Sprinter 3500 L5-2.7L DSL Turbo (2004)
Air Bag: Description and Operation
Passenger Airbag
Passenger Airbag Door
The rearward facing surface of the injection molded, thermoplastic passenger airbag door is the most visible part of the optional passenger airbag. The
passenger airbag door is located above the glove box opening in front of the front seat passenger seating position on the instrument panel. The upper and
lower edges of the airbag door are secured by a snap-fit to molded plastic clips. The two clips at the top are each secured by a screw to the instrument
panel base trim, while the clips at the bottom are integral to the panel that surrounds the passenger airbag door opening in the instrument panel bast trim.
The airbag door is also secured to the airbag housing by two wide woven straps that serve as hinges for the door upon an airbag deployment.
Passenger Airbag Unit
Located behind the passenger airbag door is the passenger airbag unit. The airbag housing is constructed of a long U-shaped aluminum extrusion with
two stamped steel end plates. A stepped flange that extends from the back of the extrusion serves as the airbag mounting flange. This mounting flange is
secured with screws to a stamped steel air-bag mounting bracket that is secured with screws to the tubular steel instrument panel structural support above
the glove box opening. The end plates are secured to each side of the passenger airbag housing with screws.
The passenger airbag unit used in this model is a Next Generation-type that complies with revised federal airbag standards to deploy with less force than
those used in some prior models. The airbag housing contains the folded airbag cushion, the airbag retainer, and the airbag inflator. The airbag is a
rectangular fabric cushion. The airbag inflator is a solid fuel, pyrotechnic-type unit that is secured to and sealed within the airbag housing along with the
folded airbag cushion. The inflator initiator connector receptacle is connected to the vehicle electrical system through a dedicated take out of the vehicle
wire harness with a yellow connector insulator.
