Liberty 2WD V6-3.7L (2008)
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 on the top and face of the instrument panel in front of the front seat passenger seating
position. The upper and lower edges of the airbag door are secured with integral snap features to the instrument panel base trim.
Located behind the passenger airbag door within the instrument panel is the passenger airbag unit. The passenger airbag unit is secured through two
lower studs (5) to the instrument panel structural support armature above the glove box opening. While the two upper studs (6) are secured to a heavy
stamped steel instrument panel bracket secured to the dash panel near the lower windshield fence line.
The passenger airbag housing (1) fits into a molded receptacle on the back of the airbag door, where several stamped hook formations (2) 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 vehicle is a multistage, 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 consists of a stamped metal housing, the airbag cushion (3), and a dual
initiator airbag inflator. The airbag housing contains the airbag inflator and the folded airbag cushion. An approximately 80 centimeter (31.5 inch) wide
by 90 centimeter (35.5 inch) high rectangular fabric cushion with internal tethers is used.
The airbag inflator is a non-azide, hybrid-type unit that is secured to and sealed within the airbag housing. The two inflator initiators (4) are connected to
the vehicle electrical system through dedicated take outs and connectors of the instrument panel wire harness with connector insulators that connect
directly to the two inflator initiators. The connector insulators are uniquely keyed and color-coded to ensure they can only be connected to the correct
initiator.
A service replacement passenger airbag does not include the airbag door. The passenger airbag door may be disassembled from the passenger airbag and
is available for individual service replacement. The passenger airbag unit cannot be repaired and must be replaced if deployed, ineffective, or in any way
damaged.
