RAM 1500 Truck 4WD V8-5.7L VIN D (2005)
Air Bag: Description and Operation
Air Bag-Driver
The color-keyed, 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 armature of the four-spoke steering wheel. All models have a
chrome Dodge Ram emblem in the center of the trim cover. Concealed beneath the driver airbag trim cover are the horn switch, the folded airbag
cushion, the airbag cushion retainer, the airbag housing, the airbag inflator, and the retainers that secure the inflator to the airbag housing.
The airbag cushion, housing (5), and inflator (3) are secured within an integral receptacle molded into the back of the trim cover (4). The four vertical
walls of this receptacle have a total of twelve small windows with blocking tabs that are engaged by twelve 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 with heat stakes to the inside surface of the driver air-bag trim cover, between the trim cover and the
folded airbag cushion. The horn switch ground pigtail wire has an eyelet terminal connector that is captured beneath a flanged nut on the upper right
inflator mounting stud on the back of the housing. The horn switch feed pigtail wire has a black, molded plastic insulator (1) that is secured by an
integral retainer in a locator hole near the upper right 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. Both horn switch wires are routed through an integral notch in the center of the upper edge of
the airbag housing stamping.
The airbag 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. A 71 centimeter (28 inch) diameter, radial deploying fabric 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 by 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 unit cannot be repaired, and must be replaced if deployed or in any way damaged. The driver airbag trim cover and horn switch unit
