RAM 1500 Truck 4WD V8-5.9L VIN Z (2002)
the back of the driver airbag housing. Depress the latches on each side of the connector insulator and pull the insulator straight out from the airbag
inflator to disconnect it from the connector receptacle.
8. Remove the driver airbag from the steering wheel.
9. If the driver airbag has been deployed, the clockspring must be replaced. (Refer to RESTRAINTS/CLOCKSPRING - REMOVAL).
INSTALLATION
The following procedure is for replacement of a faulty or damaged driver airbag. If the airbag is faulty or damaged, but not deployed, review the
recommended procedures for handling non-deployed supplemental restraints. (Refer to RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PROCEDURE - HANDLING
NON-DEPLOYED SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINTS). If the driver airbag has been deployed, review the recommended procedures for service after
a supplemental restraint deployment before removing the airbag from the vehicle. (Refer to RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PROCEDURE - SERVICE
AFTER A SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT DEPLOYMENT).
WARNING:
-
ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS, DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING
ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, DRIVER AIRBAG, PASSENGER AIRBAG, SEAT BELT TENSIONER, SIDE
CURTAIN AIRBAG, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE
BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE
BEFORE PERFORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN
ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.
-
USE EXTREME CARE TO PREVENT ANY FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM ENTERING THE DRIVER AIRBAG, OR BECOMING
ENTRAPPED BETWEEN THE DRIVER AIRBAG CUSHION AND THE DRIVER AIRBAG TRIM COVER. FAILURE TO
OBSERVE THIS WARNING COULD RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURIES UPON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.
-
THE DRIVER AIRBAG TRIM COVER MUST NEVER BE PAINTED. REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS ARE SERVICED WITH TRIM
COVERS IN THE ORIGINAL COLORS. PAINT MAY CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH THE MATERIAL OF THE TRIM COVER
RESPONDS TO AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. FAILURE TO OBSERVE THIS WARNING COULD RESULT IN OCCUPANT
INJURIES UPON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.
1. Position the driver airbag close enough to the steering wheel to reconnect the two electrical connections at the back of the airbag housing.
2. When installing the driver airbag, reconnect the clockspring driver airbag pigtail wire connector to the airbag inflator connector receptacle by
pressing straight in on the connector. You can be certain that the connector is fully engaged in its receptacle by listening carefully for a distinct,
audible click as the connector latches snap into place.
3. Reconnect the horn switch feed pigtail wire connector located at the back of the driver airbag housing to the clockspring upper connector
receptacle for the horn switch.
4. Carefully position the driver airbag in the steering wheel. Be certain that the clockspring pigtail wire and the horn switch feed pigtail wire in the
steering wheel hub area are not pinched between the driver airbag and the steering wheel armature. Also, if equipped, be certain that the steering
wheel wire harness take outs for the speed control switches are not trapped behind the driver airbag.
5. Install and tighten the two screws that secure the driver airbag to the steering wheel armature. Tighten the screws to 14 Nm (120 in. lbs.).
6. From the top of the steering wheel, position the two trim covers or speed control switches into the pockets on each side of the driver airbag trim
cover.
7. From the underside of the steering wheel, install and tighten the two screws that secure the two trim covers or speed control switches to each side
of the driver airbag trim cover. Tighten the screws to 2 Nm (15 in. lbs.).
8. Do not reconnect the battery negative cable at this time. The supplemental restraint system verification test procedure should be performed
following service of any supplemental restraint system component (Refer to RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PROCEDURE - VERIFICATION
TEST).
Disassembly and Assembly
DISASSEMBLY
The following procedures can be used to replace the driver airbag trim cover and horn switch unit. If the driver airbag is faulty or deployed, the entire
driver airbag, trim cover, and horn switch must be replaced as a unit.
WARNING:
-
ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS, DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING
ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, DRIVER AIRBAG, PASSENGER AIRBAG, SEAT BELT TENSIONER, SIDE
CURTAIN AIRBAG, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE
BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE
BEFORE PERFORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN
ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.
-
THE HORN SWITCH IS INTEGRAL TO THE DRIVER AIRBAG UNIT. SERVICE OF THIS UNIT SHOULD BE PERFORMED
ONLY BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER-TRAINED AND AUTHORIZED DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIANS. FAILURE TO TAKE THE
PROPER PRECAUTIONS OR TO FOLLOW THE PROPER PROCEDURES COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL, INCOMPLETE,
OR IMPROPER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE OCCUPANT INJURIES.
-
USE EXTREME CARE TO PREVENT ANY FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM ENTERING THE DRIVER AIRBAG, OR BECOMING
ENTRAPPED BETWEEN THE DRIVER AIRBAG CUSHION AND THE DRIVER AIRBAG TRIM COVER. FAILURE TO
OBSERVE THIS WARNING COULD RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURIES UPON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.
