Dakota 2WD V8-4.7L VIN J (2005)
Air Bag: Description and Operation
Passenger
The horizontal surface of the injection molded, thermoplastic passenger airbag door (1) is the most visible part of the passenger airbag. The passenger
airbag door is located above the glove box opening on the top of the instrument panel (2) in front of the front seat passenger seating position.
The outboard edges of the airbag door are secured with integral snap features (3) to the instrument panel base trim. Located below the passenger airbag
door (2) within the instrument panel is the passenger airbag unit. The passenger airbag housing fits into a molded receptacle on the back of the airbag
door, where twelve stamped hook formations on the forward and rearward edges of the airbag housing are engaged in mating small window openings on
the forward and rearward flanges of the receptacle to secure the airbag door to the airbag housing. These airbag door fasteners and mounting provisions
are all concealed beneath the instrument panel base trim. The passenger airbag unit is secured by two screws through a stamped mounting bracket (5) to
the instrument panel structural support.
The passenger airbag unit used in this model is a multistage, Next Generation-type that complies with revised federal airbag standards to deploy with less
force than those used in some prior models. The passenger airbag unit consists of a stamped and welded metal housing, the airbag cushion, the airbag
inflator, and a stamped metal airbag cushion retainer plate that is secured to the airbag housing with four studs and nuts. The airbag housing contains the
airbag inflator and the folded airbag cushion. An approximately 80 centimeter (31.5 inch) wide by 90
centimeter (35.5 inch) high rectangular fabric cushion is used.
The airbag inflator (4) is a non-azide, pyrotechnic-type unit that is secured to and sealed within the airbag housing. A short four-wire pigtail harness with
a keyed, yellow connector insulator (1) connects the two inflator initiators to the vehicle electrical system through a dedicated take out and connector of
the instrument panel wire harness.
The passenger airbag includes the airbag door. This unit cannot be repaired, and must be replaced if deployed, faulty, or in any way damaged.
