closed, an electrical
charge is sent to the airbag module. This causes the inflator to be actuated, thus deploying the airbags. The total time from the closure of the
sensors to deployment and deflation of the airbags is less than 1/10 of one second.
The ACM also contains an energy storage capacitor. This capacitor stores enough electrical energy to deploy the airbags for up to two minutes
following a battery disconnect or failure. The purpose of the capacitor is to provide airbag deployment in a severe secondary impact if the initial
impact has damaged or disconnected the battery, but was not severe enough to deploy the airbags. The AIRBAG warning lamp is the only point at
which "symptoms" of a system malfunction can be observed by the customer.
REPLACE AIRBAG SYSTEM COMPONENTS ONLY WITH PARTS SPECIFIED IN THE CHRYSLER MOPAR PARTS CATALOG.
SUBSTITUTE PARTS MAY APPEAR INTERCHANGEABLE, BUT INTERNAL DIFFERENCES MAY RESULT IN INFERIOR
OCCUPANT PROTECTION. THE FASTENERS, SCREWS, AND BOLTS ORIGINALLY USED FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM
COMPONENTS HAVE SPECIAL COATINGS AND ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THEY MUST
NEVER BE REPLACED WITH ANY SUBSTITUTES. ANY TIME A NEW FASTENER IS NEEDED, REPLACE IT WITH THE CORRECT
FASTENERS PROVIDED IN THE SERVICE PACKAGE OR SPECIFIED IN THE CHRYSLER MOPAR PARTS CATALOG.
Passenger Airbag ON/OFF Switch
The passenger side airbag ON/OFF switch is located on the right end cap of the instrument panel. To de-activate the passenger side airbag, insert
the ignition key, turn the key actuator switch from the ON position to the OFF position, approximately 45 degrees clockwise from the "on"
position, remove the key completely from the switch and verify that the switch actuator hole stays in the new position. The switch is spring loaded
and will return to the "ON" position unless you remove the key. The switch cannot be adjusted or repaired, if faulty or damaged the PAB ON/OFF
switch must be replaced.
To re-enable the passenger airbag, reverse the procedure above so that the ON/OFF key switch actuator is returned to a ON position.
NOTE: Do not turn ignition on with key in switch. Do not change switch positions with ignition on. Do not leave the key in the switch under any
condition.
The PAB ON/OFF switch is a resistive multiplexed signal to the BCM. The BCM will monitor the input from the ON/OFF switch every 31.25 ms,
regardless of the ignition status, calculating an average voltage created by the resistive switch (old reading + new reading/2). Every 250 ms the
BCM will read the average voltage value created by the switch and determine the appropriate switch state. The BCM will monitor the ON/OFF
switch for four states. Two for diagnostic purposes and the remaining two for switch positions, on or off. A DTC will be stored in the BCM if the
average voltage level should indicate that a ON/OFF switch is shorted to ground or open circuit, and this condition last for more than 10 seconds.
The ON/OFF warning lamp is located in the instrument cluster and will be illuminated when the switch is in the OFF position. When a DTC is
active the warning lamp will be flashed on and off at a rate of 0.25 Hz (2 seconds on and 2 seconds OFF). If the condition is corrected the
warning lamp will be turned OFF within 250 ms and the DTC will be erased after 20 ignition cycles. The BCM will perform a 6 second bulb
check when the ignition is turned ON. The bulb test will be shortened if the vehicle is in gear and the road speed is above 5 mph.
Special Tools
Some airbag diagnostic tests use special tools, 8310 and 8443 airbag load tool, for testing squib circuits. The load tools contain fixed resistive
