Sprinter 2500 V6-3.0L DSL Turbo VIN 45 (2007)
Air Bag: Description and Operation
Passenger Airbag
Description
DESCRIPTION
The rearward-facing 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 (2) opening in front of the front seat passenger seating position on the instrument panel. The
inboard and outboard edges of the airbag door are secured by four screws to the instrument panel base trim, then concealed by the climate control air
outlet bezels.
Located behind the passenger airbag door (1) within the instrument panel is the passenger airbag unit (4). The molded plastic passenger airbag unit
housing is secured to the instrument panel support structure with screws through four integral mounting stanchions (5), one near each corner of the
housing.
The passenger airbag housing fits into a molded receptacle (2) on the back of the airbag door, where several integral hook formations (3) on the upper
and lower edges of the airbag housing are engaged in mating small window openings on the upper and lower 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 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 vehicles. The passenger airbag unit housing consists of the molded plastic housing, the folded airbag cushion, the airbag
cushion retainer and the airbag inflator. The airbag is a rectangular fabric cushion.
The airbag inflator is a non-azide, hybrid-type unit that is secured to and sealed within the airbag housing. The inflator initiator connector receptacle on
the inboard end of the housing is connected to the vehicle electrical system through a dedicated take out of the vehicle wire harness with a yellow
connector insulator.
The passenger airbag and airbag door unit cannot be repaired, and must be replaced if deployed, ineffective, or in any way damaged.
Operation
OPERATION
The passenger airbag is deployed by an electrical signal generated by the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) (also known as the lowline or highline
airbag control unit/ARCADE) through the passenger airbag squib circuits to the initiator in the airbag inflator. The hybrid-type inflator assembly
contains a small canister of highly compressed inert gas. When the ORC sends the proper electrical signal to the airbag inflator, the electrical energy