RAM 1500 Truck 4WD V8-5.7L VIN D (2005)
Air Bag Deactivation Switch: Description and Operation
The passenger airbag on/off switch (1) is standard equipment on all standard cab versions of this model when they are equipped with the dual front
airbag system. This switch is a two-position, resistor multiplexed switch with a single integral red Light-Emitting Diode (LED), and a non-coded key
cylinder-type actuator. The switch is located in the lower right corner of instrument panel center bezel, near the center of instrument panel to make the
Off indicator (3) visible to all front seat occupants.
When the switch is in its installed position, the only components visible through the dedicated opening of the cluster bezel are the switch face plate (2)
and nomenclature, and the key cylinder actuator (4). The "Off" position of the switch is illuminated when this switch position is selected, while the "On"
position of the switch is designated by text imprinted upon the face plate of the switch, but is not illuminated. The remainder of the switch is concealed
behind the switch face plate and the instrument panel center bezel.
The passenger airbag on/off switch housing is constructed of molded plastic and has three integral mounting tabs. These mounting tabs are used to secure
the switch to the back of the molded plastic switch face plate with three small screws. The molded plastic face plate also has three integral mounting tabs
that are used to secure the switch and face plate unit to the instrument panel center bezel with three additional screws.
A molded plastic connector receptacle on the back of the switch housing connects the switch to the vehicle electrical system through a dedicated take out
and connector of the instrument panel wire harness. The molded plastic harness connector insulator is keyed and latched to ensure proper and secure
switch electrical connections. The passenger airbag on/off switch cannot be adjusted or repaired and, if faulty or damaged, the switch must be replaced.
The passenger airbag on/off switch allows the customer to turn the passenger airbag function On or Off to accommodate certain uses of the right front
seating position where airbag protection may not be desired. See the vehicle glove box for specific recommendations on when to enable or disable the
passenger airbag. The Off indicator of the switch will be illuminated whenever the switch is turned to the Off position and the ignition switch is in the On
position.
The ignition key is the only key or object that should ever be inserted into the key cylinder actuator of the switch. The on/off switch requires only a
partial key insertion to fully depress a spring-loaded locking plunger. The spring-loaded locking plunger prevents the user from leaving the key in the
switch. The key will be automatically ejected when force is not applied. To actuate the passenger airbag on/off switch, insert the ignition key into the
switch key actuator far enough to fully depress the plunger, then rotate the actuator to the desired switch position.
When the switch key actuator is rotated to its clockwise stop (the key actuator slot will be aligned with the Off indicator), the Off indicator is illuminated
and the passenger airbag is disabled. When the switch is rotated to its counterclockwise stop (the key actuator slot will be in a vertical position), the Off
indicator will be extinguished and the passenger airbag is enabled.
The passenger airbag on/off switch connects one of two internal resistors in series between the passenger airbag mux switch sense and passenger airbag
mux switch return circuits of the Airbag Control Module (ACM). The ACM continually monitors the resistance in these circuits to determine the switch
position that has been selected.
When the switch is in the Off position, the ACM provides a ground input to the switch through the passenger airbag indicator driver circuit, which
energizes the Light-Emitting Diode (LED) that illuminates the Off indicator of the switch. The ACM will also illuminate the Off indicator of the switch
for about seven seconds each time the ignition switch is turned to the On position as a bulb test.
The ACM will store a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for any fault it detects in the passenger airbag on/off switch or Off indicator circuits, and will
illuminate the airbag indicator in the instrument cluster if a fault is detected. For proper diagnosis of the passenger airbag on/off switch or the ACM, a
diagnostic scan tool is required.
